USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 7
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Having referred at length to the history of the water power companies and also to the great works accomplished by them dur- ing the last half century, it is proper that something be said con- cerning the grand results achieved in the establishment of indus- trial enterprises along these now famous artificial canals, all of which have been combined to make Holyoke one of the greatest manufacturing cities of the land. In this connection, however, it may be stated that not all the manufacturing concerns which are located within the company's purchase take mill power from the canals, the exceptions being noted about as follows: The Dean Steam Pump Co., the United States Envelope Co. (formerly the Holyoke Envelope Co.), the National Blank Book Co., the Smith & White Mfg. Co., the American Pad and Paper Co., the Hampden Glazed Paper and Card Co., the Holyoke Thread Co .. the Merrick Lumber Co., the Casper Ranger Lumber Yard and Planing Mill, the Conn. Valley Lumber Co., and possibly others.
According to accepted authority the first manufactory on the line of the canals was that founded in 1853 by J. C. Parsons and others, and which in allusion to him became known as the Par- sons Paper company. In the years immediately following 1853 other proprietors began to come to the locality, and having be- come satisfied that the water power canal system had passed the experimental stage and become an assured success, they opened negotiations and almost invariably secured leases. In 1854 the Lyman mills were founded, and eventually became one of the largest cotton manufacturing concerns in all New England. However, having recourse to a record of Holyoke industries com- piled from the water power company's books, the writer is en- abled to furnish a reasonably correct list of the manufacturing companies1 started on the canals, noting them in chronological order, with some brief data relating to the date of incorporation, capital stock and occasional allusion to the personnel of the man- agement :
The Parsons Paper Co., inc. 1853; capital, $360,000; E. P.
"The manufacturers of Holyoke by a fair majority of numbers have expressed a desire that their industries be not "written up" in this chapter. hence the writer has deferred to the wishes of the proprietors in making only a brief and necessary allusion to each establishment.
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Joseph C. Parsons
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Bagg, agent and treasurer: Charles P. Randall, secretary. The Lyman Mills, est. January 1, 1854; capital, $1,470,000; Theophi- lus Parsons, treas. ; Ernest Lovering, agent ; Chas. Merriam, su- perintendent. The Holyoke Paper Co., est. 1857; nominal capi- tal, $500.000. Prentiss Wire Mill, est. 1857 (now George W. Prentiss & Co.). Holyoke Machine Co., org. 1862; capital. $300,- 000; N. H. Whitten, pres. ; Chas. R. Hohnan, treas. ; H. J. Frink, gen. mgr. Hadley Thread Co., est. 1863; capital, $600,000 (now known as Hadley Co.). Beebe, Webber & Co., est. 1863; mfrs. of woolen goods. Merrick Thread Co., est. 1865: capital, $750,- 000. Whiting Paper Co., org. 1865; nominal capital, $300,000; Wm. Whiting, pres .; Wm. F. Whiting, treas. and agent ; S. R. Whiting, sec'y. Germania Woolen Mill (known as Germania Mills), org. 1865; capital, $150,000; Herman Stursberg, pres .; Wm. Stursberg, treas .; Wm. Mauer, sec. and mgr. Riverside Paper Co., org. 1866; capital, $500,000. Franklin Paper Co., org. 1866: nominal capital, $60,000; James Ramage, pres. : John Ramage, vice-pres. : Chas. W. Ramage, treas. Valley Paper Co., org. 1866; capital, $200,000; Geo. F. Fowler, pres .; Chas. B. Prescott, treas .; T. Henry Spencer, asst. treas .; Alfred H. Mor- ton, supt. Henry Seymour Cutlery Co., org. 1869; capital, $25,- 000. Holyoke Warp Co., org. 1869; capital, $60,000; J. L. Bur- lingame, treas. Springfield Blanket Co., org. 1870; capital, $150,000. Crocker Paper Co. (Crocker Mfg. Co.), org. 1871 : cap- ital $300,000. Massasoit Paper Co., org. 1872; capital, $300,000. Beebe & Holbrook Co., org. 1872; mfrs. of paper. Excelsior Pa- per Co., org. 1873; A. W. Hoffman, George H. Smith. James L. Hodge, proprietors. Newton Paper Co., org. 1873; capital, $72,- 000: Moses Newton, pres .; James Ramage, vice-pres .: Geo. H. Clark, treas. Farr Alpaca Co., org. 1873; capital, $400,000; Edward W. Chapin. pres .; Joseph Metcalf, treas. Massachu- setts Serew Co., org. 1873; capital, $50,000; D. H. Newton, pres .; James S. Newton, treas. Connor Bros.' Woolen Mill. est. 1874; mfrs. of coat, cloak and dress goods. William Skinner Silk Mill (now Wm. Skinner Mfg. Co.), est. 1874 ; inc. 1889; capital, $100,- 000. National Blank Book Co., org. 1875: capital, $150,000; Wm. Whiting, pres. ; F. B. Towne, treas. Albion Paper Co., org.
