USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 19
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The present admirable school system of the town dates its history from the early years of the century just ended, and especially to the year 1827, when the election of "sehool com- mittees" superseded the older method of managing the public schools. Originally the question first to be considered was the cost of maintenance, but under the new arrangement the chief object has been the elevation of the standard of the schools, while the expense of maintenance was a secondary consideration. This change came in the nature of radical reform and met with some criticism, but the benefits of the new system were so easily discernable that determined opposition soon subsided. Then, in the selection of school committees the townspeople have ex- ereised wise diserimination and men of known business capacity have been chosen to fill that office. The result has been in estab- lishing an educational system which is not excelled by any similarly situated town in the entire region and one that places the local schools on the same elevated plane with those of Spring- field, Westfield and Holyoke. The work of a competent corps of teachers, under careful superintendence, has been a factor in accomplished results, while the cordial support given by the taxpayers to the endeavors of committees and teachers and su- perintendents has worked advantageously in making for our schools the wide reputation they now enjoy. And in commenting on the splendid results accomplished in our high school during the last ten or fifteen years, some allusion must be made to the
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services of John C. Worcester, under whose principalship and largely through whose personal endeavors the present standard of excellence has been attained.
A century ago the town annually voted a few hundred dollars for the support of its schools; in the last eurrent year there was paid for salaries of teachers and superintendent the gross sum of $23.011.16, and for all school expenses the sum of $31,327.43. Still, in 1900 the population of the town was a little more than double the number in 1800. The schools of the town in addition to the high school are located and known as Mit- tineagne (two buildings), Park street, Main street, Meadow street, Bridge street, Riverdale, Ashleyville, Prospeet hill, Amos- town and Tatham.
Glancing over the town records and school reports it is found that these persons have served in the eapaeity of members of the school committee: Rev. Reuben S. Hazen, 1827-32. 34-35, 37-38: Dr. G. White, 1827-30, 35-36, 38; Samuel Lathrop, 1827- 29; Henry Ely. 1828-30: Horaee Palmer, 1827-28: Thomas Bar- rett, 1827-29: Rev. Wmn. B. Sprague. 1827; Rev. Thomas Rand, 1827; JJustin Ely. 1829; Hezekiah Griswold, 1830-33; Dr. Reuben Champion, 1830-31: Norman T. Leonard, 1829-30; Solomon Lathrop, 1830, 1832-35: Rev. Thos. E. Vermilye, 1831- 34 : Rev. Hervey Smith, 1831-39 ; Rev. Henry Archibald. 1831-32; Rev. Jno. W. MeDonald, 1833; Rev. Horatio J. Lombard, 1834- 35; Rev. John H, Hunter, 1836; Rev. Jonathan L. Pomeroy, 1836; Rev. P. Broekett, 1836; Elisha Eldridge, 1837; Aaron Day, 1837-38: Rev. Calvin Foote, 1837-38; Rev. A. A. Wood, 1839. 41-45: Dr. Reuben Champion, 1839, 1846-48; William Taylor, 1839; Palmer Gallup, 1839-43; Aaron Bagg, 1840; Horace D. Doolittle, 1840-41; William Gamwell, 1842; Rev. William L. Brown, 1843-45; Rev. Gideon Dana. 1844; Rev. Dillon Williams, 1844-45; Rev. Lester Lewis, 1846; Rev. Thos. Rand, 1846-47; Josiah Johnson. 1847-48; Rev. Ralph Perry, 1848-55; Rev. Simeon Miller, 1848; Daniel G. White, 1848-56; Rev. Asahel Chapin, 1848-49; Dr. P. LeB. Stiekney, 1849-51; Rev. Henry M. Field. 1852: Dr. Cyrus Bell. 1851-53; Dr. Nath- aniel Downes, 1853, 1856-57; Rev. Henry Cooley, 1854; Rev.
