USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 18
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1878, Wm. Chapman. Harvey D. Bagg, John O. Moseley; 1879, Wmn. Chapman. Amos Russell. Aaron Bagg; 1880, Win. Chap- man, Aaron Bagg, Alexander Grant; 1881-82, Harvey D. Bagg, Alexander Grant. Rufus Ames; 1883, Amos Russell, Henry A. Sibley, Harvey D. Bagg: 1884-85. Harvey D. Bagg, Ebenezer S. Flower. Talcott A. Rogers; 1886-88, Ebenezer S. Flower, Taleott A. Rogers, James F. Hayes; 1889, James F. Hayes, Daniel F. Melcher, L. V. B. Cook; 1890, Daniel F. Melcher, James F. Hayes. Amos Russell : 1891-92. Harrison Loomis. Amos Russell, Talcott A. Rogers: 1893. Harrison Loomis. Amos Russell, James MI. Justin; 1894, James M. Justin, Harrison Loomis, Henry E. Schmuck: 1895, Harrison Loomis, Henry E. Schmek, Talcott A. Rogers: 1896, Harrison Loomis, John O. Moseley, Talcott A. Rogers: 1897. Talcott A. Rogers, Henry E. Schmuek, Dexter E. Tilley : 1898, Charles D. Farnsworth, Henry E. Sehmuek. Dexter E. Tilley : 1899-1901. Harrison Loomis, Charles D. Farnsworth, Michael F. Burke.
Assessors.1-Henry A. Sibley. L. V. B. Cook, Harrison Loomis, 1898; Harrison Loomis, 1899: Lycurgus V. B. Cook, 1900: Henry A. Sibley. 1901.
Town Clerks .- Dr. John Vanhorne. 1774: Dr. Chauneey Brewer. 1775-80: JJustin Ely. 1781: Aaron White, 1782-95; Sammel Lathrop, 1796-98; Seth Lathrop, 1799: Aaron White. 1800-12: Renben Champion, Jr .. 1813-21: Caleb Riee 1822-34: Reuben Champion. Jr., 1835-42: Michael Marsh. 1843-47 : Edwin F. Perkins, clerk pro tempore. 1847: Enoch N. Smith, 1848-53; Charles White, 1854: Lewis Leonard, 1855; Charles White, 1856- 62: Edward Parsons, 1863: John M. Harmon, 1864-78; George N. Gilbert. 1879: John M. Harmon. 1880-89; Elisha P. Barthol- mew. 1890: Fred H. Sibley. 1891-now in office.
Representatives to General Court .- Col. Benj. Day. 1774. '78: Major and Col. Benj. Ely. 1775, 1778-80. 1782. 1785, 1788- 89: Deacon Jonathan White, 1776-77. 1779. 1787: Justin Ely. 1777. 1780-85, 1790-97 ; Eliphalet Leonard, 1777; Abraham Bur- bank. 1780-81. 1783-84 : Capt. John Williston. 1786-89 : Jonathan Smith. Jr .. 1794-96. 1798-1811. 1814-19: Jere Stebbins. 1804.
1Previous fo 1898 the selectmen performed the duties of assessors.
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1808; Heman Day, 1805; Maj. Gad Warriner, 1805, 1809, 1814- 15; Col. Samuel Flower, 1806, 1810; Lieut. Charles Ball, 1806, 1808, 1809, 1811-12, 1815-16, 1820, 1827; Dr. Timothy Horton, 1807, 1810, 1811; Luke Parsons, 1807, 1810, 1813-14, 1822-23; Maj. Jesse McIntire, 1808; Elias Leonard, 1809, 1811, 1813; Capt. John Porter, 1812-13; James Kent, 1812-13, 1827; Horaee Flower, 1812. For later town representatives see county eivil list.
Town Officers, 1901 .- Harrison Loomis, Charles D. Farns- worth, Michael F. Burke, selectmen; Fred H. Sibley, town clerk and treasurer; Harrison Loomis, Lycurgus V. B. Cook, H. A. Sibley, assessors; Aaron Bagg, J. C. Worcester, auditors; Dr. l'. J. Flagg, H. A. Downey, M. D .. S. A. Bragg (agt.), board of health ; J. J. Lysaght (ehm.), Frank P. Sargent, Arthur A. Sibley. H. E. Sehmuck, J. P. Gaffney, 1. F. Royee, school com- mittec ; W. S. Bagg. Daniel G. White, Emma L. Bragg, trustees public library: Fred H. Sibley. Henry L. Norton. llenry C. Bliss, W. S. MeCartney, Ethan Brooks, justices of the peace.