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1878; capital, $60,000. Wauregan Paper Co., org. 1879. Dean Steam Pump Co., org. 1879; capital, $300,000. Chemical Paper Co., org. 1880; capital, $250,000; James H. Newton, pres. ; James W. Kirkham, vice-pres .; Moses Newton, treas .; E. B. Fiske, sec'y. Nonotuck Paper Co., org. 1880; capital, $155,000. Holyoke Envelope Co. (now United States Envelope Co.), org. 1880. Whitmore Mfg. Co., org. 1881; capital, $75,000; Wm. Whiting, pres .; F. D. Heywood, treas. Coburn Trolley Track Co., inc. 1888; capital, $100,000; Lemuel Coburn, pres .; A. A. Coburn, treas. American Pad and Paper Co., inc. 1888; capi- tal, $75,000; Geo. M. Holbrook, pres .; Thos. W. Holley, treas .; G. W. Brainerd, sec'y. D. Mackintosh & Sons Co., inc. 1888; cap- ital, $100,000; Donald Mackintosh, pres .; John G. Mackintosh, treas .; Chas. E. Mackintosh, agt. Connecticut River Paper Co., org. 1888; capital, $200,000. McCallum Constable Hosiery Co., org. 1888. Parsons Paper Co. No. 2, org. 1888; capital, $300,000. Powers Paper Co., org. 1889. Holyoke Hydrant and Iron Works, org. 1890; capital, $60,000. Chadwick Plush Co., org. 1891. Nor- man Paper Co., org. 1891; capital, $300,000. George C. Gill Paper Co., inc. 1891 (successor to Winona Paper Co.) ; capital, $100,000. Hampden Glazed Paper and Card Co., inc. 1891; capi- tal, $56,000; George R. Dickinson Paper Co., org. 1892; capital, $150,000. Ford Bit Co., inc. 1892; capital, $21,900; N. H. Whit- ten, pres .: R. C. Winchester, treas .; O. D. Allyn, mgr. Goetz Silk Mfg. Co., inc. 1893; capital, $35,000; David Goetz, pres .; Samuel McQuaid, treas. : S. A. Mahoney, sec'y.
In connection with that which is stated in preceding para- graphs it is proper to mention the fact that the Parsons Paper Mill No. 1, the Crocker Mfg. Co., the Albion Paper Co., the Nonotuck Paper Co., the George C. Gill Paper Co., the Norman Paper Co., the Riverside Paper Co., the Conn. River Paper Co., the Holyoke Paper Co., the Linden Paper Co., the George R. Dickinson Paper Co., the Beebe & Holbrook Co., the Massasoit Paper Mfg. Co. and the Wauregan Paper Co. are now absorbed by the vast corporation known as the American Writing Paper Co .; and also that the Merrick Thread Co. and the Hadley Co. are in like manner absorbed by the American Thread Co. It is
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not the purpose of these greater corporations-commonly called "trusts"- to close any of the factories, but rather to systematize and regulate their operation, and thus reduce the cost of placing their product on the market.
