USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 31
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Capt. Nehemiah May, another early and prominent settler, was an officer in the revolutionary serviee and a man of much influence in local town and church matters. He settled in the south part of the town about 1764. Ebenezer Morris, the town blaeksmith, and it is said he was an excellent workman in his time. married a daughter of Capt. May. Jonathan Cram is remembered as a man of influence and as a successful farmer. Joseph Bruee, who settled on the afterward known Howlett farm, was regarded as one of the most eeeentrie characters in early Holland history, yet he was a man of worth notwithstanding his pecularities. John Polley was another early settler whose name is frequently recalled as one of the town worthies more then a century ago. and whose farm home lay on the old South Meadow road between the east and west parishes. Gershom Rosebrook was a farmer and lived east of the reservoir. His family name was long preserved in the town.
In addition to those already mentioned among the early settlers, we may still further recall James Frizzell, Humphrey Cram, Jacob, Benjamin, Edward and Samuel Webber, John Rosebrook. William and Asa Belknap, Jonathan Wallis, John and James Anderson, Alfred Lyon, Daniel Burnett, Asa Dana, John Brown, Jonathan Ballard and Eleazer Moore, all of whom were conspicuous figures in town affairs about the time of the
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division of Brimfield and the creation of the new distriets out of its southern territory.
Those whose names are mentioned in preceding paragraphs Jaid the foundation For the subsequent growth of the town. They bore the hardships of life attendant upon the pioneership and early settlement. but notwithstanding all the disadvantages un- der which they struggled they builded well, and permanent bene- fits thereby accrued to their descendants and all others who after- ward came to dwell in the region. There was something in the character and quality of the lands to attract settlement, and a comparison of records discloses that Holland in the early years of its history grew as rapidly in population as any of the adjoin- ing towns. Indeed. in 1790 the town had more than double its present population, the number of inhabitants then being 428 as against 169 in 1900. This loss has not been through any fault of the people and is attributable to the same causes which have worked a like decrease in population in all towns situated as is this: and that, the tendency of later generations of young men and women to abandon the farms for the pleasures of life in the commercial centers.
The various tiuetnations of population in Holland are seen in the following extracts from the census reports: In 1790 the inhabitants numbered 428; 1800. 445 : 1810, 420: 1820. 453; 1830. 453: 1840, 423 : 1850, 449 : 1860. 419 ; 1865, 368: 1870. 344; 1875, 334: 1880, 302: 1885, 229; 1890, 201: 1895. 199: 1900. 169.
('ivil History .- The early civil history of Holland is narrated on preceding pages and it is stated how South Brimfield was created and the east and west parishes of the latter eventually were made separate and distinct towns. The creation of the dis- friet of Holland in 1783 was necessary for the convenience of its inhabitants and while not then accorded full town powers the civil organization was made complete in that year. The aet of the legislature directed Abner Morgan, justiee, to issue his warrant to some principal person in the district proposed to be ineor- porated. and Joseph Bruce was selected for that purpose. The first town meeting in pursuance of the warrant was held July 24. 1783, on which occasion Mr. Bruce acted as moderator. Capt.
