USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 42
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St. William's Roman Catholic church, located in the Aga- wam portion of the village of Mittineague. affords religious privileges for the French-speaking Catholie people of the locality. The first steps toward the formation of a congregation
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there were taken March 6, 1873, when vesper service was held by Rev. Louis Gagnier of Springfield. Later a fine building site was secured. 150 by 175 feet in size, on which, in 1876, the church of St. William was erected. Until 1883 Father Gagnier conducted this branch as a mission of St. Joseph's church of Springfield; but at that time it was erected into the dignity of a parish, with the churches in Longmeadow and East Longmeadow as inissions. Rev. E. Pelletier was the first resident pastor, serv- ing until his promotion to a pastorate in Chicopee in 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Campean, under whom a house was bought on Front street as a parish presbytery. Rev. J. H. A. Biron succeeded to the pastorate in 1888, and died in 1890. During the last year of his incumbency Revs. J. O. Sylvian and J. C. Allard served as his assistants. Rev. Frederick Bonneville was his successor, rendering good service from 1890 to 1893 when promoted to a larger parish in Chicopee. Rev. Humphrey Wren, with Rev. P. J. Hackett as assistant, served for six months to January 1, 1894, when Rev. Joseph M. A. Genest, the present incumbent, was transferred from Southbridge to take charge of the parish. He at once set about the improvement of the parish property, and organized a parochial school of some fifty mem- bers, for which school-rooms were provided in the basement of the church.
Agawam is one of the few agricultural towns in the state showing a steady growth in valuation and population during the past half century. At the time of incorporation it had in round numbers 1,500 inhabitants. According to the national census reports the number had increased to 1,698 in 1860, to 2,001 in 1870, to 2,216 in 1880, 2,352 in 1890, and to 2,536 in 1900.
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CHAPTER XIX THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
Almost a Inndred years after the colony at Springfield was founded settlements were first made on that part of the town lands which were known as the "ontward commons." on the east. Nearly half a century before settlement was begun the proprie- tors of the mother town had been compelled to survey and allot the common lands on the east, under penalty of forfeiture to the crown; and while the town thus saved the title no attempt at improvement was made until 1730, when Nathaniel Hitch- cock of Springfield became the pioneer of what now is Wilbraham and Hampden.
In 1741 the north part of this territory was set off as the "Fourth Precinet of Springfield," not having the character and full powers of a town jurisdiction, but as a parish settlement for the separate maintenance of religious worship, for the good people here had truly represented that they were at great in- convenience in being compelled to journey ten long miles to worship in the meeting house at the old mother settlement in Springfield. At that time there had been no permanent settle- ment in what now is Hampden, but very soon afterward im- provements began to extend sonthward toward the Connectieut line. In 1763 Wilbraham took another advance step in eivil history and was set off from Springfield with full town powers, except in the election of a separate representative to the general court.
Both tradition and authenticated records inform us that in 1741 Stephen Stebbins left his former home in Longmeadow and established himself and family on the north bank of the Seantic. within what now is Hampden. Following closely afterward there
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came others, all settling along the same stream, on both sides, and in the course of a few more years a scattered yet well defined colony was established here. Rev. Edward A. Chase in a pub- lished historieal address gives us reliable information concerning the first settlers in Hampden, hence we have recourse to his writings.
According to Mr. Chase. pioneer Stebbins located where Mortimer Pease now (1885) lives, while Aaron Stebbins, brother of the pioneer, settled north of him, "just north of the red school house." Paul Langdon, who brought the first four-
Hampden-the stream in the valley
wheeled wagon into the town, settled south of Stephen Stebbins on the farm occupied in 1885 by Edward Bartlett. This farm was "overplus land," and was secured by Langdon through the aid of Mr. Pynchon. Abner Chapin came from Chicopee and settled on the south side of the Seantic. Lewis Langdon, son of Paul, built the first saw mill in 1750. William King settled on the land where now stands the Congregational church. The premises afterward passed into the hands of Robert Sessions. William Stacy settled on the mountain south of the Seantie,
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where Albert Lee now (1885) lives. Moses Stebbins, Comfort Chaffee, Jabez Hendrick, Daniel Carpenter, Henry Badger, Isaac Morris, Rowland Croeker, Benjamin Skinner and Ezekiel Russell also were among the early settlers in the South parish, and were located on the hills and in the valleys bordering on the river. Robert Sessions, the pioneer head of one of the most prominent families of South Wilbraham in later years, settled in the town in 1781.
