USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 30
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Schools .- There are nine school houses in the town, one at the Centre, one at North Chester, one at Littleville, one in the Bromley neighborhood, one north of Chester Centre, one in the Ingalls neighborhood. one at the Miea Mills on the river road from Huntington to Chester Factories, one at Round Top. and two at Chester Factories.
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THE TOWN OF CHESTER
The public schools have always been well looked after in Chester. Expenditures for schools during the past year amounted to about $6.600.
There is a public library at Chester Factories containing 2,634 volumes. The trustees are Timothy Keefe and Frank Fay.
The village of Chester Factories is equipped with a good water service, and with an electric light serviee.
There are two hotels, the old hotel now kept by William H. Day, and the White hotel near the railroad station, kept by William R. White.
Lawyers .- Marshall Wilcox, when a young man and located in Otis, had an office in Chester and spent a portion of each week here. He was succeeded by Henry D. Filley, a son of Lester Filley of Otis, one of the well known lawyers of Berkshire county.
Franklin D. Richards was there several years in the fifties. He was succeeded by Edward H. Lathrop, who came to Chester about 1861.
Clayton D. Smith, a native of Chester, has been located at Chester Factories several years.
Physicians .- Dr. Heman S. Lucas settled in Chester as a practicing physician in 1844. Since that date the following named physicians have practiced in Chester Factories : Dr. Hill, Dr. Brewster. Dr. Fay, Dr. Fiske, Dr. Couch. Dr. Howe.
The physicians now in practice are Dr. Howard E. Wilson, Dr. Oscar J. Shepardson and Dr. Markham.
In Barber's "Historical Collection of Massachusetts", pub- lished in 1839, is the following touching Chester: "Population, 1,290. In 1837 there were 2 eotton mills; eotton spindles, 1,690; cotton goods manufactured, 225,000 yards ; value, $22,075 ; males employed. 13: females, 22. There were 1.055 Saxony sheep, 2,495 merino, and 170 of other kinds of sheep; average weight of fleece, 2 and three-fourth pounds: value of wool produced, $5.817.38; capital invested, $11,347. There were 3 tanneries; hides tanned, 33,500: value of leather tanned and curried, $10,900: the value of window blinds manufactured. $15.000; males employed, 14; females, twenty-six".
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Population .- In 1776, 405: 1790, 1,119; 1800. 1,542; 1810, 1,534; 1820, 1,526; 1830, 1.407: 1840, 1,632; 1850, 1,521; 1860, 1,314; 1870. 1.256: 1875, 1,396: 1880, 1,473; 1885, 1,318; 1890, 1,295: 1895, 1.429: 1900, 1,450.
CIVIL, LIST OF CHESTER
Representatives to the General Court .- 1775, Enoch Shepard : 1780, Timothy Lyman; 1782. Jesse Johnson.
February 21, 1783. the name of the town was changed from Murrayfield to Chester, and the representatives eleeted after that until 1812 were: Reuben Ilatton, Elijah Blaekman, John N. Parmenter.
Selectmen Prior to the Division of Murrayfield .- 1766-67, Timothy Smith. John Smith, Malcom Henry; 1768, Caleb Fobes, Timothy Smith. William Miller : 1769. Ebenezer Meacham, James Hamilton. Abner Smith; 1770. John Kirtland, Timothy Smith, David Scott: 1771, Timothy Smith, Samuel Matthews, Edward Wright : 1772, Maleom Henry. David Shepard, John Kirtland; 1773. Maleom Henry, JJohn Kirtland, David Shepard. Abner Smith.
Town Clerks .- 1766. Malcom Henry; 1768, John Smith; 1771-4. David Shepard. The act setting off the district of Nor- wich was passed June 29. 1773. and on the 16th of August fol- lowing a town meeting was held in Murrayfield, at which vacancies in town offices caused by such division of the town were filled. and the board of selectmen for the remainder of the year stood thus: Maleom Henry. David Shepard, Abner Smith. Wm. Campbell : 1774-75. Jesse JJohnson. James Hamilton, David Shepard: 1776, David Shepard. James Hamilton, Timothy by- man : 1777, Enoch Shepard. James Hamilton, Timothy Lyman ; 1778. Timothy byman. James Hamilton, John Blair: 1779, Jesse Johnson, Timothy Lyman. John Blair: 1780, Timothy Smith, John Blair, Jesse Johnson: 1781, John Kelso, Samuel Jones, Samuel Bell : 1782, John Blair, William Campbell. Jabez Traey.