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THE TOWN OF HOLLAND
Neliemiah May, Joseph Blodgett and Alfred Lyon were chosen seleetmen, and Eliphalet Janes, town clerk. A full board of officers were chosen and then Holland began making civil history. The succession of seleetmen is as follows :
Selectmen .- 1783, Nehemiah May, Joseph Blodgett, Alfred Lyon ; 1784, William Belknap, Daniel Burnet, Jonathan Cram; 1785, Jonas Blodgett, Daniel Burnet, Nehemiah May; 1786, .Joseph Bruee, Daniel Burnet, William Belknap: 1787, Jonas Blodgett, Asa Dana, Wm. Belknap; 1788, David Wallis, Asa Dana, Wm. Belknap; 1789, David Wallis, Asa Dana, John Polley ; 1790, Wm. Belknap, Alfred Lyon, John Brown; 1791-93, Wm. Belknap, Asa Dana, David Wallis; 1794, Alfred Lyon, Ielabod Goodell, David Wallis; 1795, Alfred Lyon, Wm. Belk- nap, David Wallis; 1796, Joseph Bruce, John Polley, Halowell Perrin ; 1797-8, David Wallis, John Polley, Wm. Belknap; 1799, David Wallis, Gershom Rosebrook, Rinaldo Webber; 1800, Wm. Belknap, Ichabod Goodell, Rinaldo Webber; 1801, David Wallis, Ichabod Goodell, Jonathan Ballard: 1802, David Fay, Ichabod Goodell, Ebenezer Morris; 1803, Jacob Thompson, Ichabod Goodell, Ebenezer Morris; 1804, Jacob Thompson, Ichabod Goodell, Rinaldo Webber; 1805, Jacob Thompson. John Polley, David Wallis; 1806-07, Zerial May, John Polley, David Wallis; 1808, Ebenezer Morris, Ezra Allen, Ezra Webber; 1809, Ebene- zer Morris, Jacob Thompson, Samuel Webber; 1810, David Wal- lis, John Weaver, Ezra Webber; 1811, Edward Blodgett, James A. Lynn. Wm. Putnam; 1812, Edward Blodgett, James A. Lynn, Reuben Stevens; 1813, Edward Blodgett, Ezra Webber, Leonard Morris; 1814, Cyril Perrin, James A. Lynn, Edward Blodgett; 1815, John Weaver, David Wallis, Ezra Allen ; 1816, John Weaver, Ezra Webber, Edward Blodgett; 1817, Benj. Church, Freeland Wallis, John Wallis; 1818, Samuel Webber, Freeland Wallis, Reuben Stevens; 1819-20, Samuel Webber, Elbridge G. Fuller, David B. Dean; 1821, Samuel Webber, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean; 1822, Benj. Church, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean ; 1823, Isaac Partridge, Freeland Wallis, John Wallis; 1824-25, David B. Dean, Freeland Wallis, Benj. Church ; 1826, Adolphus Webber, Freeland Wallis, Loring Webber ; 1827, Reuben Stevens,
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David B. Dean, Loring Webber; 1828, Leonard M. Morris, John Wallis, Baxter Wood; 1829-31, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean, Willard Weld: 1832, Adolphus Webber, Loring Webber, Willard Weld; 1833, Willard Weld, Adolphus Webber, Elbridge G. Fuller: 1834, Freeland Wallis, Adolphus Webber, Lyman Gould; I>35, Freeland Wallis, Willard Webber, David B. Dean ; 1836, Freeland Wallis, Lyman Gould. Gilbert Rosebrook: 1837, Wil- lard Weld, Horace Wallis, Isaac W. Wood; 1838, Willard Weld, Horace Wallis. Freeland Wallis: 1839, Willard Weld, Levans MeFarlin, Freeland Wallis: 1840. Adolphus Webber. Horace Wallis, Grosvernor May: 1841, Adolphus Webber, David B. Dean, Warren A. Wallis; 1842. Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean, Harrison Allen ; 1843, Adolphus Webber, Willard Weld, Uriah P. Marey; 1844, David B. Dean, Adolphus Webber, Harrison Allen : 1845, Freeland Wallis, Nehemiah Underwood, Eleazer Moore: 1846, William A. Webber. Nehemiah Underwood, Harri- son Allen; 1847, John Wallis, Stephen C. Weld, John B. Gould; 1848-49, William A. Webber, Warren A. Wallis, William Frizell ; 1-50, Nehemiah Underwood. Uriah P. Marey, John P. Gould ; 1-51, Benj. F. Wilson, Alvin Goodell, John Wallis: 1852, Elea- zer Moore, Warren A. Wallis, John Wallis: 1853, Win. A. Web- ber, Nehemiah Underwood, Roswell A. Blodgett : 1854, Nehemiah Underwood, William A. Webber, Uriah P. Marey: 1855, Alvin Goodell, Eleazer Moore, George L. Webber: 1856-57. Wm. A. Webber, Warren A. Wallis, Clement B. Drake: 1858, Wm. A. Webber,, Harrison Allen, Win. H. Harris : 1859. Warren A. Wal- lis : Geo. 1. Webber, Eleazer Moore : 1860. Ferdinand L. Burley, Clement B. Drake, Wm. A. Harris: 1861, Ferdinand L. Burley, Win. A. Webber. Warren A. Wallis: 1862. Ferd. L. Burley, Geo. I .. Webber, Warren A. Wallis: 1863, Wm. A. Webber, Horace Wallis. R. A. Blodgett; 1864, Ferd. L. Burley, Uriah P. Marey, 1. Ballard: 1865, Win. A. Webber. Clement B. Drake, J. A. Webber: 1866-70. Wm. A. Webber, Clement B. Drake, Uriah P. Marey: 1871-72. Freeman B. Blodgett. Harrison Allen, Uriah P. Marey: 1573, Clement B. Drake, F. B. Blodgett, Wm. S. Wallis: 1874, William A. Webber. Freeman B. Blodgett. R. A. Blodgett : 1-75, Win. A. Webber. F. B. Blodgett, Wm. S. Wallis;
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THIE TOWN OF HOLLAND
1876, Uriah P. Marey. F. B. Blodgett, Frank Wight ; 1877-78, Wm. A. Webber, Freeman B. Blodgett, Henry Vinton; 1879, George L. Webber, Henry Vinton, Francis Wight; 1880, George L. Webber, Francis Wight. A. L. Roper; 1881, George L. Webber, Freeman B. Blodgett. A. L. Roper; 1882, Francis Wight, F. B. Blodgett, A. L. Roper; 1883, Francis Wight, Win. L. Webber, R. A. Blodgett: 1884, Francis Wight. R. A. Blodgett, A. L. Roper: 1885, Francis Wight, R. A. Blodgett, Henry Vinton; 1886. R. A. Blodgett, A. L. Roper, George L. Webber; 1887, George L. Webber, Wm. S. Wallis. Freeman B. Blodgett; 1888- 89, George L. Webber. Wm. S. Wallis, F. B. Blodgett; 1890, Francis Wight, R. A. Blodgett, Wm. S. Wallis; 1891-2, Francis Wight, Win. S. Wallis. Freeman B. Blodgett; 1893, George L. Webber. John S. Glazier. H. E. Wallis; 1894, Geo. L. Webber, H. E. Wallis, Francis Wight: 1895, F. B. Blodgett, Franeis Wight, Wm. S. Wallis: 1896. F. B. Blodgett, Wm. A. Webber, B. C. Bennett : 1897. F. B. Blodgett. D. E. Butterworth, B. C. Bennett; 1898, F. B. Blodgett, A. F. Blodgett, D. E. Butter- worth ; 1899, F. B. Blodgett, L. M. Howlett, H. E. Vinton ; 1900, A. F. Blodgett. L. M. Howlett. C. A. Webber; 1901, L. M. How- lett, C. A. Webber, Francis Wight.
The suecession of the town clerks is as follows: Eliphalet Janes, 1783-86: William Belknap, 1786-89; David Wallis, 1789; William Belknap, 1790-94; Asa Dana, 1794-98; Jonathan Bal- lard, 1798-1803: David Wallis 1803; Ezra Webber, 1804-9; James A. Lyon, 1809: Ezra Webber, 1810: James A. Lyon, 1811-13; Reuben Stevens, 1814 ; Freeland Wallis, 1815-19 ; David B. Dean, 1819-23; Enther Brown, 1823; David B. Dean, 1824; Freeland Wallis. 1825-27; John Wallis 1828: Samuel Frizell, 1829-33; Freeland Wallis, 1833-36: Elbridge Fuller, 1836: John Dixon, 1837: John Wallis, 1838-41; John Dixon, 1841-42; William A. Wallis, 1842-46; Warren A. Wallis, 1846; William A. Robbins, 1847-53; Warren A. Wallis, 1854-55; Freeman B. Blodgett, 1855-62; Franeis Wight, 1862-65; Frank E. Kinney, 1865-73; Freeman B. Blodgett, 1873: Frank E. Kinney, 1874-89; Wm. L. Webber, 1890-1900; Arthur F. Blodgett, 1901-now in office.