In addition to the corporations engaged in industrial pur- suits which are already mentioned, we may with propriety note the names of still other companies and proprietors likewise en- gaged, all of whom have been contributing factors, past or pres- ent, in the prosperity of our city .. Among the stock companies there may be noted the Baker-Vawter Co., incorporated 1895; capital. $200.000; manufacturers of loose leaf books : the Barlow Mfg. Co., inc. 1895 (J. S. Webber, prest., and Lewis E. Bellows, treas. and ingr.). mfrs. of nickel and brass display fixtures: the Buchanan & Bolt Wire Co .. incorporated 1897 (capital $50,000) ; the Conn. Valley Lumber Co., incorporated 1898 (capital $500,- 000) : the Ely Lumber Co .. incorporated 1898 (capital $40,000) ; the Essex Paper Co., inc. 1895: the Eureka Ruling and Binding Co., inc. 1890; the Goddard Machine Co., inc. 1899: the Holyoke Automobile Co., inc. 1900: the Holyoke Bar Co., inc. 1889; the Holyoke Belting Co., inc. 1891 (capital $40,000) ; the Holyoke Plush Co., inc. 1899, and succeeding the Chadwick Plush Co .; the Holyoke Thread Co., inc. 1900: Lynch Bros.'s Brick Co., inc. 1896; the Merrick Lumber Co., inc. 1884 (capital $75.000) : the Smith & White Mfg. Co., inc. 1891 (capital $50,000) ; the Xylite Lubricating Co., inc. 1897.
And still further we may mention other proprietors, among them the Coglan Steam Boiler Works: the City foundry ; J. & W. Jolly Machine shops : B. F. Perkins & Son, machinists; Charles Koegel & Son, machinists: the Westphal Machine Co .: the Nov- elty Machine Co .: the Harmon & Derichs Architectural Iron Works; Walsh's Holyoke Steam Boiler Works: Higgins & Co., brass founders : the Holyoke Broom Co. and the H. E. Smith Co., broom mfrs .: the Holyoke Lead Pipe Co. : the White Paper Box Co. : John T. F. MacDonnell. the Sinclair Mfg. Co .; the Smith Tablet Co .. and the Whiting Street Ruling and Stationery Co., mfrs. of paper pads and tablets : the Taylor-Atkins Paper Co .: the Chase & Cooledge Co .: the Holyoke Trunk Mfg. Co., and
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others perhaps equally worthy of mention, but whose names can- not now be recalled. These manufacturers, with those who pre- ceded them in earlier years, have been all-important factors in the industrial history of our city.
It has been estimated that quite one-third of Holyoke's pop- ulation is employed in the mills and factories of the city ; that the aggregate nominal capital of the producing corporations exceeds $12,000,000, and that the monthly pay rolls aggregate more than $600,000 in all branches of manufacture. The carry- ing trade is chiefly done by the Boston and Maine and the Hol- yoke and Westfield railroads, and in facilitating the loading of goods for shipment these companies have laid branch tracks to the works of nearly all the large manufacturing companies.
HOLYOKE BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION
Section two of the by-laws of the association reads as fol- lows: "The objects of this association are for the purpose of promoting the interests of the mercantile and manufacturing business of Holyoke. to advance and elevate the commercial in- terest and business connections of our merchants, and to broaden and strengthen business relations among them, and by all legiti- mate means work unitedly for the material prosperity of our city."
The association referred to in the preceding paragraph cer- tainly has been loyal to the above declaration of purpose, and for the five years of its history has proven itself one of the best and most useful institutions of our city, and one whose aims al- ways have been for the public welfare, free from any favor or prejudice. An association of the same character previously had existed for several years. but for some unexplained cause its af- fairs were not prosperous, hence, in 1897, it was succeeded by the organization of which we write. The present body has a total membership of about 200 business men.