After the Name was Changed from Murrayfield to Chester. - 1783. John Blair, William Campbell, Timothy Lyman : 1784. Timothy byman. John N. Parmenter, William Stone; 1785,
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William Campbell, Timothy Lyman, Gershom Rust; 1786, Elijah Blackman, Timothy Lyman, Noadiah Seaward; 1787-88, James Hamilton, Nathan Wright, William Sizer; 1789, Timothy Lyman, James Hamilton, Jolm Elder; 1790-91, David Shepard, Timothy Lyman, John N. Parmenter: 1792, Timothy Lyman, Ephraim Miller, John N. Parmenter; 1793, John N. Parmenter, Timothy Lyman, Eleazer Wales; 1794, Timothy Lyman, Abraham Day, John N. Parmenter; 1795, David Shepard, Timothy Lyman, Abraham Day; 1796, John N. Parmenter, Timothy Lyman, Jason Wright : 1797, David Shepard, Ozias French, Ephraim Miller; 1798. Juda Willey, Elisha Wilcox, David Shepard, Zadock Ingall, William Toogood; 1799, Samuel Bell, Jason Wright, Juda Willey; 1800-4, Asa Slayton, William Elder, Simon C. Holland; 1805, William Elder, Sylvester Emmons ; 1806, Asa Slayton, Jacob Day, Samuel Bell; 1807, Samuel Bell, Seth Phelps, Silas Freeman ; 1808, Samuel Bell, Sylvester Em- mons, Silas Freeman, jr .. Silas Kingsley. Daniel Smith; 1809, Sylvester Emmons, John N. Parmenter, William Wade; 1810, Sylvester Emmons, John N. Parmenter, William Taylor; 1811, Sylvester Emmons, William Taylor, Horace Smith: 1812, Syl- vester Emmons, William Taylor, Horace Smith; 1813, William Taylor, Horace Smith, William Wade; 1814 William Taylor, Horace Smith, William Wade; 1815, Samuel Bell, John Ellis, Samuel White; 1816, Samuel Bell, John Ellis, Ebenezer Whip- ple : 1817, Samuel White, James Nooney, jr., Asa Wileox: 1818, Sammel White, James Nooney, jr., Asa Wilcox; 1819, Sylvester Emmons. Asa Wilcox, James Nooney, jr .; 1820, Sylvester Em- mons, Asa Wilcox, Sylvester Belden ; 1821, Asa Wileox, Sylvester Belden, Isaac Whipple; 1822, Isaac Whipple, James Nooney, jr .. Charles Collins: 1823, Isaae Whipple, James Nooney, jr., Charles Collins : 1824, Isaae Whipple, James Nooney, jr., Charles Collins ; 1825, Charles Collins, Samuel B. Stebbins, John Hamil- ton : 1826, Charles Collins, John Taylor, James Elder; 1827, James Elder. Timothy Lyman, Forbes Kyle; 1828, Forbes Kyle, Moses Gamwell, William Henry: 1829, Moses Gamwell, Samuel B. Stebbins. Norid Elder; 1830, William Shepard, Lewis Collins, William Henry : 1831, William Henry, John Hamilton, Jonas
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Parmenter: 1832. Jonas Parmenter, lector Campbell, William Shepard : 1833, Jonas Parmenter, Ilector Campbell, Otis Taylor; 1834. Jonas Parmenter, Hector Campbell, Otis Taylor; 1835, Jonas Parmenter, Hector Campbell, Otis Taylor: 1836, Samuel Bell. Hector Campbell, Thomas F. Plunkett: (Plunkett moved out of town and Jonas Parmenter succeeded. ) 1837, William Shepard, Samuel Bell, Isaac Stevens: 1838. Samuel Bell, Isaac Stevens, William Moore; 1839, Isaac Stevens, William Moore, Reuben L. Bromley: 1840. Forbes Kyle. Reuben L. Bromley, Samuel Henry : 1841. JJotham Clark, Samuel Henry, Adam Ham- ilton: 1842. lonas Parmenter. Cheney Ingall. Camden H. Bab- cock : 1813. Cheney Ingall. Benjamin Little, Rufus Tinker; 1844, Sammel Bell, Jonas Parmenter, Eli Knox: 1845, Jabin B. Wil- liams, Forbes Kyle, Joshua Bemis: 1846. David