USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 39
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The expenses of the revolutionary war, and the deprecia- tion of the general currency, reduced many of the inhabitants almost to penury; and during a long period after the war, our agriculturists obtained but little cash for their produce. They cleared their lands and prepared the way for future prosperity. Pease, beans, flax and flax-seed were the principal articles of produce. These articles for the most part were transported to
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Hartford and exchanged for salt, groceries, and such other goods as they needed. Most of the clothes worn in those times were of home manufacture.
About 1807, Amos M. Collins took up his residence in this town. He was a merchant of considerable wealth from Con- necticut. Previous to his arrival, the farmers had devoted their efforts to the cultivation of grain and wool; but the soil and locality were not eminently favorable for growing grain. Mr. Collins induced the farmers to try dairying with reference par- ticularly to butter and cheese. This proposal being accepted by many, he proceeded to New York state and purchased a large drove of cows, which were distributed among the inhabitants. He devoted his efforts patiently and persistently to teaching the people how to make cheese, going from house to house for that purpose. His efforts were highly successful, and resulted in the prosperity of the people. And it became a saying among the farmers that "Mr. Collins was the making of the town." In 1837 there were 1535 cows in the town; 230,000 lbs. of cheese were manufactured annually and 20,000 lbs. of butter. The annual product of cheese was valued at $16,000 and the butter at $3,000. The capital invested was estimated at $60,000 and there were employed 200 men and 300 women. During the time Mr. Collins was in Blandford he is said to have accumulated the handsome little fortune of $25,000. He was succeeded by Orrin Sage, who, for more than thirty years was extensively engaged in buying cheese. He always paid the market price, and the pay was sure. He was highly esteemed as a man of high moral worth in addi- tion to his excellent business ability, and used to be spoken of as "the Bank" of Blandford.
From the period above referred to down to the present time there has been no change in the agricultural prosperity of an upward tendency in the town. It has shared the decadence of the towns of western Hampden. There are many so called aban- doned farms, and not a few old farm buildings, evidently erected by prosperous proprietors, have gone to decay. The Blandford farmers of to-day who are blessed with business ability and good business habits are well-to-do. Many of the less well-to-do
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famers cut off the wood and timber from their land and con- verted it into railroad ties, cord wood and lumber, and many farms are left partly or wholly untilled.
HIGHWAYS
In so mountainous a town as Blandford the making and main- taining of roads is so important in every way, especially in diffi- culty and expense of construction, as to be an item of historical interest. In Blandford as in all the mountain towns the high- ways pass over high points of land to the great inconvenience of travel, when, as we view it to-day, better grades could have been secured. One reason at least for this, as in the town of Chester, the settling lots were laid out and located where inconvenient grades could not well be avoided. It cannot justly be charged upon the early settlers that they lacked good judgment in this respect. The fact is, they were poor and had to submit to dicta- tion where they had not the power to choose for themselves. There may have been other reasons. But one good reason is better than many speculative reasons. At any rate the settling lots were from 1000 to 1500 feet above the sea, and the ascent to them from the Westfield river was rather abrupt, and there are a good many "Devil's Stairs" on the way. Mr. Gibbs says : "We are informed that when the first road was made from Springfield west, the pioneers who laid it out traveled to the top of the first hill, then started for the highest peak of the next, and so on, until they arrived at Albany." This is rather fanciful.
The proprietors' plan shows an oblong tract of land laid out in the southwesterly part of the town, and marked on the plan as "Pixley's Farm." A road was laid from Springfield to Great Barrington, and is still called the Old Barrington road, which passed through the south part of Blandford and through the Pixley farm soon after the settlement of the town.
A grant of 300 acres of land was made to Mr. Pixley, who was to "have, occupy and own said land" if he fulfilled the fol- lowing conditions :- "Provided, that the said Pixley shall erect a public house upon the mountains, half way between Spring- field and Great Barrington; and that the said house shall be 40
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feet lang, 25 feet wide, and 9 feet posts, etc .; and that the said Pixley shall provide wholesome food for travelers, hay and grain for horses, at the usual prices," etc. Tradition has it that the house was erected, and that for several years it had no floor nor chimney. A fire was constantly kept upon the ground in the center; logs eight and ten feet long were drawn in by a horse and rolled upon the log heap fire, the smoke passing out through a hole in the roof. Roads in those days were hardly worthy the name, and in fact were nearly impassable. For many years the only way of transporting heavy merchandise was upon a dray. In 1795 a mail route from Springfield to Kinderhook passed through Blandford. In 1806 a mail route was established from this town to Hartford.
