USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 43
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THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
Schools .- In the early history of this part of Wilbraham we learn that little real attention was given to the establishment of public schools, except as the inhabitants of the South parish made provision for the instruction of their youth after their church was permanently founded. When the South parish was created the subject of schools received more attention and the territory was made to constitute districts under the general town system. Tradition. with some meagre records, inform us that among the settlers here were several persons who taught early schools, among the number being Moses and Stephen Stebbins, Samuel Beebe. Samuel Henry. Mareus Cady, Sally Wilcox, Bet- sey Sessions, Lydia Ames and others whose names at this time are not recalled.
When Hampden was incorporated as a separate town, the territory was divided into four districts, and ample provision was made for the maintenance of a school in each. In subse- quent years the districts were occasionally remodeled, and now the town has five districts with a good school in each. Accord- ing to the reeent school census Hampden has 88 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, and for their instruction five teachers are employed. There is annually raised by tax in the town the sum of about $1.400 for the schools: about $185 are expended in carrying pupils to and from school, and the total amount paid each year for all school purposes is about $1.800. Hampden receives annually nearly $500 of the public school moneys.
Soon after 1840 a number of public spirited men in this part of Wilbraham perfected a plan for the establishment of a school of higher grade than that attained under the town system, and to that end they devoted their energies until old Hampden acad- emy was founded in 1844. The moneys necessary for this insti- tution were raised by popular subscription and ahnost wholly within what now is Hampden. The school was opened with George Brooks in charge and soon found favor with the towns- folk. drawing pupils from the North Wilbraham locality and also from adjoining towns on the east and west. In the course of time. however, the increasing efficiency of the public schools. with grammar and high schools as provided for by law. worked
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
adversely to the interests of the private institution and led to its abandonment : but it survived many others of its class and was maintained until within a comparatively recent period. The instuctors following principal Brooks were E. J. Howe, Charles Marsh, Mr. Bliss. Alonzo B. Newell and perhaps others.
Churches .- The Congegational church-the mother church -in South Wilbraham and Hampden, had its inception in the primitive meetings held at the houses of the settlers in this part of the town soon after the pioneers entered into the region. In the course of a few more years the inhabitants sought to establish regular preaching services, but the people of the northern local-
Congregational Church. Hampden
ity would not consent to a separation from the old church. At last in 1782 the South parish was duly constituted, and imme- diately thereafter an informal society for worship was formed ; a plain, rough meeting house was erected in 1783, and in 1785 the church organization was perfected. For the next three years the church had no settled pastor, the first regular incumbent of that office having been Rev. Moses Warren, whose service began September 3. 1788, at which time there were 62 communicating members, Mr. Warren's connection with the pastorate contin- ned until his death, February 19, 1829, and constituted a mem-
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THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
orable period in the history of the church. The later pastors were Lucius W. Clark, installed December 9, 1829; James A. Hazen, January 30. 1839; Hubbard Beebe. April 19, 1848; E. S. Skinner, May 19, 1853; James C. Houghton, 1855: John Whitehill. 1861: Edward B. Chamberlain, 1868; E. P. Root, 1876; Edward A. Chase, May 28, 1884. Mr. Chase was the au- thorized historian of the church and delivered the address at the centennial celebration, November 18, 1885. The address has recently been published and widely circulated throughout the town, hence a more detailed narrative history of the old South
Baptist Church
parish church is unnecessary in this chapter. In the history of the town and locality the church has always exercised an in- fluence for good. has furnished strength to other religions so- cieties, and yet has retained a substantial membership. In 1-34 the old meeting house was removed from its original location to the present site, and in the winter of 1868-9 the edifice was thoroughly remodeled at a cost of $3,000. Later material re- pairs were made in 1883.
The Methodist Episcopalchurch and society in Sonth Wil- braham and Hampden dates its history from the year 1830, when
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
the class was resolved into an organized religions body, with a considerable membership drawn largely from the mother Con- gregational church and to a less extent from the Methodist ele- ment of population which then had become settled in the locality. Soon afterward a house of worship was erected, and from that time Methodism has been a controlling factor in the religious history of the town. The local church has a large membership and is constantly increasing in strength and usefulness. The present pastor is Rev. A. W. Baird.
A Baptist society and church was organized in South Wil- braham in 1855, and drew its original membership from the church of the same denomination in Monson, which about that time was dissolved. A house of worship was erected and from that time the history of the new church has been continuons and progressive. The present pastor is Rev. JJohn Cameron.
The two cemeteries of Hampden were laid out. respectively. in 1755 and 1876, the older being located about a quarter of a mile from the center of the town. and comprising between two and three acres of land. The new cemetery is just outside the village proper. on the Stafford road. Both are under charge of town cemetery commissioners.
Past and Present .- During the period of its history, South Wilbraham and Hampden have produced a full quota of men of brains and substance. In our reminiscences of pioneer days in the South parish allusion is made to the men who prepared the way, for the subsequent prosperity of the town in all branches of domestic life. and it is our purpose now to mention the names of other townsmen, who during the last half century have been prominent factors in accomplishing results. but none of whom are now living.