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S. D. Ward, 1854-55; Rev. Theron H. Hawkes, 1855-59; Rev. E. Scott, 1855; S. D. Warriner, 1855; Lewis H. Taylor, 1855; E. Clark, 1855; Amzi Allen, 1857, 1860-62; Jolmi B. Taylor, 1858; Riley Smith, 1858; James Newton Bagg, 1860-61, 69-70, 72-73: Nathan Loomis, 1861-63; Eden B. Foster, D. D., 1862-64; Rev. Ilenry M. Powers, 1862-65; Daniel F. Melcher, 1864-65, 1869; Ethan Brooks, 1864-67, 1871, 1892-93; Rev. Moody Har- rington, 1864; Rev. J. S. Batchelder, 1865-66; Rev. Perkins K. Clark, 1866-68; Daniel F. Morrill, 1866-69; Norman T. Smith, 1868-70, 1872-74; Dr. Herbert C. Belden, 1870; Emerson Geer, 1871-74, 77; Gideon Wells, 1871; Sarah Isabel Cooley, 1872-74; Angeline Brooks, 1872; Charles E. Merrick, 1872-76; James F. Hayes, 1878-92; L. F. Mellen, 1879; Henry F. Miller, 1880, 1883; Addison H. Smith, 1881, 1886-88; Lester Williams, 1882-85; Thomas O'Keefe, 1884; Urbane H. Flagg, 1886-88; Edwin Smith, 1889, 1892-94; F. M. Robbins, 1890; Henry C. Bliss, 1891; Charles MeKernon, 1892-94; Arthur A. Sibley, 1892-96; Edward F. Ely, 1892; George H. Lucas, 1894-97; Frank P. Sargent, 1894-97, 1900; Clarence E. Smith, 1894; Addison H. Smith, 1895-98; E .P. Bragg, 1895-98; John J. Lysaght, 1899; A. F. Royce, 1900; Henry E. Schmuek, 1901; J. P. Gaffney, 1901. School Committee, 1901 .- John J. Lysaght, clim., Frank P. Sar- gent, Arthur A. Sibley, Henry E. Selmmek, J. P. Gaffney, A. F. Royce.
The Library .- The first public library in West Springfield was established through the efforts of the parish minister, Rev. Dr. Lathrop, in 1775, with about 40 subscribers to the fund. The books are said to have been carried around from house to house in a large basket and patrons were permitted to select from the total number of less than 60 volumes which comprised the collection. This library was kept in existence until about 1807, when the books were divided among the owners. About 1810 a seeond library association was formed and was continued nntil about 1840. During the later years of its operation the books were kept in the town hall, and from this our present publie library has evolved.
In itself the present library is the outgrowth of individual enterprise in 1855, but after a brief period the books were
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turned over to the town for free distribution, subject to the sole condition that there be amally appropriated the sum of $50 for new books. This condition always has been more than eom- plied with, and in recent years the institution has received generous support from our taxpayers. The library is under the immediate charge of a board of trustees, chosen by the people. On the shelves are now about 6,000 volumes of well seleeted books. The board of trustees at this time comprises W. S. Bagg, Daniel G. White and Emma L. Bragg; librarian, D. G. White.
The Fire Department .- More than half a century ago a fire company for protection purposes was formed in the town, yet the regularly organized fire department is an institution of quite recent origin. In faet the West Springfield fire department is a comparatively strong and very ereditable organization and has no resemblance whatever to the department that existed here more than fifteen years ago. West Springfield, as a town, is known generally throughout New England as a fertile agricul- tural distriet, a desirable residence locality, as a well ordered township in all respects, with some claims to importanee as a manufacturing region; and in sneh towns casual observers are not prepared to discover all the appointments and elements of municipalities which in fact are found here.
West Springfield's fire department apparatus comprises two hook and ladder trucks, one horse hose wagon. one four- wheeled hose eart, two two-wheeled hose reels. one reverse reel, and one donble-tank chemieal combination wagon. The depart- ment also has all other apparatus necessary to a well regulated municipality. a good supply of serviceable hose, and an excellent system of fire alarm boxes and signals distributed over its terri- tory. For the operation of the apparatus and department equip- ment the town has four hose and two hook and ladder companies, known and located, respectively. as follows: Hose 1. Merriek; Hose 2. Riverdale volunteer company; Hose 3, Center: Hose 4, Mittineagne : Hook and Ladder 1. Merrick : Hook and Ladder 2, Mittineagne. The department offieers are (1901) Walter L. Smith, chief and superintendent of fire alarm system: Osear T. Roloff, Manuel M. Custer and A. C. Lewis, assistant engineers ;
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Clifford C. Haynes, elerk of board; Edward T. Fitch, Watson Phillips, Lewis A. Hubbard, E. C. Orcutt, Talcott A. Rogers, J. H. Lombra and B. Schladenhauffen, fire wardens.