In 1801, the Eleventh Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation was incorporated to connect with the turnpike from Hartford to the state line, "then into and through the east parish of Granville, to Blandford meeting-house, by the usual Pittsfield road, so called, and into the town of Becket, until it connects with the road of the Eighth Turnpike Corporation."
March 16, 1805, the Blandford and Russell Turnpike Cor- poration was incorporated, and it was described in the act as "a turnpike road from the dwelling-house of Stephen Sacket, in Westfield, through Russell, to the dwelling-house of Solomon Noble in Blandford." The incorporators were mostly Blandford men. Some of these highways were changed as to location because of the difficulty not only of grade but of building and main- tenance of the same over hard ledges and in places where they were very liable to be injured by rains and melting snow. These difficulties in the matter of maintaining highways in this town are and always have been an obstacle to the town's prosperity. Roads of better grade could be constructed, but the distance would be increased as well as the expense of construction, and there are other obvious reasons why such changes are not made. It is stated by Gibbs that between 1800 and 1850 the town had made a total appropriation of $53,360 for the building and repair of highways. There are to-day many miles of fairly good roads ; there are some roads of considerable length, somewhat expensive
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to keep in repaid, that are maintained apparently to accommo- date a very small number of farms. Many of the roads suffer because of heavy teaming over them with narrow-tired wagons.
VILLAGES
There were until 1853 three villages in which the town of Blandford was interested. Part of Chester Village was within the bounds of Blandford. The original north line between this town and Chester, extending from the northwest corner of the town, ended at "Rockhouse corner," so called, it being the point where the corners of Norwich and Montgomery and Blandford met. In the division of the 500-acre lots among the proprietors of Blandford the northeast corner lot fell to John Foye, and out of this lot he sold to John Bolton 27 acres in the immediate vicinity of the Bolton grant of 250 acres in the town of Murray- field. This was included in Chester Village. The village school- house was about on the Blandford line, which also passed through the village meeting-house. The relations of Blandford people who resided in the northeasterly part of the town, for school and church purposes, were wholly with this village; and their business interests were almost wholly with Chester Village. When Chester Village and the territory immediately surrounding it was annexed to Norwich the new line was carried so far south as to include most of the families thus identified with the social and business interests of Chester Village. This occurred in 1853.
North Blandford is a village located in the northwesterly part of the town. The waters of North Meadow pond flow out through the stream known as Little river, and at the village it takes the waters from Long pond. This stream affords water power of some value, so that this has been a manufacturing vil- lage for a long time. Quoting from Gibbs: "Although the in- habitants of this town are (1850) principally employed in agricultural pursuits, its fine water-power is by no means neglected. At the falls, in the north village, the stream descends 150 feet within less than the same number of rods; affording several excellent mill sites."
"About 1812, A. M. Collins and others formed a company for the purpose of manufacturing woolen goods here, and the
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materials for erecting a factory, and the necessary machinery, were purchased. But the sudden depression of business at the close of the war, induced them to abandon the project. In 1822 another company was formed, under the firm of Sprague, Gibbs and Lyman, who completed the undertaking and manufactured that kind of goods for several years, and then dissolved, not having realized very large profits. In 1825 Mr. Freegrace Norton became proprietor, and he soon built a second factory and managed their operations successfully. In 1838 Edwin Ely be- came associated with him as a partner, whose manly course in his public and social relations, gained for him a high reputation for integrity, candor and ability. They also have (1850) a tan- nery under their control, and are doing an extensive business. In 1832 a paper mill for the manufacture of wrapping paper was erected by Lyman Gibbs, and is now (1850) carried on by W. H. & O. F. Gibbs." The value of the annual products of these mills was estimated at $50,000.
The tannery of David Bates, in the south part of the town, and that of Jarvis Osborn at the center, were profitably em- ployed. There were also several wooden ware manufactories that were doing good business.