The present town officers are as follows: L. M. Howlett, C. A. Webber, Francis Wight, selectmen ; Arthur F. Blodgett, town
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clerk ; Lewis D. Durant. auditor; Arthur F. Blodgett, treasurer ; Carl F. Howlett. collector; F. B. Blodgett (chm.), Henry E. Vinton, Charles A. Webber, assessors; overseers of the poor, the selectmen ; eonstables, Oliver L. Howlett, Arthur F. Blodgett; cemetery commissioner. Freeman B. Blodgett ; board of health, the seleetmen: elrief of police, Oliver L. Howlett ; justiee of the peace, William L. Webber.
Ilolland was so named in allusion to Charles James Fox, Lord Holland, a member of the British parliament during the revolution and one of the few earnest champions of American rights in that body.
From the earliest years of its history this has been an agri- cultural town. The land surface is rolling and in places is quite hilly, yet there are few areas which are unfit for cultivation. Under proper tillage the farms (and the town abounds in good ones) yield well and through intelligent effort many husband- men have acquired a competency. The hill lands produce abund- ant erops of grass and afford excellent pasturage. During the stage coach era the people prospered and farmers found a ready market for the product of their lands. The old South Meadow road then was a thoroughfare of great importance and travelers were passing daily through the town; but when the railroads compelled the stages to eease operations that which for years had been of the greatest benefit to the people was taken away. In the dispensation of public improvement enterprises Holland never was favored with a railroad, and being remotely located from the county seat its inhabitants have turned to other commercial eenters for conveniences of trades.
But notwithstanding the disadvantage of situation, Hol- land previous to about a quarter of a century ago was quite a busy town. and in its little trading center considerable business was carried on. Let us briefly refer to some of these old-time interests. As early as 1785 a store was opened by a Mr. Brown probably Robert or John). A little later Alfred Lyon kept a stoek of goods and a tavern near the reservoir dam. Still later Isaae Partridge had a store about half a mile south of the Centre. Among other and subsequent merchants there may be reealled
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THE TOWN OF HOLLAND
the names of Chase & Ward, Luther Brown, Dr. Josiah Converse, Sewell Glazier, Clement B. Drake. Elisha Kinney, Willard Weld, Orlando Anderson, Lynn & Co., Jonathan Sikes, John Carpen- ter and others. These stores, particularly those in existence between 1810 and 1850, did a thriving business, but when much of the trade was attracted to other localities they naturally de- elined until Holland people found themselves under the necessity of traveling outside for needed household supplies.
In 1784 the town licensed David Bugbee to keep tavern, and from that time a hotel generally has been maintained here. Alfred Lyon kept publie house in connection with his store near the reservoir. About 1812 David Marey built the Holland hotel and kept the same about two years. The later proprietors were Jolın Webber, Mr. Bridgeman, Allen Tiffany, Mr. Harris, Luther Brown, E. G. Fuller, Baxter Wood, Mr. Benson, Elisha Kinney and Frank E. Kinney, about in the order mentioned. The first resident physician was Dr. Thomas Wallis, who in later years was followed by Drs. Seth Smith, Ichabod Hyde, David B. Dean, Joshua Richardson. Chileab B. Merrick, Josiah Converse and Abial Bottom, the latter, however, having removed to Wilbra- ham and practiced from that town. The present physician of Holland is Dr. Josiah G. Willis.
From what has been stated in preceding paragraphs it must be seen that at one time Holland had important business interests and as a producing town it held a place of prominence in the county. About 1803 Josiah Hobbs started a tannery in the south- west corner of the town and carried on business with fair success for many years. In 1828 Jedediah Healey succeeded to the property and continued its operation several more years. After- ward the building was converted into a dwelling house, and there George Haradon made boots and shoes. About the beginning of the last century two men named Paddock, father and son, the latter named John, started a furnace about half a mile below the reservoir dam and began the manufacture of iron from ore mined in the vicinity. Another similar industry for a time was conducted in the town and was located where afterward stood the Fuller cotton factory. Still another old interest was the
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factory for the manufacture of cut nails, which was operated several years beginning about 1830. About the year last men- tioned Elbridge G. Fuller built a mill and carried on a cotton eloth works on the road leading from Holland to East Brimfield. In its day this was an important industry in the town, but about 1855 the buildings were destroyed by fire and were not replaced. About the same time (1830) John C. Butterworth began the manufacture of cotton batting in a building erected for that pur- pose. Leander Bradd afterward succeeded to the business and continued it several years. In the same building Mr. Fuller made candle wieking, but about 1-54 this old factory was burned.