Smith, Camden II. Babcock. Leverett Knox; 1847. Cheney Ingall. Daniel Fry, Edwin Wilcox : 1848, Daniel Fry, David Cannon. David Smith; 1849-50. Daniel Fry, David Cannon, David Smith, Jonas Par- menter. Ely Wilcox: 1851-55. AAbner Sampson, Jolin Bemis. Ely Howe. Samuel Stebbins, David Smith, Alvan Rude, Henry Dewey. Adam Hamilton: 1856, Albert E. Wright. B. B. East- man. Silas P. Searl: 1857, David Smith, O. W. Gibbs, Joshua Bemis: 1858. David Smith, Charles W. Knox. Joshua Bemis; 1859. David Smith, Charles W. Knox, John Carrington : 1860, David Smith, Joshua Bemis, Sammel Stebbins: 1861-62. Charles W. Knox. Joseph C. Kelso. E. D. Ormsby : 1863, E. D. Ormsby, Charles W. Knox, Alfred S. Foot; 1864. Charles W. Knox, Alfred S. Foot. Joseph Kelso: 1865. Charles W. Knox. George C. Williams, B. B. Eastman : 1866-7. Charles W. Knox. Charles M. Bell. George Taylor: 1868. Charles W. Knox, Charles M. Bell. Amos S. Cone: 1869, Charles M. Bell. Amos S. Cone, Ely Wileox : 1870, Charles W. Knox. David Smith, Joshna Bemis; 1871, Henry D. Wilcox, David Smith, Amos S. Cone: 1872, Charles W. Knox. Charles M. Bell. Amos S. Cone : 1873, James King. E. F. Pease, Amos S. Cone: 1874. Charles W. Knox, Charles M. Bell. Amos S. Cone: 1875-6. Charles W. Knox, Alphens Willeutt, Amos S. Cone: 1877-8. Charles M. Bell, Ulpheus Willoutt. J. H. Fiske: 1879. Charles II. Warner, George
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THE TOWN OF CHESTER
H. Hapgood, Jason H. Fiske; 1880, Charles H. Knox, Charles M. Bell, Stephen W. Moore; 1881, James A. Jones, Alpheus Willeutt, Amos S. Cone; 1882, Charles H. Knox, Alpheus Will- eutt, Amos S. Cone; 1883, Charles II. Knox, Alfred S. Foot, Joshua W. Bemis; 1884-5-6, Charles H. Knox, Alfred S. Foot, Joshua W. Bemis; 1887, Charles H. Knox, Moses Clark, Joshua W. Bemis; 1888, Charles H. Knox, Moses Clark, Joshna W. Bemis ; 1889, Major A. Snow, Moses Clark, Clarence M. Woods; 1890-1, Major A. Snow, Moses Clark, Joshna W. Bemis: 1892, Moses Clark, Major A. Snow, Clarence M. Woods; 1893, Major A. Snow, Clarenee M. Woods, Edward L. Higgins; 1894, Clayton D. Smith, Clarence M. Woods, Edward L. Higgins; 1895-6, George H. Hapgood, Edward L. Higgins, Clarenee M. Woods ; 1897, George H. Hapgood, Clarence M. Woods, Charles Z. Ingall ; 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, George H. Hapgood, Clarence M. Woods, Charles Z. Ingall.
Town Clerks After Division of the Town .- 1774-7, Samuel Matthews: 1777-98. David Shepard; 1798-1806, Gideon Mat- thews, jr .; 1806, Sylvester Emmons; 1807-9, Martin Phelps; 1809 to 1815, Anson Boise; 1816, Samuel Phelps; 1817, William Henry; 1818, Isaiah L. Baker; 1819 to 1825, William Henry; 1826-27-28, Ashael Wright ; 1829-30-31, Hector Campbell; 1832- 33-34-35-36, Forbes Kyle; 1837-38-39-40, Otis Taylor; 1841, David B. Tinker; 1842, Otis Taylor; 1843, George Whitney; 1844, Otis Taylor; 1845, George Whitney; 1846, Otis Taylor; 1847-48, Aurelins C. Root; 1849, Henry D. Filley, who died and was succeeded by Aurelius C. Root; 1850 to '52, Otis Taylor; 1853, John B. Elder: 1854, Camden H. Babcock; 1855, John B. Elder; 1856, Charles W. Knox ; 1857, Franklin D. Richards; ! 1858, Otis Taylor; 1859-60, Camden H. Babcock; 1861-2, Chris- topher C. Campbell; 1863 to 1871, Timothy Keefe ; 1872 to 1902, George N. Cone.