Dr. Holland's history (1855) states, referring to North Blandford, that "The tanning business is pursued by Norton and Ely, who have $6,000 invested, employ 11 hands, and turn out $20,000 worth of leather yearly ; by Robinson and Bridgham, who have $3,000 invested, employ 6 hands, and produce $8,000 yearly ; by Alfred Peckham, with $2,000 invested, 5 hands, and a product of $8,000 yearly, and by David Bates, with $1,000 invested, 3 hands, and a product of $2,000 annually. The total amount invested in tanneries is $12,000, hands employed 25, total annual product $38,000. Foot & Kyle have $2,000 invested in the manufacture of bedsteads, employ 2 hands, and turn out $2,000 worth yearly ; Daniel Fay has $500 invested in the same business, employs 3 hands, and turns out a $1,000 yearly. Joseph Kitman makes $1,000 worth of butter prints, rolling pins, etc., yearly, and Gibbs & Brother $1,400 worth of wooden bowls. Lyman Gibbs has $4,000 invested in a paper mill whose operative
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force is 4 hands, and whose product is $4,000. Norton & Ely, and Gibbs & Brother have each a team constantly engaged in carting goods, lumber, leather, etc., between Blandford and the depot at Chester Factories, to an aggregate amount of not less than 500 tons annually."
At one time the business of making starch from potatoes was successfully prosecuted at North Blandford, consuming many tons of potatoes annually.
CHURCHES AT NORTH BLANDFORD
The meeting-house of the First Methodist church was built at North Blandford in 1845. Rev. J. B. Bigelow was the first pastor, and he was succeeded by Mr. Barnan, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Wood and others. In 1878 Rev. W. T. Miller was in charge, being also pastor at the Center until 1880, at which time the church numbered about 70 members. A few years ago the meet- ing-house was destroyed by fire; and as it was not rebuilt, the work of the church was discontinued, and the records were re- moved; so that a full list of pastors has not been obtained for this sketch.
The church at North Blandford at this time is the Second Congregational church, organized in 1893. The pastor in charge in 1901 was Rev. Sumner G. Wood, who was also pastor of the First Congregational church.
A Methodist Episcopal church of great antiquity is said to have once existed in the south part of the town at a place known as "Beach Hill" near the north line of Granville.
Blandford Village, where, and near which, the first settlers established their homes, is not a manufacturing locality. It is more particularly an agricultural section. But whatever else it produced, it produced men of sterling worth. Eli Boise was the first young man that went to college from Blandford. He entered Yale college in 1788, but died before finishing his course. William Boise graduated at Williams college in 1801, and became a clergyman. Joseph Boise graduated at Williams college in 1807 and became a lawyer. Patrick Boise graduated at Williams college in 1808, and became a lawyer and settled in Westfield.
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Artemas Boise graduated at Williams college in 1816 and en- tered the ministry. Gardner Hayden graduated at Williams college in 1816 and entered the ministry. J. Hooker Ashmun graduated at Williams college and became professor in the law school at Harvard university. Hon. George Ashmun graduated at Yale college in 1823, and became an able lawyer. He was a representative in Congress at one time. He was a prominent character, and had a national reputation. Lester Lloyd gradu- ated at Williams college and became a lawyer. He settled in
An old house on Blandford Hill
Ohio. Horace Smith graduated at Williams college in 1819, and became a lawyer. Asa Blair graduated at Yale college in 1810, and entered the ministry. Harper Boise graduated at Williams college in 1825 and entered the ministry. John P. Boise gradu- ated at Union college, and he became judge of a circuit court in Illinois. Augustus Collins graduated at Williams college in 1825 and became a teacher. Aratus Knox entered Washington col- lege, Hartford, Conn., in 1825, but died before completing the course. Russell A. Wilson graduated at Union college in 1823, and became a lawyer. Eli W. Lloyd was a member of the senior class in Union college, and died in Ohio in 1834, aged 22. Samuel
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Knox, son of General Alanson Knox, graduated at Williams college in 1833, and went into the practice of law at St. Louis, Mo. Custing Eels graduated at Williams college in 1830, and entered the ministry. Simeon Shurtleff graduated at Amherst college in 1834, and entered the medical profession. Chauncey Hall graduated at Amherst college in 1835 and entered the med- ical profession. Edwin Hall graduated at Jacksonville, Ill., in 1837, and entered the ministry. Tyrrill Blair graduated at Wil- liams college and entered the ministry. D. P. Robinson grad- uated at the Wesleyan university, Middletown, Conn., in 1841, and engaged in mercantile business in Blandford. James R. Boise graduated at Brown university in 1844 and became pro- fessor of Greek in that university. Franklin O. Blair graduated at the Wesleyan university in 1848 and became a teacher. James C. Hinsdale graduated at Yale college in 1848 and became a lawyer. . Patrick R. Boise graduated at Williams college in 1843 and became a lawyer. Fisher A. Boise graduated at Wil- liams college in 1849 and became a lawyer. Daniel Butler re- ceived a liberal education and entered the ministry. Henry Smith Atwater received a liberal education and entered the ministry. Catherine Wright and Celia Wright, daughters of Dr. S. P. Wright, Sarah Hinsdale, daughter of Rev. Chas. J. Hins- dale, Mary Pease, daughter of Eli Pease, and Mary P. Boise, daughter of Reuben Boise, all graduated at Mt. Holyoke sem- inary between 1842 and 1850.