The Water Supply .- Previous to 1893 the water supply of West Springfield, other than that obtained from private wells, was furnished by the West Springfield Aqueduct company, a private corporation originally organized in 1855, whose facili- ties for a general distribution of water for domestic and fire protection purposes was limited and not wholly satisfactory to the publie. In June, 1892, the town voted to take possession of the works, and in July, 1893, the water board presented its first annual report. From that time the members of the board have labored earnestly and with excellent results in solving the problem of furnishing an adequate water supply to all parts of the town. In accomplishing this many obstinate points were required to be overeome, but to-day the town rejoiees in an abundant supply of good wholesome water. Pumping, gravity and stand-pipe systems are employed and are operated at con- siderable expense, yet the desired end has been seeured. The work of completion and extension is carried forward each year under careful supervision, but under existing conditions a state- ment showing the actual eost and value of the system is not necessary in this place. The town paid the aqueduet company about $65.000 for its plant and franchises. The board of com- missioners is comprised of T. J. Sullivan, George N. Norris and C. M. Woodward.
ECCLESIASTICAL
The First Congregational Church .- In November, 1696, the inhabitants on the west side of Connectieut river, munbering thirty-two families received from the general eourt permission to "proeure and settle a learned orthodox minister to dispense the Word of God unto those that dwell there," and for that purpose the region now included within the towns of Agawam, Holyoke and West Springfield were constituted the Second parish in Springfield. In June, 1698, "The First Church in West Springfield" was organized, and Rev. John Woodbridge was installed pastor.
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Thus was established the mother church in our town, from which there have been organized in later years at least two early parishes and several churches. The first meeting house was built in 1702, and stood near the center of the park about ten rods south of the town hall. It is described as "an unique structure, 42 feet square on the ground and 92 feet high." There were three roofs, each succeeding story being smaller than the one preceding it. Until 1743 the people assembled for worship at the call of the drum, but in that year a bell was procured,
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The old Church on Orthodox Hill
which having been broken two or three times and reeast, was transferred to the present house of worship on the hill.
The second-the present -- house of worship was erected in 1801-2, and was dedicated June 20 of the latter year. The old edifice has frequently been repaired and extensively remodeled, yet it preserves much of its original appearance; and notwith- standing its age of a full hundred years. it is a substantial and attractive structure to-day. It stands on elevated grounds and
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its tall spire and clean white outline may be seen from points distant several miles in nearly every direction. Yet our fore- fathers in the town found themselves in a little dispute regard- ing the site on which the meeting house was to be built, and it was only when John Ashley came forward with a donation of 1,100 pounds for "the support of the ministry" on condition that he should be permitted to designate the building site that matter was amicably settled. An organ was first placed in the church in 1855: in 1860 the walls were freseoed, and in 1882 the entire interior was radieally remodeled. At the present time the membership numbers 126 persons, but we must remember that within the vast territory where this once was the only church there are now a dozen of various denominations, while within two miles from the old edifiee are two Congregational churches, both directly formed from this as the mother society.
Since 1877 the First church has not had an installed pastor, yet the pulpit has at all times been acceptably supplied. The pastors from 1698 to 1877 were as follows: John Woodbridge, June, 1698, died June, 1718; Samuel Hopkins, June 1, 1720, died October 5, 1755; Joseph Lathrop, D. D., August 25, 1756, died December 31. 1820; Wm. B. Sprague, D. D., Angust 25, 1819-July, 1829; Thos. E. Vermilye, LL. D., May 6, 1830-April 29, 1835; John II. Hunter, August 24, 1835-February 16, 1837; A. A. Wood, D. D., December 19, 1838-August 28, 1849; H. M. Field, D. D., January 29, 1851-November 14, 1854; T. II. Hawks, D. D., March 7, 1855-March 31, 1861; E. B. Foster, D. D., Oeto- ber, 1861-April, 1866; H. M. Grout, D. D., July, 1867-January, 1871; John M. Chapin, June, 1872, died October, 1872; E. N. Pomeroy, November, 1873-March, 1877. Ministers acting as pastors but not installed : H. B. Blake, October, 1877-June, 1879; Charles H. Abbott, June, 1879-April, 1883; Wm. A. Thomas, August, 1883, three years; Prof. C. Beardsley, about two years; George R. Hewitt, two years: Sidney K. B. Perkins, six years ; George W. Love, February, 1900, now serving as pastor.