The list of Chester men who served in the eivil war, so far as ean be aseertained, is as follows: Samuel L. Atwood, 31st Mass .; Joseph S. Bemis, 34th Mass .; Edward D. Bemis, 62d N. Y .; Edson D. Bemis, 31st Mass .; Watson Carr, 27th Mass .; Eli Carter, 36th N. Y. ; Wilman W. Clark, 31st Mass .; Andrew
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Crow, 10th Mass. : Frank JJ. Childs. 10th Mass .; Franklin W. Dewey. 10th Mass .: Oscar D. De Wolf. surg., Ist Mass. Cav .; D. Albert Fairfield. 34th Mass .: George Garland, 10th Mass .; Peter E. Herbert. 10th Mass .; George W. Howe, 10th Mass .; Luke Havey. 3Ist Mass. : Martin Kennedy, 22d Mass .: William Meacham, 10th Mass .: Michael MeGratty, 34th Mass .: Dwight Mallison, 37th Mass .; Elijah Meacham, 34th Mass .; Edwin O. Messenger, 10th Mass .; Lester II. Quigley, 27th Mass .; Charles Fay, 46th Mass .; Edward E. Quigley. 31st Mass .; George F. Smith, 31st Mass .: Henry Talmage. 31st Mass .: George W. Trnell, 27th Mass. : Henry Town, 99th N. Y .; Henry H. Weeks, 27th Mass. : E. D. Winslow, chaplain, 19th Mass .; George Riley, unknown; Zachariah Longley, 10th Mass .; Samuel Ladd, 27th Mass .; Henry Robinson, 27th Mass .; Charles H. Smith, 27th Mass. : Ilenry Raftis, 27th Mass .; Harrison Moore, 4Ist Ohio; Dennis Coffin, 46th Mass. ; Joshua W. Bemis, 46th Mass .; Oliver C. Burr, 46th Mass .; Cyrus L. Belden, 46th Mass .: Lanson P. Carter, 46th Mass .: Joseph Chartier. 46th Mass .; Henry E. Dimock, 46th Mass. : William C. Dunham, 46th Mass .; Edward Dewey, 46th Mass .: William K. Jackson, 46th Mass .; James Keefe, 46th Mass .: Francis Otis, 46th Mass .; Albert H. Sander- son, 46th Mass .: Charles F. Smith, 46th Mass .; George W. Wright, 46th Mass. W. H. Waterman, D. B. Richmond. Edward Fitzgerald, Samuel Pease, Daniel Dowd, Joseph Whipple, Thomas Connors, James Scanlin. Horatio Holmes. JJohn Moore and William M. Wright who died in Andersonville prison.
Soldiers of the Revolutionary War .- The town of Chester, then Murrayfield, was staunehly loyal to the cause of Independ- enee as has been shown in an early part of this history. The minutemen who marched to Cambridge from Murrayfield in Col. Seth Pomeroy's regiment in April, 1775, were David Shepard. James Clark. Gershom Rust. John MeIntire, Russell Dewey. George Williams. Nathan Wright. Benjamin Wright. John Blair, | Asa Gould. Benjamin Eggleston, James Geer, Archelus Ander- son. The men who enlisted and went in Col. David Brewster's regiment. 9th Continental. April 24. 1775. were Capt. Maleom Henry. Sergeant William French, William Spencer Smith,
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Joseph Henry, William Foot, John Elder and Ezekiel Snow, and they were discharged the following October. John Laccore, David Blair, George Blaek, William Moore, Thomas Elder and Thomas Smith were in service a short time. In 1776 David Bolton, William Smith and Eli Woolworth went into service in C'ol. Dike's regiment. October 21, 1776, the men named below joined Col. John Mosley's regiment and marehed to Mount In- dependence under command of Lient. Col. Timothy Robertson : Enoch Shepard, captain ; William Campbell, lieutenant; Ger- shom Rust, John MeIntire, Nathan Wright, sergeants; John Elder, corporal: Edward Wright, fifer, and the following privates : Alexander Partridge, James Bentley, Ebenezer Free- man, Allen Geer, Thomas Elder, William Elder, Ebenezer Stowe, John Smith, Lemuel Laccore, Abner Smith and Jonathan Wait. Their term of service was 28 days.