The Holyoke Business Men's association was formed Janu- ary 22. 1897, at a meeting of citizens held in the G. A. R. hall, and from that time it has been a controlling factor for good in local history. Its affairs and management are vested in a board
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of directors, at first comprising six members and the officers, but later increased to twelve members. The first board of directors comprised Albert Steiger, W. J. Mills, John Tilley, Thomas J. Carmody, Otho R. Brown, Marciene H. Whitcomb and the officers for 1897-8.
The succession of officers of the association is as follows :
1897-8-M. P. Conway, president ; Alexander McAuslan vice-president ; A. E. Dickinson, treasurer ; E. P. Ford, secretary.
1898-9-James J. Curran, president; Alexander McAuslan, vice-president ; Otho R. Brown, treasurer; Thomas F. MeCabe, secretary.
1899-1900-James J. Curran, president ; William J. Mills, vice-president ; Otho R. Brown, treasurer: Thomas Stansfield, secretary.
1900-1901-Marciene H. Whitcomb, president; William J. Mills, vice-president : G. E. Russell, treasurer; Thomas Stans- field. secretary.
1901-02-M. H. Whitcomb. president; John Tilley, vice- president : G. E. Russell, treasurer ; Thomas Stansfield. secretary.
Officers for 1902 .-- M. H. Whitcomb, president : John Tilley, vice-president ; G. E. Russell, treasurer : Thomas Stansfield, sec- retary ; M. J. Laporte, Casper Ranger. M. P. Conway. Albert Steiger. H. A. Collings, Thomas J. Carmody, Alexander McAus- lan. J. J. Curran, J. J. Sullivan, Hugh McLean, A. Davis, M. J. Bowler, directors.
CEMETERIES
In the early history of Ireland parish many of the settlers whose households were invaded by the hand of death carried the bodies for burial to the old churchyard ground in the mother parish in West Springfield. After the Third parish had become well peopled the settlers set apart "God's acre" in their own community. and thus about the year 1749 the old Third parish burial ground was laid out and was dedicated to the public use. At a later period it appears to have passed into the control of the First Baptist society. and so remained until about 1855. when the land was conveyed to the town. In 1882 its enstody was as- sumed by the Third Parish Burial Ground association, but in the
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meantime other cemeteries had been opened, hence interments in the old grounds became less frequent in after years.
Forestdale Cemetery .- At a town meeting held in October, 1860, the inhabitants of Holyoke voted an appropriation of $1.500 for the purchase of a tract of land to be used for burial purposes. On November 1 of the same year a number of promi- nent citizens incorporated and organized Forestdale Ceme- tery association, the officers and trustees of which were as fol- lows: Jones S. Davis, president; Porter Underwood, secretary and treasurer; Jones S. Davis, Porter Underwood, J. M. Whitten, Henry Wheeler, Edwin H. Ball, S. Stewart Chase, S. J. Weston, Austin Ely, Asa O. Colby, S. H. Walker, trustees: Robert B. Johnson and Chester Crafts, auditors.
This association, with frequent changes in the personnel of its board of officers and trustees, has continued to the present time. The grounds purchased comprised a little less than twenty-five acres. The work of laying out the tract was begun in the early part of 1862, and on June 22 the cemetery was dedi- cated with formal ceremony, the leading participants in the services being Prof. Voss of Amherst college, George C. Ewing, on behalf of the trustees, and Rev. Roswell Foster.
The present officers of the association are Henry A. Chase, president : Charles W. Johnson, secretary and treasurer; Henry A. Chase, William S. Loomis, L. F. Heyward, W. H. Abbott, Dwight O. Judd, C. E. Ball, H. B. Lawrence, A. L. Shumway, William H. Heywood and Henry O. Hastings, trustees; L. F. Heyward and W. G. Twing, auditors; W. S. Loomis, superin- tendent : F. G. Bartlett, sexton.
St. Jerome's Cemetery (Roman Catholic) was purchased and laid out for burial purposes in 1864. It comprises twelve acres of land on St. Jerome avenue and adjoins Forestdale cemetery.
The French Roman Catholic Cemetery, four acres in extent, situated on what is known as Granby plains, was opened in 1875. This tract is outside the city limits, yet the cemetery, to all in- tents and purposes, is a local institution.