Holland Church
Holland village, where is located the post-office.' also the other business places of the town. is a small hamlet of a dozen or more dwellings and a like number of small shops, but not at any time has the place contained more than one hundred in- habitants. Here, too, is the seat of town business. the clerk's office, the public school. the Holland library and the Congrega- tional church. Previous to 1860 it was a village of nich local prominence, but with the constant decrease in population its interests have likewise declined. The present interests of the
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THE TOWN OF HOLLAND
town may be noted substantially as follows: Freeman B. Blod- gett, boot and shoe maker and mason; A. J. Bagley and Anson Williams, carpenters ; John D. Barney, cider mill ; D. E. Butter- worth, saw and grist mill ; the Holland hotel ; William L. Webber, justice of the peace and postmaster ; D. E. Webber, painter ; Dr. Josiah G. Willis, physician and surgeon; the Holland public library, Mrs. C. F. Howlett, librarian, and Francis Wright, Oliver L. Howlett and Freeman B. Blodgett, trustees.
The town has but one public school, with an average yearly attendance of about 15 pupils. According to the latest published report, Holland has 88 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, for whose instruction one teacher is employed eight months in the year. In the last year the amount raised by town tax for the support of the school was $225; expense of super- vision was $25; expense for books and supplies, $32.22. The town's share of the school fund is about $455, and the local fund, the income from which can be used for school maintenance, is $222.22. The school committee for the present year comprises Arthur F. Blodgett (chm.), Charles A. Webber and Francis Wight.
In 1783 the town comprised four school districts and for many years thereafter four schools were maintained. In 1800 the districts were reduced to three, and were so continued until the decreasing population of the town generally necessitated a still further reduction in the districts. Under the present dis- position of school interests, with a scattered population of less than 200 persons a transportation system is employed in convey- ing children to and from school. Holland is one of the towns in Hampden county which is not under the supervision of a school superintendent.
Long before Holland became a town and even while its territory formed a part of South Brimfield the inhabitants, ever mindful of their spiritual welfare, established a society for regilious worship and supported the same at the expense of the town. For several years services were held in the dwellings of devont members of the flock, and Rev. Mr. Conchelin acted as their spiritual guide. Then a meeting house was built, the first
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in the region, and stood on the South Meadow road, not far from the foot of Rattlesnake mountain. This edifice served the needs of the worshipers for many years, and was followed by a second house of worship which stood near the center of the town and was a more pretentious structure than its predecessor. This building, however, was removed to Connecticut and was replaced with the meeting house which was burned in 1858. The present church edifice was ereeted in 1859.
The church itself was organized in 1765, with three consti- tuent members, and in later years it grew in strength and in- fluence until it became self-supporting and was regarded as one of the permanent institutions of the entire region. The first pastor was Rev. Ezra Reeves, whose ministry here continued from 1765 to 1818, when he died. He was followed by Rev. Enoch Burt and the latter, in turn, by Rev. James Sanford, who filled the pastorate from 1827 to 1843. In later years the pas- torate frequently has been vacant and the pulpit has been sup- plied by various ministers of the church; but the society never has lost its identity, although the decrease in population in the town has made serious inroads on the membership. At the present time, and for the last five years, Rev. Josiah G. Willis has been pastor. The congregations generally are far greater than the number of communicants in the church. Among the earliest deacons there may be recalled the names of Moses Lyon, Humphrey Crowe, James Frizell, S. Ballard, David Wallis and Samuel Webber, nearly all of whom were chosen previous to 1800.