As an important integral part of the mother town of Springfield the region called West Springfield was the seene of inany events of historie interest, to which allusion is made in the general chapters of this work. During the days of the parish character, which covered a period of nearly a century, the inhab- itants laid the foundation for the town itself, and when the aet of incorporation went into effect. many of the institutions of the jurisdiction were already established. In accordance with a general New England eustom an ample park was laid out and decorated with thrifty trees, a church society was formed and at least one good town school was regularly supported at the public expense.
In the year immediately preceding the organization of the town the authorities had formed and equipped two companies of minutemen who were regularly drilled in military taetics on the common, or green. as the park land was first known. There- fore, in April, 1775, when the news of the British attack on Lex- ington reached the west side of the river, this loyal people quickly prepared for duty and sent its companies on the march to
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Boston. The records of West Springfield soldiery throughout the period of the revolution are somewhat imperfect, yet the personnel of its companies of minutemen have been preserved. We know that these companies were prepared for service when their aid was needed, and we also know that on April 20, 1775, both troops started for the scene of action.
Capt. Chapin's company was made up as follows : Captain, Enoch Chapin; first lieutenant, Samuel Flower; second lieut- enant, Luke Day; sergeants, Abiathar Robinson, Joseph White, Joel Leonard, William Kendall, Jacob Day; corporals, Samuel Dumbleton, Timothy Leonard. Daniel White, John Kellum, Pela- tiah Bliss: fifers, Jared Smith, Andrew Goss; privates, Joshua Guile, Thomas Franeis, Oliver Dewey, Abel Chapin, Thomas Green, John Inglesbee, Joshua Chapman, Thomas Trescott, Vinton Leonard, Mishoek Remington, Edward Ely, Ebenezer Inglesbee, Enoch Ely, Gideon Jones, Chauncey Taylor, Roger Miller, David Rogers, Joseph Young, Gideon Morgan, Oliver Bagg, John Rockwell, John Burger, Abel Cooley, Dan Taylor, Lewis Ely, Timothy Day. Samuel Cooper, Benjamin Stebbins, Judah Bagg. Derriek Van Horne, David Merriek, Nathaniel King, Simeon Smith, Jesse Morgan, Joseph Copley, Joel Day, Benjamin Loomis, Jonathan Smith.
Major Colton's company of West Springfield minutemen was comprised as follows: Major Andrew Colton, captain com- manding; first lieutenant, Gideon Burt; second lieutenant, Wal- ter Pynehon ; sergeants, Aaron Steele, William White; corporals, Ambrose Collins, Luther Hitchcock; fifers, William Cotton, David Chapin; drummer, Lewis Chapin ; sentinels, Jeduthan Sanderson, Israel Chapin, Samuel Gridley, Alexander Bliss, Aaron Parsons, jun., Aaron Ferry, Gad Horton, Samuel Bliss, James Nash, Abel Hancock, jun., George Wright, jun., Matthew Langdon, jun., Peter Colton, John Stedman: privates, Abner Russell. Abel Cooley, John Warner, jun., Justin Smith, Samuel Edson, Patrick Nugent. Benjamin Parsons, John Ingersoll, Cal- vin Bliss, Henry Stiles, Luther Colton, Abner Cooley, Samuel Parsons, Noah Bliss, Joseph King. Caleb Cooley, jun .. Zadoek Bliss, Ebenezer Romerill, James Taylor, Spencer Merrick, Syl- vanus Hall. Moses Bliss, Joseph Parsons.
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It may be stated that the foregoing roster contains the names of a few who were members of the companies but who in fact did not then live within the boundaries of the town; and in like manner it also may be said that the roster by no means represents the contribution of West Springfield to the service during the revolution. The service of these companies at the time of the Lexington outbreak was comparatively short, and on their return home the men quite generally re-enlisted, and served for various periods in several localities during the war. Some of them found their way into the ranks of the continental army, and on one occasion Capt. Levi Ely's company of West Springfield men was a part of Col. Brown's Berkshire regiment in service in the Mohawk valley in the province of New York, taking part in the disastrous affair at Stone Arabia, where both Col. Brown and Capt. Ely were slain by the merciless savage horde set upon them by the British. We find, also, that West Springfield men participated in the other movements in New York in the expeditions against Ticonderoga and the Canadas. They gave excellent service to their country and some of them laid down their lives on the battlefield. The town's record throughout the war was commendable and the burden of debt created in providing for bounties, ammunition and supplies was cheerfully borne and paid by the survivors of the struggle and their descendants.