Cavalry Cemetery, on Northampton street (south) adjoin- ing the old Baptist burial ground, is another institution of the
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Catholic church, and was consecrated March 20, 1882, by Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Reilly. The grounds, fourteen acres in extent, were laid out under the supervision of A. B. Tower, civil engi- neer.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
All that is most precious in our modern civilization is pre- served to a community by its churches, or at least by the re- ligious life that is fostered by its churches, if William M. Evarts spoke truth when he said "One might as well expect our land to keep its climate, its fertility, its salubrity, and its beauty, were the globe loosened from the hand which holds it in its orbit, as to count upon the preservation of the delights for a people cast loose from religion."
Although Holyoke is so like a western city in its rapid growth and in the free, democratic character of its people, it still possesses all the distinctive characteristics of a New England community. One of these is the fact, so frequently recognized in this part of the country. that the society of the place is divided pretty closely on church lines. To be sure, there are many clubs and associations and other organizations for social and benevo- lent purposes, in which no church lines are drawn or thought of, but outside of these there is a strong tendency to let the ac- quaintanceships formed at church and church gatherings suffice for all purposes.
This condition of things is helped by the fact that nearly all the people are busy workers in one field or another, and the further fact that there is no exclusive, aristocratie set in society. The richest people are unostentatious and democratic in the best sense.
The only church in Holyoke that has passed its hundredth birthday is the First Congregational. or the Church on the Hill, as it is called. This society celebrated its centennial in 1899, while the First Baptist comes but four years later.
The peculiar manner in which the town was settled causes the unusual phenomenon of finding both the First Congrega- tional and the First Baptist churches situated quite outside of the center of the city. Both of these churches were organized
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when the territory was only a farming country and part of the town of West Springfield. Afterwards, when the water power of the Connecticut began to be developed, the center of popula- tion changed to the river banks, and as the town grew it de- manded a Second Congregational and a Second Baptist church.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL. CHURCH
The first religious society to be organized within the borders of the present city of Holyoke was first called the "Third Church
The old First Congregational Church
of West Springfield," or popularly the church in "Ireland Parish." until it finally became the First Congregational church of Holyoke.
It was on the fourth day of December. 1799, that the fol- lowing eleven persons banded themselves together to form this church of Jesus Christ : Joseph Rogers, Jonathan Clough, Amos Allen. John Miller, Titus Morgan, Glover Street, Timothy Clough. Experience Morgan, Lucas Morgan. Betsy Morgan. Nathan Stephens.
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The first deacons were Joseph Rogers and Amos Allen, and the first year five new members were received. On account of a division of sentiment in the parish the church had no pastor of their own for twenty-nine years. The first church building erected was situated about one-half mile south of the present site of the First Baptist church. This was built about 1792 and was used by the Congregationalists and Baptists jointly. It was moved north in 1796 to what is now the Alexander Day place, and was extensively repaired in 1812, never having been prop- erly finished before.
Rev. Thomas Rand, a Baptist, filled the pastor's place for both denominations for nearly twenty-five years, until, in 1826, the two societies felt strong enough to separate, the Congregation- alists numbering about eighty members. The Baptists withdrew and left their brethren in possession of the church building. In 1828 Rev. Stephen Hayes came to labor in the parish and re- mained five years, and though he was not installed, he filled the place as first Congregational minister in Holyoke. On the tenth of December. 1834. a new meeting house, costing $1,700,. was dedicated, and on the same day Rev. Hervey Smith was installed as the first settled pastor. It is an interesting fact that the min- ister himself was the largest contributor toward the cost of the church. He continued in the pastorate for eight years and re- signed in 1841 on account of ill health, never taking another church, although he lived till 1877.