March 1, 1777, Jehiel Eggleston and James Fobes enlisted for three years or during the war. Patrick King enlisted Deeem- ber 19, 1778; Elijah Brewer enlisted in July, 1780; Joseph Win- ter. Franeis Thomas and Ebenezer Smith enlisted July 19, 1779, for nine months. John Thompson was drafted and went into Col. Mosley's regiment. In 1780, John Carlile, William Carlile, Alexander MeCullen, William Harris, Timothy Smith, Jesse Wright, Elijah Brewer, James Moore, Daniel Babcock, Abra- ham Converse, Isaac Converse, Jude Jones, Samuel Woolworth, Nathan Matthews, Nathaniel Babcock and Primus Hill served for six months. Another list of six months men are Joseph Gilbert, Patrick King, Leonard Pigue, Noah Wilson, Moses Barr, John Carlile. William Carlile, Alexander MeCullen, Joseph Win- ter, Timothy Smith, Jesse Wright and William Harris. Justin Rust, Samuel Rust, Quartus Rust, Edward Taylor, Archelus Anderson, Elijah Stanton, Alexander Meela, John Curtis. Elijah Brown, enlisted in 1781.
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CHAPTER XI
THE TOWN OF HOLLAND
In 1731 a considerable tract of land on the eastern border of Hampshire county, on which settlement had been made during the twenty-five years preceding that time, was made a provisional jurisdiction by the name of Brimfield. This territory was in- corporated as a town in 1731. and as settlement afterward in- creased the creation of other distriets became necessary. In 1762 the south half of Brimfield, as then constituted, was formed into a district by the name of South Brimfield, and in 1766 this south- ern region was itself divided into east and west parishes. On August 23, 1775. these parishes were incorporated into a town by the name of South Brimfield. and thereupon became a eivil division of the county.
But it appears that the creation of the town soon gave rise to many inconveniences on account of the situation of the lands, and the welfare of the inhabitants demanded another division of the new territory. This was accomplished in 1783, when, on July 5, the general court passed "An act to incorporate the east parish of South Brimfield into a district by the name of Hol- land," the effective portion of which aet reads as follows: "Whereas the inhabitants of the east parish in the said South Brimfield have represented to this court the many inconveniences they labor under. arising from their connection with said South Brimfield: for remedy thereof.
"Be it enacted. " etc .. "That all the lands and inhabitants of South Brimfield aforesaid lying and being on the east side of the county road leading from Brimfield to Union. in the state of Connecticut. ealled and known as the South Meadow road there,
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THE TOWN OF HOLLAND
be and is hereby incorporated into a separate district by the name of Holland, and invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities that distriets in this commonwealth are entittled to according to law, or do or may enjoy." The act also directed Abner Morgan, justice of the peace, to issue his warrant to some principal person in the new district for the purpose of assem- bling the inhabitants in meeting for the election of officers. Under the law the district was to all intents and purposes a town, except that it was not entitled to a separate representative in the general court ; and this right was not granted until May 1, 1836.
Geographically, Holland occupies the extreme southeast cor- ner of the county ; being bounded on the east by Worcester coun- ty and on the south by the Connectieut line. The central part of the town is 69 miles distant from Boston, 28 miles from Spring- field, and 12 miles from Palmer. Although its inhabitants are allied to the people of the adjoining towns in Hampden county, their associations are largely with those of Sturbridge on the east and Union on the south. These are the natural and most con- venient trading places; for Holland is remotely situated from Springfield and other county markets, and communication with them is attended with many inconveniences. This situation always has worked adversely to Holland interests, as a Hampden town, and while varions remedies have been suggested to relieve existing conditions none has been carried into effect, and the townsmen, consulting their personal interests, naturally turn to the localities east and south of them.
Settlement .- The early settlement of Holland was accom- plished while the territory formed a part of the mother town of Brimfield, and when the latter was divided that which now constitutes this town contained nearly 300 inhabitants. However, in treating of this interesting portion of the town's history, it is difficult to separate Holland from Brimfield, for much that might be said of the latter naturally applies to the former. But it may be said, without fear of contradiction, that for more than a century Holland has been regarded as one of the most inde- pendent jurisdictions of the county, and from the period of its earliest occupancy its people have been noted for their truly
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democratie customs in domestic life. This is to their honor, for here the people ever have struggled against difficulties and have not received the recognition nor advantages to which they were by right entitled. Still the town has prospered and its inhabitants by personal effort have established and maintained institutions worthy of larger towns.
According to recognized authority, the pioneer of Holland was Joseph Blodgett, one of the original proprietors and for
Itotland Pond
many years one of its foremost men. When the proprietors made a division of their lands. Mr. Blodgett drew lot No. 67. This drawing was confirmed by the general court in 1732, yet the pioneer probably had established himself in the town as early as 1725, In later years he took an active interest in local affairs. filling several important offices, and he was equally earnest in his endeavors in behalf of the church. He was a surveyor as well as farmer and the records make frequent reference to his work.