Within a quarter of a century after the pioneer led the way for civilized white settlement in this part of the mother town, we find a flourishing colony had sprung up; lands were cleared and many fine farms had been opened for cultivation. Then the settlers sought to establish regular religious serviees in their own community, but their first application to be set off and established as a separate parish met with the same fate as did the petitions of Wilbraham to Springfield in earlier years. In 1765 the inhabitants of the new settlement asked for money to pay for the serviees of a minister during the next winter, but the request was refused. In 1767 they sought to have preaching among them at their own cost, but in this also they were unsuc- eessful.
In 1772. Asa Chaffee, son of Joseph, on behalf of the in- habitants of the south part of Wilbraham, presented a petition asking that his people be set off as a separate town; but this request, too, was denied, and it was not until 1778, after several unsuccessful attempts. that the town voted to establish the South parish. However, in 1780 this vote was reconsidered, and the next year the inhabitants sought relief at the hands of the gen- eral eourt. In the meantime the people of the north part had become more considerate of the interests of their townsmen in the south loeality, and in December, 1781, voted to appoint a eom- mittee from out of the town to consider the method of dividing the territory into parishes. This committee comprised John Hale, Luke Bliss and William Pynehon, junior, whose report, dated Springfield, February 21, 1782, in part said :
"It is the united opinion of the committee and which they conceive will best accommodate the inhabitants of the several
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parts of the town, that it be divided into two parishes, by the name of the North and South Parishes, by a line coinciding with the south line of the lot whereon Nathaniel Bliss, deceased, lived, from the westward bound of said town to the Monson line :- (with this exception) that the inhabitants of said town living on the west from the top of the mountain to the south side of Lient. Thomas Merrick's lot to the westward bounds of said town, with their estates, be annexed to the North parish, and that the inhabitants living east from the top of the mountain from the south side of said Bliss' lot north to the south side of the lot originally laid ont to Jonathan Taylor's estate to Monson line. be annexed to the South parish. with their estates," etc., reserving to the inhabitants along the boundary the privilege of selecting the parish to which they would prefer to belong and pay "rates."
In accordance with this division, an act of the general conrt, passed June 20, 1782, created the North and South parishes of Wilbraham, making Thomas Merrick and his lands a part of the North parish, and David Wood, JJesse Carpenter and Jonah Beebe and their lands a part of the South parish ; and also providing that John Bliss, Esq .. issue his warrant to some principal in- habitants in each parish warning them to meet and choose such officers as "may be necessary to manage the affairs of the said parishes."
The purpose of the new parish creation was the spiritual welfare of the people in the south part of Wilbraham, that they might establish and maintain a separate church and such local government as they were authorized to set up was for the espe- eial object of building a house of worship and paying the ex- pense of a minister, rather than the conduet of civil affairs in the precinct. The early history of the parish was part and parcel with the history of the church, and was continued as long as the custom prevailed of supporting religions worship at the publie or parish expense. During the latter part of the eighteenth century the South parish had become well settled with people whose religious belief and form of worship was not in accord with the doctrine of the preeinet church. and the estab-
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lisliment of other societies led to the ultimate abandonment of the system of public support of the "orthodox" church, hence the gradual decline in authority of the "committee of the parish" and other officers who were from time to time chosen to adminis- ter its affairs. After the separation of church and eivil govern- ments in the North and South parishes. both societies supported themselves as church bodies are now maintained, and thereafter the name South parish was changed and became South Wilbra- ham. It was so known until March 28, 1878, when the territory of the South parish, South Wilbraham, was regularly ineor- porated into a town by the name of Hampden.