In the early years of the last century several Baptist fami- lies made homes in the town, and naturally soon sought to estab- lish a church of their denomination. The society was formed June 6, 1817, and on the more formal church organization twenty persons became constituent members. Samuel Webber and Walter Lyon were the first deacons. The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Glazier, followed by Rev. Washington Munger. For a time the church was reasonably prosperous, but soon after 1840 it began to decline and before 1850 had passed out of existenee. The meeting house was built in 1819-20, and was afterward transferred to the town.
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In treating of the early history of Holland considerable attention has been given to recollections of the pioneers, with frequent allusion to their children and descendants who were figures in town life a century ago. But there have been other factors in local history who are deserving of at least a passing mention. We refer to men who were the real factors in Holland history during the last quarter of a century, many of whom served in official capacities, but all contributing factors in the most interesting history of the locality. In this connection we may recall the names of Elisha and Frank E. Kinney, hotel proprietors one after the other; Warren A. Wallis, Stephen Agard, William A. Webber, James A. Webber, Uriah P. Marcy, Orrin W. Brown, Edward Blodgett, Lewis C. Howlett, Henry Vinton, R. A. Blodgett and George L. Webber, all of whom were thrifty farmers, many of them descendants of pioneer stock, and all upright citizens whose example is worthy of emulation. In the same category we may also include T. D. Butterworth, the saw and grist miller, and Rev. John Carpenter, the former pastor of the church and the spiritual advisor of the town's people.
Among the present day factors in Holland history we may mention the names of Freeman B. Blodgett, Edward R. Morse, Henry E. Vinton, William L. Webber, H. H. Bradeau, Henry J. Switzer, Edwin P. Damon, B. C. Bennett and Richmond Young, all farmers and successful men; D. E. Webber, the painter; O. W. Williams, the mechanic; William Lilley, the mail carrier; Andrew J. Bagley, the carpenter; Oliver L. Howlett, the lumberman, and Rev. Josiah G. Willis, the clergyman and pastor of the Congregational church. These are a few of the more prominent men of Holland of to-day, they who are the real figures in its history.
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CHAPTER XII THE TOWN OF LONGMEADOW
The history of the town of Longmeadow must in most of its essential features include that which pertains to the present town of East Longmeadow, so recently set off from the parent municipality, no line of demarkation being practicable up to the time of the official separation of the two portions of the original town.
As originally incorporated the town of Longmeadow con- sisted of a strip of territory about seven miles in length from east to west and of about half that breadth, from north to south, set off from the town of Springfield. It was bounded north by Springfield, west by the Connectient river separating it from the town of Agawam, south by the state line of Connecticut, and east by that portion of the town of Wilbraham which was in 1878 incorporated as the town of Hampden. The area of Long- meadow was originally a little less than twenty-five square miles, or 16,000 acres.
The name of the town was derived from the long, fertile plain bordering the east margin of the Connectieut river, which in the early days of the settlement was spoken of as "the long meadow." This plain or meadow is nearly a mile in width, practically level, very rich in soil, but so slightly raised above the river level as to be in danger of overflow in time of high water. To the eastward rises a platean some sixty or eighty feet higher than the meadow, along which, from north to south. runs the principal street of the town. Still to the eastward comes a stretch of more broken land, of little agricultural value, which has been allowed to remain in forest or largely unimproved ; while the eastern portion, now embraced in the town of East
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Longmeadow, somewhat diversified and slightly hilly, presents a fair degree of fertility. Here, also, are located the extensive red sandstone quarries to which the eastern village has in large measure been indebted for its business interest and material prosperity. Within this limited area there is, therefore, a wide range of physical characteristics and qualities, from almost absolute sterility in the middle section to geological wealth and productive farming lands on the east, and to the extremely rich and fertile bottom lands on the west.
It was natural that "the long meadow," situated but a few miles below the settlement at Springfield, early attracted the attention of the pioneers. Its soil was rich, and easily cultivated; they had few utensils for working the land, and those few were erude and simple. The "teeming acres" invited, and the set- tlers responded. As early as 1644, within eight years after the first settlements at Springfield, three families-those of Benja- min Cooley, "Quartermaster" George Colton and John Keep- decided to locate on the long meadow. Others followed, and the little colony grew apace, although its interests and relations in matters of religion and civil government remained with the parent colony.
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