Tradition says that during the revolution the common-now the park-in West Springfield was the temporary camping ground of two British armies; that Gen. Amherst and his strong force of 7,000 men were encamped there for two days and nights, resting while enroute to Canada (this statement must be taken with liberal grain of allowance) ; and that later, in the early fall of 1777, Gen. Burgoyne's captive army was temporarily en- camped here while enroute to Boston. It may have been true that a part of Burgoyne's was halted in the town, and it also may have been true that a number of his soldiers were so favorably impressed with the locality that they renounced alleg- iance to the British arms and thereafter dwelt among the Amer- ican inhabitants of the vicinity. That the Hessian general,
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Riedesel, was the guest here of the venerable Rev. Dr. Lathrop we may not question, and that the acquisition to the town of such surnames as Miller, Isensee, Vanganeer, Hartunk, Worthy, Pol- loek, Salter, Staekman, Ewing, Ililliam, came from the captive Britons, we are not disposed to controvert. The extensive con- mon lands bordering on the river was the rendezvous of troops on various occasions, and in the course of a few years after the elose of the war the park tract was the appointed training ground of another force of men who sought to overthrow the authority of the state government, to abolish the courts, and to administer the laws according to their own ill-conceived notions of justice and right.
The insurrectionary movement known as Shays' rebellion was not confined to the demonstrations in West Springfield, al- though one of the leaders of the insurgent forees, Luke Day, and a numerous following eame from among the inhabitants of the town. And it cannot be claimed that followers of either Shays or Day were more numerous here than in several other towns, but it happened that the maleontents rendezvoused and were drilled by Day on the common, near the old tavern, a repre- sentation of which appears in this work. Loeally and generally the period was one of great excitement, and except for the timely and determined aetion of Gen. Shepard's militia, the combined forees of Shays and Day might have captured the arms and military stores of the government deposited in Springfield. For several days previous to the so-called battle, Day's followers had spread a feeling of panie among the quiet inhabitants of our town and by petty offenses against good order many families had been driven from their homes. In all Capt. Day's foree num- bered about 400 men and boys, all fairly well armed and drilled. Shays had sent a messenger aeross to Day informing the latter that he should join in an attack upon the armory on January 25, 1787. but Day's reply to the effeet that he could not be ready until the next day did not reach its destination ; therefore when the attack in fact was begun Day's men were not at hand but were held in cheek by the militia on guard at the erossing place. After Shays' ignominious defeat Gen. Shepard sent a strong
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detachment against Day's horde and quickly drove them from the town. Nearly all the people in anticipation of a determined confliet at arms had fled toward Tatham and Amostown, but Day's horde showed no disposition to give battle and fled up the river on the first approach of the militia. This was the end of Shays' rebellion so far as it related to our town, and after the ex- citement of the occasion was passed nearly all the insurgents re- turned to their homes and submitted quietly to the laws of the commonwealth. This eventful struggle is made the subject of extended mention in an earlier chapter in this work, henee needs no greater detail in this place.
After the end of this unfortunate affair, which (except for the few shots fired by Gen. Shepard's militia on the occasion referred to) was an almost bloodless war, then came an era of peace and progress previously unknown in loeal annals, and during the next two-score years the population of the town was nearly doubled. Indeed, in 1790, West Springfield contained 2,367 inhabitants, while the shire town across the river had only 1,574 inhabitants. At that time our own town, in point of population and value of lands, surpassed any other eivil division in what became Hampden county : and this prestige and supremacy were maintained until after Springfield became the seat of justice of the new county of Hampden, in 1812. However, let us turn to the statistics of the eensus reports and note the actual finetuations in population from the time of the colonial census in 1776 to the close of the nineteenth century: 1776, 1,744; 1790, 2,367; 1800, 2.835; 1810, 3,109; 1820, 3,246: 1830. 3,270; 1840, 3,626; 1850, 2,979; 1855, 2,090; 1860, 2,105; 1865, 2,100; 1870, 2,606; 1875, 3,739: 1880, 4,149; 1885, 4,448: 1890, 5,077; 1895, 6,125; 1900, 7,105.
From this it may be seen that the growth of the town from the year of its incorporation has been constant and healthful. The incorporation of Holyoke in 1850 took from the mother town about one-third of its territory and 3,245 inhabitants; and the ereation of Agawam in 1855 took another third of West Spring- field's original territory and 1543 more of its population.