The old South parish records serve to throw some light on the early history of the region. and likewise furnish us the names of many settlers in addition to those previously mentioned, yet for further detail of early life and reminiscences in this locality. the reader may have recourse to the history of Wilbraham, the mother town. for there was no complete separation until within a comparatively recent date. The first treasurer in the South parish was Colonel John Bliss, who served from 1782 to 1784, when he was succeeded by David Burt. The records also give us the names of Capt. Paul Langdon and Lient. Samuel Sexton, who served during the revolution and there gained their military titles. as also did Col. Bliss. From the same source we obtain the names of Enoch Burt. Moses Stebbins, junior. Deacon John Hitchcock, and Elizur Tillotson, junior, the latter one of the earliest tavern keepers in the South parish, and whose application for license in 1807 was refused on the ground that his public house was not a benefit to the public. The remonstrance against Mr. Tillotson's petition for a license was signed by John Bliss, Robert Sessions, Confort Chaffee. jun .. William Clark, Enos Clark. Jonathan Flynt. Levi Flynt. Joseph Morris, Edward Morris. David Burt. Noah Sexton, William Clark. Asa Isham, Samuel Sexton. Walter Shaw, Jared Case. William Wood, Lemuel Jones, Charles Sessions and Nathaniel B. Chaffee.
During the period of the last French and English wars, and also during the revolution. Hampden under its original name gained an enviable prominence, and by reference to the chapter
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relating to Wilbraham, there may be found the names of those of the South parish who took part in those memorable contests. Robert Sessions, who came into the town in 1781, was one of the famous "Boston Tea Party." and is entitled to mention in these pages. Moreover, he was the progenitor of one of the most prominent families in the town, and one whose representatives in all subsequent generations have been active factors for good in the civil, ecclesiastical and industrial history of the town.
From all which is stated on preceding pages it must be seen that settlement in the South parish was accomplished rapidly after the beginning was made by pioneer Stebbins and his fol- lowers. Indeed, it is a matter of unwritten history, yet worthy of mention, that the lands of the South parish were found to be more fertile and accessible and equally desirable for farming purposes as those of the North parish, and. moreover, the south- ern region did not appear to have been subject to the unequal and questionable subdivision of lands which embarrassed the settlers on the first allotted traets of the outward commons. The land surface here is broken with high hills. in localities approach- ing the magnitude of mountains, yet. comparatively, there is little waste land: and few indeed are the areas which are unfit for cultivation.
Organization and Civil History .- In the early part of this chapter the writer has traced something of the eivil history of the old South parish in connection with the general events of settlement and growth. As has been stated, the imperfeet and limited parish organization was effected in 1782. which. although sufficient for the time, gave no rights to its inhabitants outside of church government, and even had the effect to prejudice the parish in the distribution of civil offices in the town at large. However, after the disappearance of the parish character and the rise of South Wilbraham, the latter region furnished the mother town some of the best material ever called into office in the jurisdiction, and also sent into public life some of the strongest men the county has produced : and to-day the sons and descendants of South Wilbraham and Hampden are found among the foremost professional and business men of the county seat, as well as in many other commercial centers.
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The act of the legislature creating the town was passed March 28. 1878. The new jurisdiction comprised, substantially, all which previously had been known as South Wilbraham, originally the old South parish. The first town meeting was held April 8. 1878. and was warned by S. C. Spellman, justice of the peace. William R. Sessions was chosen moderator, and the following officers were elected : William R. Sessions. Freeman W. Diekinson. Patrick E. Wall. selectmen: Summer Smith, town clerk and treasurer: S. M. Stanton, Andrew Beebe. John W. Isham, assessors; A. B. Newell, John N. Isham, Moses H. Warner, school committee.
The succession of seleetmen and town clerks is as follows:
Selvetmen .- 1878-80. William R. Sessions, Freeman W. Dickinson, Patrick E. Wall: 1881. Deeins Beebe, Frank S. Smith, Solomon C. Spellman : 1882, William R. Sessions, Decius Beebe, Andrew Beebe: 1883-4. Decius Beebe, Andrew Beebe, Lyman Smith : 1885-6. Decius Beebe, Dr. George T. Ballard. Charles H. Burleigh: 1887. William R. Sessions. E. H. Temple, William Leach: 1888. Decius Beebe, George T. Ballard. Charles H. Burleigh : 1859. George T. Ballard. David R. MeCray. John N. Isham: 1890, George T. Ballard, David R. MeCray. Charles H. Burleigh : 1891, Summer Smith, S. P. Chapin, John Kenworthy ; 1892. George T. Ballard. Charles H. Burleigh, John Bartlett ; 1893. George T. Ballard. Charles H. Burleigh, Alpheus Peck : 1894. Mortimer Pease, Charles H. Burleigh. N. M. Carew : 1895- 97. Mortimer Pease. Summer Smith. N. M. Carew: 1898-99, Mortimer Pease. N. M. Carew, William J. Sessions ; 1900. C. N. Whitaker. N. M. Carew. William S. Hunt: 1901. George T. Ballard. N. M. Carew, William S. Hunt.