The Mittineague Congregational church was organized in 1850, at a time when the mother church was without a pastoral head. During the eleven years in which Rev. Mr. Wood was
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pastor there were more than 200 additions to the old church membership, and a considerable part of this number were resi- dents in the vicinity of Mittineagne. This little village then was beginning to attraet some attention and the establishment of a new church there was deemed advisable. In 1852 the meet- ing house of the Methodists was removed from its original site to Mittineague and became the church home of the new Congre- gational society. The building was destroyed by fire February 22, 1879, and was very soon afterward replaced with the present
Town Hall and Park Congregational Church
edifiee. During this period of its history the pastors of the church were Revs. Henry Powers. Perkins K. Clark, H. M. Holden and John E. Hurlbut. From the time of its organization in 1850 the church has steadily increased in strength and in- fluence, and now has the largest membership of any Congrega- tional church in the town. the present number being 227. The pastor is Rev. Alfred M. Spangler; elerk of church. Eugene II. Shepherd : superintendent of Sunday school. F. O. Scott; Sun- day school membership, 185.
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The Park Street Congregational church was organized in 1871, when, at the close of the pastorate of Rev. Henry M. Gront in the mother church, seventy-two members withdrew and estab- lished the third Congregational society in the town. The with- drawing members were largely persons of influence and means, and by acquisition of other members the whole body caused to be erected the large church edifice on Park street, one of the most substantial and imposing public buildings in the town. It was built in 1872, and cost nearly $40,000. This church has a total membership of 171 persons, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. William H. Webb; clerk of church, Ethan Brooks; su- perintendent of Sunday school, Harry L. Brown; Sunday school membership, 160.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception in West Spring- field was the outgrowth of the missionary labors of Father Gallagher, who began saying mass in the town as early as 1861, and the Sunday school work inaugurated and carried on by John O'Brien, then an employee of one of the paper mills but now Rev. Father O'Brien. Mr. Melcher, then superintendent in the mill, encouraged the work, and on a lot donated for that purpose the Immaculate Conception church was built during the summer of 1878. It was dedicated November 3 of the same year. West Springfield was made a parish in 1877, and Father Phelan was appointed resident pastor. He was succeeded by Father O'Keefe and the latter by Father Moyer.
St. Thomas' church at Mittineague was built in 1869 by Father Healy, pastor of St. Michael's in Springfield, and for many years was under the care of Father O'Keefe and his assistants. The property here has been materially increased in value and the influence and work of the church also has been greatly extended. St. Thomas' is now under the charge of Rev. Father Griffin.
The First Methodist Episcopal church of West Springfield, located in Merrick, was organized May 14, 1876, but Methodism in the town dates back more than three-quarters of a century, and regular services of the church have been held here for more than sixty years. A house of worship was built on Elm street in 1843, and was removed to Mittineague in 1852 and became the
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home of the Second Congregational society. In 1872 Trinity M. E. church of Springfield planted a new mission on the west side of the river and held services in the school house and also in Centennial hall until the erection of the new house of worship on Main street in 1878. Rev. W. E. Knox was the first pastor in charge. This church now numbers 105 members, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. F. M. Estes.
The Mittineague M. E. church is of more recent organiza- tion and the result of the rapid ontspreading of Methodist in- fluence in the town. The church has a membership of 100 per- sons. and is under the care of Rev. H. G. Buckingham. pastor.
The school building-Mittineague
The West Springfield Baptist church, an offshoot from the State Street Baptist church in Springfield. was organized as a mission Bible school in 1870. and as a church October 10, 1876. The chapel. now the church edifice, was erected in 1872. The first pastor was Rev. O. D. Thomas. The only Baptist church in the town. naturally its membership is quite strong while the attendance at services is in all respects gratifying. During the period of its history seven pastors have served this church. Rev. Hugh J. Jenner. the last pastor, was called in May, 1895, and severed his connection with the society in October, 1901.
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Cemeteries .- The original burying ground west of the river antedates the organization of the town, and also the parish which preceded it, by many years, and to-day our best informed citi- zens have no more than traditional knowledge of its laying out for burial purposes. It was in use during the early years of the eighteenth century, but after the opening of the next century no interments were made there. It is located on what now is Church street, but evidences of its existence are fast passing away.
The old Town Hall cemetery is said to have been laid out about 1780, and that Solomon Lathrop was the first person buried there (1787). This burial traet is located between the town hall and the Park street church.
The Meeting House Hill cemetery, a part of the property of the First church parish, once comprised a part of the Benja- min Stebbins farm, and was laid out for burial purposes previous to the erection of the meeting house in 1800. This is the recog- nized cemetery of the town at the present time, and within its limits is located the handsome monument ereeted in memory of soldiers of the 10th Mass. regiment of infantry.