During the period of the war of 1812-15, which in this loeality was a political struggle rather than a contest at arms,
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the town made little history, vet the occasion was one of much warm discussion between the advocates of peace at any cost and those who favored another conflict with Great Britain. The town records for this period furnish little of more than ordinary inter- est, but it is understood that in West Springfield there was more genuine loyalty to the American side of the contention than was exhibited in many other towns in the county. And it does not appear that this town openly declared in favor of the peace party, but that the delegates to the famous Northampton conven- tion-Pelatiah Bliss and Timothy Burbank-were only the representatives of a faetion in the division of publie sentiment. It is known that several West Springfield men were members of Major Jacob Bliss' brigade that set out for Boston in October, 1814, and were participants in what was known as Gov. Stone's war, yet we have not to record any losses of serious consequence during that struggle of a few weeks.
It was perhaps during that memorable period of American history known as the war of 1861-65 that this town achieved its greatest military record, for, as the story of the struggle is told in another chapter. West Springfield contributed liberally both of men and money for the maintenance of the federal union and the honor of the national flag. During the war the town is credited with having furnished for the several arms of the service an aggregate of two hundred men, who were divided among the regiments recruited in the county and vieinity. This was fully ten per centum of the town's population in 1860, but of all who entered the service the entire number did not return home at the end of the war : and to-day many loyal sons of the town are buried in southern graves. Others who returned died at home and are resting in the town cemeteries, and their mem- ory is preserved with the recurrence of each Memorial day and the splendid monument erected in the graveyard near the old church on the hill. The history of the several regiments in which were West Springfield men will be found in an earlier chapter of this work. hence further allusion to their service in this place is unnecessary.
As constituted within its present boundaries, West Spring- field contains an area of about 11.000 aeres of land and an aggre-
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gate population of 7,105 persons. Altogether, the town is fortunately situated and has perhaps less barren lands than many other towns bordering on the Connecticut ; and at the same time there is found here an unusual proportion of rich farming land, the equal of which no other town in this county ean boast.
The town's lands are sub-divided into districts, not by pro- cess of established authority but by the eustom of the people for convenient designation. During the early years of the century just passed a bridge was built aeross the river conmeeting this town with the mother town on the east side. In the course of a few years a little hamlet was established on the West Springfield side and when the place had gained sufficient business impor- tanee to warrant the location of a post-office there, the latter was given the name of Merriek, in allusion to one of the promi- nent factors in its history. Although without definite bounda- ries Merriek is a busy locality and contains the extensive works of the Springfield Glazed Paper company, incorporated in 1873 and capitalized at $100,000. This locality also has other impor- tant business interests and several institutions, the latter of which will be mentioned in their proper place.
In the southern central part of the town, on what properly is the Agawam part of Westfield river, but which is usually called Agawam river, about one and one-half miles from the Connecticut, is a busy locality, known as Mittineague, which originally was spelled Mittineaque. In the carly history of the region this was a favorite resorting place for the Indian in- habitants, who found an abundant supply of fish in the stream while the neighboring forests furnished them with flesh and fur- bearing animals. From time out of mind this locality was valued by the whites on aeeount of its natural water power advantages, but when the town began to assume a position of importance as a manufacturing distriet a substantial dam was constructed across the stream at Mittineague falls. This was done in 1840, and at the same time several factories were built. In 1848 the Agawam Canal company built an extensive cotton mill and sinee that time the hamlet has been noted for its manu- facturing enterprises. To follow the ownership of each succes-
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THE OLD TAYELNI STAND. CR
"The Old Tavern Stand"
A West Springfield memory; one of the few hostelries for which it is not claimed that Gen. Washington ever was entertained within its walls. It was, however, a rendez- vous for the self-styled Patriots who took part in Shays' Rebellion, and on the common in front of the tavern Luke Day, one of Shays' followers, assembled and drilled his troops, The magnificent ehn tree, shown on the right of the tavern. now shadows a dwelling house
THE TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD
sive factory is not deemed important in this chapter, but those of greatest importance at this time may be noted as the Agawam Paper Co. (built 1859), the Mittineague Paper Co., the South- worth Co., and the Worthy Paper Co., each an industry of prom- inenee and an extensive employer of labor, thus working for the good of the whole town and its people. The population of Mit- tineague is about one-third of that of the town, and all of its interests and institutions are progressive and permanent.