Some superior men have been raised in Blandford, who had not the advantage of a collegiate education. Eli P. Ashmun was the first lawyer who took up his residence in this town. He sub- sequently represented Massachusetts in the United States senate; Gen. Alanson Knox, a lawyer; Reuben Knox, a skillful physician ; Joseph Knox, a lawyer; William Blair, a lawyer; Phineas Blair, a lawyer; David Scott, a lawyer, and judge of a circuit court in Pennsylvania; George Scott, a lawyer; David Scott, a physician; Anson Boise, a physician; Eli Boise and Levi Boise, brothers, were physicians; Thomas Baird, a law- yer; Eli and Otis Boise, physicians; Albert Boise, a lawyer; ยท William Baird, a physician; Chester W. Freeland, physician;
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Edward Hatch, a physician; Lewis J. Blair, a physician; Lester Noble, a prominent dentist ; Samuel S. Rogers, a physician ; Noah S. Bartlett, a physician; Heman S. Lucas, a physician, who settled in Chester ; Roxwell Tracy, a physician. Thus the record stood in 1850. It is probable that from that date to the present time others could be added to it. But perhaps this is enough to show the quality of the people who settled this town. What better evidence can we need that the town of Blandford was not settled in vain? As has been already explained, "most of the first settlers organized into a church under the Presbyterian form and usages, before they left Hopkinton." To quote now from Mr. Gibbs' address : "Their attention was early and earnestly directed to the establishment of the gospel ministry in this place. They seemed to feel as if their prosperity and well- being depended upon this object. The measures taken for hiring and ordaining ministers were transacted in town meetings, and, as appears from the journal of proceedings, formed a great por- tion of the business of the meetings. It was the only object for which they seemed willing to raise money and pay taxes. The church, as an independent body, gave the invitation to the minis- ters, while the town meeting in a parochial character, gave ad- vice and direction to the church. The Presbyterian mode of gov- ernment was continued until the year 1801. In the month of September of that year the church finding it 'inconvenient to practice according to the Presbyterian plan of government,' adopted a new and separate form of government, viz. : the Con- gregational."
The Rev. Mr. Keep gives the following description of the first meeting-house erected in this town: "The original pro- prietors of the town entered into a covenant with the first set- tlers, to set up the frame of a meeting-house, and to cover the outside and put in glass windows. This they were to do for the people, besides giving them ten acres of land in the center, for a common, and one hundred sixty-acre lots. The frame of the meeting-house was set up 1740. The men who assisted in raising it were most of them from Westfield and Suffield. The frame stood one year, the sport of winds and tempests, before it was
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covered. The boards which were used for the covering were brought from Southampton and Westfield. But the glass win- dows were not supplied until after a lapse of more than twelve years. Thirteen years the people met in the house for worship without any floor in it, excepting some loose boards, the earth, and the rock upon which it stood. Their seats were blocks, boards and movable benches. A plain box, instead of a pulpit, was used for the accommodation of the preachers. The first floor was laid in 1753, four years after the ordination of their second minister. In 1759 they 'Voted, To build a pulpit to make a pew for the minister, and to build seats in the body of the house, upon the ground floor.' This was a great effort as it was carried into effect. It was next allowed to individuals who felt disposed, to occupy either side of the house with pews, if they would make them at their own expense, and finish them by the end of the year, and build up the walls to the girts. In 1760 it was voted to lay the floor in the front gallery. The next year the gallery timbers on the sides were put up, and the stairs built. In 1781 it was voted to take up the seats in the body of the house, except two next to the pulpit, and to fill up the ground floor with pews. In the following year the two side galleries were made by taking the seats from below, and