CHAPTER VI THE TOWN OF GRANVILLE
In the southwest part of Hampden county, bordering on the state of Connecticut and about twelve miles west of the river of the same name, is located the town of Granville, one of the most independent and interesting civil divisions of Hampden county, and one which has furnished to professional, public and business life in this and other states as great a proportion of its honored sons as any jurisdiction in the great Connecticut valley. Tradi- tion and reeord inform us that the entire region hereabouts was once owned and in possession of an Indian chieftain, named Toto, who was on terms of friendship with the whites and was
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willing to part with his lands for the mere compensation of a gun and sixteen gandy brass buttons.
So far as the chroniclers of Indian history give us any light on the subject, the original Toto was a friendly red man who dwelt in the vicinity of Windsor, in Connecticut, where during the period of King Philip's war he was a servant in the family of one of the white settlers; that just before the burning of Springfield in 1675, Toto imformed his master that King Phil- ip's warriors were concealed within the Indian fort, which stood on Peeowsie brook, and that they were awaiting a favorable op- portunity to attack, phuinder and burn the town, which they did on the next day. The subsequent history of Toto is unknown to us, and it may be that he possessed himself of this remote region of country, became its recognized owner, and that he parted with his title for the consideration mentioned. The present writer has no theory on this subject, yet it seems doubtful whether the friendly Toto of 1675 could have occupied the terri- tory of Granville half a century later and then sold his hill domain to the adventurous white man. Still, Granville has for more than a century been noted for the remarkable longevity of its inhabitants, and one authority states that between 1760 and 1810 one person in every thirty attained the age of ninety years.
The person to whom Toto sold his possessions was James Cornish, who soon disposed of a certain share of his estate to William Fuller, and both in turn, sold in 1713 to Atherton Mather, the latter the grantor party to the Bedford company of proprietors, the founders of the plantation of Bedford, the actual developers of the land. This purchase was made in 1715, and was confirmed by the general court in 1739. However, feel- ing seeure under their title, the proprietary offered their lands for sale, and in 1736 settlement was begun by Samuel Bancroft, who in that year moved from Springfield with his family and was the pioneer of the town. Bancroft himself had only one son, Jonathan, but before the close of an hundred years of the town's history the descendants of Samuel in the town numbered nearly one hundred persons. Jonathan's sons were Lemuel, Ethan and Samuel, from whom have come nearly all the later Bancrofts in Granville history.
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The proprietors evidently acted promptly in disposing of their lands, and sold to settlers and speeulators in traets varying in size, according to their means. And they appeared to have interested a considerable number of inhabitants of Connecticut, for very soon after pioneer Bancroft located here there came a goodly colony from Durham and settled on the plantation lands. In a letter written by Rev. Timothy Cooley, of honored memory, to Rev. W. C. Fowler we find a list of the members of the Durham colony, viz .: Ezra, Ebenezer and Amos Baldwin; John, John, jun., Jacob, Nathaniel and David Bates; Noah, Dan, Phineas and Timothy Robinson; David, Aaron and Ebenezer Curtis; Samuel, Aaron and Enoch Coe; John Seward (doubtful), Stephen Hitchcock, Isaae Bartlett, David Parsons, Roswell Graves and Benjamin Barnes.
Among the descendants of these settlers were several men who in later years achieved prominence in professional and public life. The list is an honorable one and is well worthy of reproduction in this place. Elijah Bates, who for many years ranked with the foremost men of the county, was the son of Nathaniel Bates. William Gelston Bates, the noted lawyer and the historian of the Hampden bar, was the son of Elijah and the grandson of Nathaniel Bates. Isaae Chapman Bates, Hamp- den county's only representative who ever attained to a seat in the senate of the United States, was a son of Col. Jacob Bates. Charles F. Bates, an attorney at law, was a son of Nathaniel Bates. Edward B. Gillett, for several years district attorney for the western distriet, and one of the ablest lawyers of Massa- chusetts in his time, was a grandson of Col. Jacob Bates; and Frederick Gillett, representative in congress at this time, is the son of the late Edward B. Gillett. David B. Curtis died in the serviee during the war of 1812-15. Rev. John Seward was a son of settler John Seward. Rev. Harry Coe was a grandson of Samuel Coe. Rev. David L. Coe also was a grandson of Samuel Coe. Gurdon S. Stebbins was a grandson of John Bates. Rev. Truman Baldwin was a son, and Rev. Benson Baldwin was a grandson of Amos Baldwin. Rev. Chas. F. Robinson died at St. Charles, at the confluenee of the Missouri and Mississippi
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