The region commonly known as Tatham occupies the ele- vated lands bordering on Westfield. It is a farming locality
A Valley View-Mittineague
several miles distant from Springfield, yet brought direetly in communication therewith through an admirable electric railway system. Tatham is well peopled with thrifty farmers and is in all respeets a desirable portion of the town. Amostown is a locality near the geographical center of the town, an agricultural distriet, and Ashleyville is a similar region in the northern part, bordering on the Connectieut. Its name is derived from one of its early prominent families. In this vicinity in years passed various business enterprises have been established and operated with moderate suceess, and while some minor interests are still
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there the region is chiefly peopled with farmers and market gardners.
Among the several thickly settled and specially designated localities of the town, that generally known as West Springfield enjoys the greatest historie interest and in many respects is the most desirable as a place of residence. Ilere, on the bank of the river and extending therefrom westward a considerable dis- tance, our worthy forefathers in the town thoughtfully laid out the spacious park and established the seat of town business, the first church and the school house on that and adjoining lands; and in making provision for ample roadways they also laid out Park and Elm streets in unusual width and planted them on both sides with thrifty trees. For many years the care and preservation of these highways entailed considerable labor and expense, but now every resident of the town commends the action of the early settlers and points with pride to the many evidenees of ancestral thrift.
As a business center West Springfield never has claimed especial prominence, yet from the days of the parish to the present time at least one good store has been kept there. As early as 1802 a post-office was established, with Jere Stebbins as postmaster in charge. lle was followed by Benjamin Steb- bins, Miner Stebbins, Elias Winchell. Henry Cooley, Edward Southworth. M. M. Tallmadge, Michael Walsh. Lester Williams and Dr. P. LeB. Stickney, in the order named. all serving prior to 1850. The first town hall was built in 1820, and the second, the present building occupied for that purpose, and also in part for the high school and fire department uses, was ereeted in 1873, at a eost of more than $38,000. Occasional additions to the building have been made necessary by the constant increase of the town's population.
Schools .- The school system of West Springfield antedates the history of the town itself by more than a century, and had its beginning previous to the incorporation of the parish. On this branch of local history the records give us only uncertain light. for tradition says that a school was opened on the west side of the river several years before the Second parish was
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TIIE TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD
established. As early as 1654 school lands on Chicopee plains were set off and for many years the avails thereof were applied to school support. As settlement increased sehool houses were opened in several localities, but it was not until after the adop- tion of state laws relating to education that a regular system was put in operation in the town.
Previous to 1774 the schools were supported by the mother town of Springfield and while the authorities thereof made some provision for the maintenance of schools west of the river, it was
Main Street School
not the generous support given them by the new town of later years. Beginning with 1704 the records of Springfield make frequent reference to the school west of "the great river," and in 1706, in answer to a petition from the inhabitants of the Second parish, it was voted to have a school house built under the supervision of Deacon Parsons, Samuel Day and Samuel Ely. In 1708 it was voted that the selectmen provide the "west side inhabitants" with a "meet person to teach children to read
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and write." In 1711 the selectmen engaged Benjamin Colton to "keepe the school," and agreed to pay him 20 pounds for one- half years' teaching. In 1713 Nathaniel Downing was employed as teaeher for the "terme of halfe a yeare" at the price of 15 pounds, the worthy teacher being allowed a "fortnight time in said halfe yeare for his harvest and getting in his hay." In 1721 John Hooker was employed as teacher, followed by John Woodbridge in 1726, Samuel Ely and John Ashley in 1731, John Ely in 1734, and Nathaniel Atchison in 1735.
Anthorities do not agree as to the time of building the first town school house, and it is said that none in fact was built for
School building
actual school purposes earlier than 1737. However this may have been is unimportant, but it is known that the recognized school of the parish was a substantial wooden building. two stories high and stood on the common. The records indicate that it was erected in 1752, and West Springfield tradition has it that it was ocenpied for school purposes many years-even to the time when high schools became established by general law, and that this building was occupied as such an institution.
When West Springfield became a separate town the anthori- ties established a new system of schools, and in later years, as
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THE TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD
the population continued to increase, the territory was divided into convenient distriets. In the center district a new school house was built in 1818 on the site where now stands the town hall. It was a brick structure, containing three rooms for pupils on the first floor, while the floor above was occupied for town purposes. The old building was removed in 1873 and gave way to the present town hall and high school. At the time it was believed that the new structure would answer the required pur- pose for at least half a century, but instead thereof the rapid growth of the town has necessitated various enlargements; and notwithstanding the considerable addition made in 1901 there is no surplus room.
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