Toen Clerks .- Summer Smith. 1878-89: John Q. Adams, 1-90-92; J. W. Mulroney. 1893: John Q. Adams. 1894-98: William M. Pease. 1899. resigned December 10. 1900. and John Q. Adams appointed to fill the vacancy : John Q. Adams. 1901 - now in office.
Town Officers, 1901 .- Dr. George T. Ballard (chairman ). Nelson M. Carew. William S. IFunt. selectmen. overseers of the poor and board of health: JJohn Q. Adams, town clerk and
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treasurer : George A. Chapin, auditor : Charles I. Burleigh, John J. Flynn. George C. Butterworth, assessors; William Leach. Erwin H. Temple, Ernest W. Howlett, highway commissioners : Calvin Stebbins, byman Smith, John N. Isham, cemetery com- missioners: Moses 11. Warren, D. Lincoln MeCray, school com- mittee: Alonzo B. Newell, Mrs. Charles C. Chaffee. Stella Day, trustees Hampden free public library : Mrs. John Q. Adams. librarian : Epaphro A. Day. Summer Smith, justices of the peace.
The census reports show the fluctuations of population in Hampden as follows: 1880. 958; 1885. 868: 1890. 831: 1895, 743: 1900, 782.
Much of the interesting early history of Hampden was made while the town formed a part of Wilbraham, yet it is a fact that the little offshoot settlement down in the south part of the older jurisdiction, located mainly on Seantic brook and border- ing on the Connecticut line. from the early years of the century to the time of the division in 1878, was the most busy, progres- sive and prosperous portion of the whole region; and much surprise often has been expressed that Hampden's people did not earlier proenre an act of incorporation.
Since the days of pioneership, Hampden has been known as an agricultural town, producing well in answer to the proper and persistent efforts of the husbandman. Agricultural prod- ucts generally, with few special crops, are raised, yet for a time tobacco was grown here with fair success.
Villages and Hamlets .- When the inhabitants of this local- ity in old Wilbraham were granted a parish district, and after they had established their meeting house in the most eentral part of the settlement. their trading center became known as South Wilbraham : and it was so called until after the creation of the new town, when the name was changed to Hampden. The church was the first institution to be established, then the school. and afterward various business interests and a post-office. The latter was opened about 1826. Dudley B. Post being the first postmaster, followed in later years by Sammuel Beebe. Solomon C. Spellman, William Spellman, Horton Hendrick and Staunton M. Sullivan, in the order mentioned. The present postmaster.
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Mathias Casey, was appointed during the Cleveland administra- tion and has since been continued in office, he being a faithful publie servant, performing his duties to the entire satisfaction of the townspeople.
South Wilbraham first began to attract attention as a manufacturing renter soon after 1840, when Summer Sessions, a man of means, influence and public spirit, erected the first woolen mill and leased it to Bradford & Seripter, but long before this time the locality enjoyed a certain moderate prominence as a prodneing center. Let us refer briefly to some of these old-time interests. According to recognized anthority, Lewis Langdon, in 1772, built a saw mill on the Scantie, about a quarter of a mile below the site of the Hampden woolen mills, and a few years later started a grist mill further down the brook. Subsequent owners of similar industries were Benanuel Leach, David Burt, and also a Mr. Wright, that of the latter being on the middle branch. Early in the last century, a Mr. Bacon came over from Brimfield and built a grist mill on the site of the Hampden woolen mill. but soon sold out to Christopher Langdon. Later owners of this mill and privilege were Jacob Wood, Hubbard Arnold and William Mosely, the latter adding a saw mill to the enterprise. The buildings were eventually burned and a wrap- ping paper mill was erected on the site.