the walls ceiled up to the girts. In 1786 the house (forty-six years from the raising of the frame) was plastered. The steeple was built by subscription. In 1789 the town voted to give the subscribers liberty to erect a steeple, but refused to appropriate anything in aid of it. The year fol- lowing the town agreed to purchase a bell. In 1791 measures were taken to put on a new covering and to paint the same. In 1794 the timbers under the gallery were covered, and in the au- tumn of 1805, a few days previous to my ordination, the posts and some other timbers were cased, etc. Such is a brief history of this house for religious worship, and all must allow, consider- ing the manner in which it was built, that its appearance is quite as good as could be expected. We may look around these walls and say : 'Sixty and five years was this house in the process of building.' But we cannot add, 'Its glory corresponds with the use for which it was designed,' or, 'the circumstances of the
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people for whose accommodation it was erected.' Nor can we say, 'Lord, we offer the first and the best.' "
Mr. Keep also says, that "previous to 1775 the method of singing had been for all who felt disposed to join their voices, while the clerk or deacon read the line of the psalms as they were sung. To this method some were so attached as to plead a wounded conscience when any change was proposed." The leaders of church music were chosen at town meetings, and were under the implied, if not expressed direction, to conduct the singing in the "good old way." A modern chorister may smile at the following vote, passed as late as 1771. The question was raised whether the singing should be carried on with the beat ?- it was voted in the negative.
Caleb Taylor, of Westfield, was the first singing master who taught here and when he named the tune and sang with the beat, many were so grieved at the indecency of the method that they actually left the meeting-house.
"This church has been favored with talented preachers, who have exerted a salutary influence. Look at the graduating list of our colleges. Notice the number which have gone forth to preach 'Christ and him crucified' from this town." The follow- ing are the names of the pastors who have been settled over this society :
Rev. William McClenathan, settled 1744.
Rev. Mr. Morton, settled 1749.
Rev. Joseph Patrick, settled 1772.
Rev. Joseph Badger, settled, settled 1787.
Rev. John Keep, settled 1805.
Rev. Dorus Clark, settled 1823.
Rev. Charles J. Hinsdale, settled 1836.
Rev. Arthur W. Field, settled Nov. 13, 1872; dismissed April 23, 1879.
Rev. Daniel B. Lord, settled Dec. 15, 1880; dismissed May 31, 1883.
Rev. Allan Conant Ferrin, settled June 30, 1896; dismissed Sept. 19, 1900.
Rev. Sumner G. Wood, installed June 26, 1901.
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Mr. Gibbs adds: "Blandford took the lead in this region by erecting a new house for religious worship. This church edi- fice which was built in 1822, has been an honor to the town, and is spoken of abroad as being the noblest on the mountains." In a clear day this snow-white meeting-house can be seen from sev- eral points in Springfield.
The Episcopal Church was located on the westerly side of North street near the point where the road from Huntington enters this street. For many years this meeting-house stood a silent and deserted witness that an Episcopal society once ex- isted in Blandford.
The Protestant Episcopal Society in Blandford was incor- porated February 2, 1799. The corporators were Sanford Thom- son, Jedediah Smith, Russell Atwater, Timothy Hatch, Samuel Sloper, William Knox, 3d, William Thomson, David Hamilton, Joseph Harvey, David Butler, John Webster, James Beard, James Sennett, Luke Osborn, Jonathan Frary, Nathan Stewart, Frederick Falley, John Morton, James Slade, Thoda Garrett, David Hannum, James Hamilton, William Montgomery, Charles Plum, Perry Button, George Smith, Francis Hamilton, Benja- min Harrington, Samuel Moor, George Nies, Thomas Moor, Eze- kiel Cannon, Benjamin Bowers, John Bowers, Newell Bowers, Oliver Knox, Abijah Babcock, Jacob Plum, Jonas Johnson, Wil- liam Mitchell, David C. Osborn, Roger Parks, David Knox, 2d, Matthew Blair, Seth Webster, William Wooldridge, Phineas Ash- mun, Timothy Linus Hatch, Nathan Gibbs, Samuel Sloper, Jr., and John Frost.
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