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His house was on the South Meadow road which led from Brim- field to Union, and which divides the towns of Holland and Wales. Pioneer Blodgett had several sons, one of whom, Jonas, was the last surveyor and elerk of the proprietors of Brimfield. He died in 1839 at the advaneed age of 95 years. He was per- haps more conspienous in town affairs than his father, and was one of the first board of selectmen, serving several years in that office. The family name Blodgett has always been represented in the town by men of character and integrity, and some of them have been chosen to places of trust and responsibility.
When the pioneer led the advanee of eivilized white settle- ment into this then remote part of Hampshire county, his action was regarded as hazardons because of the dangers which were supposed to attend life in the wild and almost unknown regions of old Brimfield. But within a short time after Joseph Blodgett had built his eabin and prepared a little traet of land for eulti- vation, other settlers began to come and occupy their lots, and in the course of two or three years a little settlement had sprung up. Among the comers of this period there may be mentioned the names of John Webber. Ebenezer Wallis, Enoch Hides, John Bishop, Jonathan and Robert Brown, nearly all of whom brought families and shared with the pioneer the vicissitudes of life in a new and unsettled region. These men were of sturdy New Eng- land stoek, some of them deseendants of Puritan ancestors, and the dangers and hardships of life in a wilderness region had few terrors for them. The surnames of many of these first settlers are still preserved in the town, and a glance at the records will show that some of them have attained to positions of importance in local history.
Continuing our narrative still further. mention may be made of the names of Henry and Trenanee Webber, who came to Holland from Rhode Island about 1730, and who were descend- ants of Henry Webber. They and their deseendants in later generations have been active factors in the history of the town. Among others of that surname there may be recalled Frank Webber. Rinaldo Webber. Samuel Webber, Adolphus Webber, Loring Webber, William A. Webber, Ezra Webber and Dwight
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E. Webber, each of whom did his full share in building up the town and establishing a prosperous condition of affairs for his own family, thus contributing to the general welfare of all the town's people.
Since the earliest settlement the Wallis family has been favorably known in Holland history. Ebenezer seems to have been the pioneer, and David came about 1755. He was from Woodstock, Connectient, a blacksmith by trade and a farmer by subsequent occupation. Among his children were several sons, the names of Thomas, Jonathan. William and John being remem- bered as of the number. Jonathan adopted the trade of his father, and Thomas became a physician, one of the first in Hol- land and a man of influence in the community. William and John Wallis were farmers. In the family of the pioneer Wallis was a grandson, David by name. a son of David, jun., the latter never having settled in this town. This younger David was a soldier in the revolution, and after the war he married Persis Rosebrook who bore him ten children. Like the Webbers, the Wallis family have been prolific in Holland and their work has been for good in all generations of their descendants.
Of the other early settlers in Holland whose names have been mentioned little is known, and it is probable that some of them soon left for homes in some other loeality. James Marcy loeated here about 1767, and was a farmer. Among his children were several sons and daughters, the names of James, Jr., Elisha, David, Job, Sarah and Betsey being recalled at this late day. Most of these children grew up and married in the town and were contributing factors in its best history. Benjamin Perrin was an early settler about a mile south of the Centre. His sons were John. Cyril and Hallowell Perrin. John married a daugh- ter of Ichabod Goodell, also an early settler, and had thirteen children. Later on he removed to Monson. Hallowell Perrin was a farmer and tavern keeper, and a man of prominence in early days. He, too, raised a large family, but the surname is no longer known in Holland. Ichabod Goodell (the year of his settlement here is not known) was a conspicuous figure in early Holland history. He married into the Webber family and had
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four children, Huldah, Polly, Persis and Jabez. The son eventu- ally emigrated to New York state, where he taught school, and through his excellent business capacity he acquired a fortune. Ile never forgot his old home and in his will left $500 to the town.
Eliphalet Janes, the first clerk of the new distriet formed in 1783, was a farmer and owner of a saw and grist mill, but when and whence he came is not known. In the same eonneetion there may be recalled the names of William Belknap, an early farmer and upright townsman; Asa David, who filled several offices in the town and was especially prominent in matters pertaining to the church. He also taught school and engaged in farming until 1793, when he removed from the town. Reuben Stevens was a farmer and also a eloth dresser, and a useful man among the early settlers.
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