Another early saw mill proprietor was Charles Sessions. whose plant was located where afterward was built the Lacon- sie woolen mills. Caleb Stebbins, David Burt and Milton Burt also were owners of grist or saw mills, the latter at one time having both. Then, there were the old-time fulling, eloth and rarding mills which onee did a Hourishing business on the Sean- tic. One of the earliest of these was that run many years ago by Walter Burt. and another was that of Jonathan Flint, which stood just below the village bridge. Beriah Smith and his brothers bought ont Flint and carried on an extensive business in cloth dressing. A short distance below the Smith works one Roper at one time had a clover cleaning mill, and in connection therewith made chains for farm use. Pan] Langdon and William King, both of whom were conspicuous figures in early
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South Wilbraham history, at one time conducted potasheries in the town. Daniel and Joseph Chaffee and a Mr. West appear to have been the early tanners in this locality when such indus- tries could be carried on with a fair degree of success : and much of their produet was sold to the shoe factories which once gave Wales a special prominence in the county.
In speaking of the old-time business interests some mention must be made of the once famous plow works which Marcus Beebe established along during the 'fifties. Through his brothers (all of whom were sons of "Squire" Beebe) who were in business in the southern states. Mr. Beebe found a profitable market in that region, and for several years before the war of 1861-5 he carried on an extensive works here. The war, however, cut off his market and soon afterward the business was discontinued. Sometime before this paper making was an industry of consider- able importance in the town, but all traces of the works now have disappeared and the proprietors are almost forgotten.
As we have stated, in 1843 Sumner Sessions built the first woolen mill in the town, and rented it to Bradford & Scripter. who began manufacturing in 1844, with one set of machinery and turning out a good quality of satinets. Levi Bradford's connection with the concern was brief and on his retirement in 1847, the plant was operated by Luther E. Sage, William V. Sessions and Samuel Beebe, as partners. and they. in turn. were sneceeded by the firm of Seripter, Sage & Co. Under them the capacity of the works was increased and tweeds, cassimeres and doeskins were added to the output. In 1856 the business passed under control of the South Wilbraham Manufacturing Co., incorporated with $200,000 capital, and thereafter the output was further increased. Later on the Laconsic Woolen Mill company succeeded the corporate company, and the business was conducted by Charles Parsons, who failed, then by Brown & Chapman, and still later by Ilinsdale Smith under the imine- diate control of his son. The works were burned about eight or ten years ago.
Next in order among large factories was the so-called Hamp- den woolen mills, started by Eleazer Seripter in 1855, as the
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Ravine mill. The property afterward passed to Luther Sage, who did a heavy business throughout the war, and who in 1867 or '68 built a much larger factory. Later on the plant was carried on by outside proprietors, nearly all having indifferent success until the present management acquired control. It now is rented to various parties and is operated as the Hampden Mills company.
Ahont 1865 the Seantic Woolen Mill company. in which Ither Sage was the moving spirit, ereeted a building and engaged in the manufacture of fancy cassimeres for a period of ten years. In 1875 Judson Leonard became proprietor, conti- ued business and ultimately failed. and then was succeeded by Kenworthy Bros. Still later the plant came to the present pro- prietor, John Kenworthy, who operates it with success as a varn. blanket and cloth mills. In connection with the woolen indus- tries of earlier years, Mortimer Pease for some time operated a mill in preparing for re-carding the waste material of the larger factories.
Although the village has had at least one good store for almost a century. the names of the earliest proprietors are not accurately recalled by our ohl residents. Going back fifty or sixty years ago. Solomon C. and William R. Spellman were tradesmen in the village and carried a large business. In later years in moreantile pursuits there may be recalled the names of Shaw and Chapman, John C. Vinica, Russell Day & Co., C. I. Burleigh & Co .. Mr. Fuller, Sumner Smith. Eldridge Vinica. Me Carty Bros .. Mrs. Barnes and A. F. Ballard.
The present business interests may be noted about as follows: D. F. Powers. blacksmith : Bernard Woodruff. boot and shoe maker: Frank Crocker. carpenter: Edward Hiteheoek. eider maker: Edward P. Lyons, coal dealer: C. C. Chaffee. Hour and grain dealer : Drs. George T. Ballard and H. Warner. physicians ; Mathias Casey and Sumner Smith, general merchants: M. P. Carmody. grist and saw mills: Mrs. E. G. Vinica and J. Ryan. grocers : Mrs. P. C. Allen, propr .. Allen house: Mrs. D. C. West, propr .. Hampden inn : W. S. Ilunt, provision dealer : J. A. Ames, stoves and tinwares: JJohn Q. Adams, wheelwright : the Hamp- den Mills Co., and John Kenworthy, woolen goods manufacturers.
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