The next pastor was Rev. Gideon Dana of South Amherst. Mr. Dana was installed February 24, 1841, and after a stormy and unfortunate pastorate of only three years he resigned in March, 1844. Mr. Dana died in 1872. He was followed in the office of pastor by Simeon Miller, a man who is still recalled and loved by all the older members of the church. Mr. Miller came direct from the Andover seminary, and after preaching one year he was ordained and installed May 7. 1846, and continued in the office until February 9, 1870. In 1844 the church was enabled to terminate its connection with the Home Missionary society, on account of the growth of the population at the settlement near the river, but when, in 1849, the Second Congregational church
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was organized in the more thickly settled part of the town, the first church suffered some loss, so that at the close of Mr. Miller's pastorate the membership was twenty per cent. smaller than at its beginning. On Mr. Miller's retirement Rev. Charles E. Cooledge served the church until October, 1872, but was not in- stalled. Rev. Theodore L. Day was ordained and installed De- cember 18, 1872, but served as pastor only a year and a half. Then Rev. Charles L. Walker acted as pastor for about two years, and now followed a period of severe trial, during which time the pulpit was supplied for brief periods by a number of men. Among these were Professor J. H. Sawyer, Rev. S. W. Clark, and Rev. S. J. Mundy. In 1882 a call was given to Rev. E. N. Munroe, and he was installed May 31, of that year, his pastorate extending only two years. The council which dismissed Mr. Munroe took advantage of the situation, known to exist, and gave the church the following advice: "The ministers and del- egates from the sister churches respectfully urge the First church of Holyoke to consider the probable advantage to the cause of religion that would follow, of abandoning any bequests that might hinder them in such action were they entirely to re- organize this church and parish, and transplant themselves nearer their city's growth. We do fully believe that by such a step great gain would come, both to the life of this church and to the spiritual interest of the residents in this locality."
This advice caused the question to be agitated, but it was three years before anything definite was done in regard to mov- ing nearer to the center of population. On February 15, 1887, a committee was appointed to procure plans for a new meeting house, and soon after a lot was purchased on the corner of Pleasant and Hampden streets. A chapel was built and dedi- cated December 16, 1887, and occupied for more than six years.
Rev. Henry Hyde was called to the pastorate in 1885, be- ginning his duties the first of June and serving the church three years. This covered the time of the removal and was thus an eventual period. Mr. Hyde's successor was Rev. George W. Winch. the present efficient pastor, who was installed September 1, 1888.
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In 1892 the church had become so large that the chapel was much too small, and the work of erecting the main structure was entered on and pushed so rapidly that the house was dedicated April 11. 1894. It is now one of the principal public buildings in that section of the city, and the society is in a most flourishing condition.
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
This church was organized May 24. 1849, by the following eighteen persons: William S. Bosworth, Laura Ann Johnson, Lucius Morton, Harvey King, Nancy C. Morton, Sarah B. King, Elbridge G. Pierce. Isaac Osgood. Charles N. Ingalls, Hannah Thorndike, Hannah A. Ingalls, Ambrose Snow, Julia A. Gid- dings, Mary Snow, Dianna M. Quint. Glark G. Pease. William J. Johnson. Margarette Watson.
The first pastor was Rev. Asa C. Pierce, who was installed September 20, 1849. Mr. Pierce is described by one of his con- gregation as the best man he ever saw, but on account of im- paired health he was obliged to resign his position in 1851. During the first months the society worshiped in the school house near the first level canal, but soon moved to the large brick school house on Chestnut street. In November. 1850. another move was made to Perkins hall, on High street, afterward known as Exchange hall. After the resignation of Mr. Pierce the church remained nearly two years without a settled pastor, but during this time the people were brave enough to set to work to build a house of worship. The site chosen was the northeast corner of High and Dwight streets, the most central location that could be selected. and the church then built remained a prominent landmark of the city many years. The corner-stone 'was laid September 1. 1852, and the house was dedicated July 27. 1853. During the time of its building the society called a new pastor. and Rev. Richard Knight was installed April 20, 1853. The new house of worship cost twelve thousand dollars: its dimensions were 63 by 102 feet : the height of the spire. 176 feet : it would accommodate 800 in the main room and 300 in the chapel. The local paper claims that it was one of the finest churches in Western Massachusetts. This building continued to be the
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