First there may be recalled William Vyne Sessions, farmer. manufacturer, many years justice of the peace, representative to the general court. and county commissioner one term. Sumner Sessions, brother of William V. was one of the foremost men of his day. liberal and publie spirited, builder of the first woolen mill that brought large business interests to the town ; a farmer and owner of saw mill and other enterprises. "Squire" Beebe
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THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
was the local lawyer, the legal advisor of the townspeople; himself not specially prominent in Hampden county legal circles, but the father of several sons who achieved fame either here or in other localities. Junius Beebe, the eldest son, went to Ohio and became wealthy; Lucius became a southern cotton dealer and gained a fortune; Decins and Cyrus likewise attained prominence, the former dying in Hampden: Marens was the plow manufacturer, of whom mention has been made. Eleazer Seripter was one of the founders of the woolen industry here, a trial justice and man of affairs in the town for years. Luther E. Sage was another conspicnous figure in manufacturing circle, himself the builder of a large woolen mill and a valuable factor in town history.
Solomon C. Spelhan was an early merchant, a prominent old-time demoerat, trial justice and justice of the peace, town representative, deputy sheriff and at one time special county commissioner. He eventually removed to Springfield, but died in Hampden. Charles C. Spellman, now of the Springfield bar, is a son of the late Solomon C. Spellman. William P. Spellman, brother of Solomon C., and his partner in business, was for many years a prominent character in local history; was frequently elected to town office and represented the town in the legislature. He was a whig of the Fillmore stripe. Abner C. Burleigh came into the town from Monson and began his career as a farm hand, but later on he beeame a prosperous man and thrifty farmer. Sullivan U. Stanton was a prominent farmer and took an active part in town affairs; was postmaster, town clerk, assessor and selectmen.
F. K. Lathrop was a stable-keeper here years ago, and also was a factor in local polities previous to his removal to Spring- field. Ralph S. and Silas W. Chapin are remembered as sub- stantial farmers and model citizens of quiet life and habits. rather than as active figures in town affairs. John W. Langdon -"Deacon" Langdon, as best known-was specially prominent in the church and moderately so in public matters. He once represented the town as the successful candidate of the know- nothing party. Carson K. Cone was a successful farmer. Walter
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Hitchcock was a farmer, school commissioner. assessor and town representative.
Mention also is due to Levi Hitchcock, who died in Spring- field ; Isaae W. Leach, a successful man who accumulated a large property: John R. West. carpenter and contractor, builder of two of the large mill structures; James Stanton. carpenter, who removed to Minnesota: Beriah and Levi Smith, the former a farmer and the latter a cloth dresser and proprietor of a carding machine; Robert Sessions, junior, farmer, founder of the Meth- odist Epispocal church in the town. and father of HI. M. and Robert O. Sessions, of Brookfield; James L. Furman; Deacon John B. Morris, brother of Oliver B. Morris of Springfield, a man of information and influence. a whig and later an ardent republican : Drs. Marcius Cady and Abial Bottom, practicing physicians here and men of note in the town; Loren Stacy, a well-to-do farmer: A. O. Thresher, who built kilns and made charcoal here for the Hazard Powder company.
Among the more prominent characters in Hampden history to-day. we may mention the names of Sumner Smith, the mer- chant, who came to the mills here in the capacity of superintend- ent: Lyman Smith. an excellent citizen and prominent man ; Mortimer Pease, whose name we have frequently noted : Dr. Ballard. present chairman of the board of selectmen and for years one of its members : Moses H. Warren : Lucins A. Burleigh. farmer: Charles Il. and Charles I. Burleigh: E. H. Temple : Nelson M. Carew. eight years selectman: John N. Isham, a prominent and successful farmer: William J. Sessions, one of the largest taxpayers in the town, son of William R. Sessions. the latter a native of this town. now residing in Springfield, and for twelve years secretary of the state board of agriculture; William Leach. the highway commissioner: David R. MeCray, a prominent farmer and former selectman: Patrick E. Wall, once first selectman and a manufacturer: F. W. Dickinson, one of the first board of selectmen in 1878; John Bartlett. a success- ful farmer and the only remaining tobacco grower in the town : Matthias Casey. merchant and postmaster: John Kenworthy, the manufacturer and former selectman: John Q. Adams. town «Jerk, and many others.
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APPENDIX
And they assembled all the congregation together, and they declared their pedigrees, after their families by the home of their fathers .- Numbers 1:18.
Now when William had come into Yarrow he sent forth men into all his domains to gather into one volume the names of all those in the land, showing their kinship among them selves, their intermarriages, dates covering births and deaths. and times of those given in wedlock. This did he not alone for himself and his own day and period, but that posterity might Inow of a certainty concerning those who had gone before them. And the list made a noble and goodly array in a bulky volume. -Hume's History of England.
Appendix
WILLARD, JUSTICE, Springfield, Mass,, was in the common schools of his native town the sixth in descent from Major Simon and at Kimball union academy. Meriden, Willard, who was born at Hvismondon, N. Il. Ile has been twice married; first. to England, in 1605, came to America in 1634, Marion Virginia Chellis, of Cornish. N. II., and was one of the founders of t'oncard, Mass. Ile was a member of the Massachu- setts general court, and commander of a regiment of colonial troops in the early Indian wars. The line of descent is as fol- lows : (1) Major Simon Willard. (2) Jon- athan, (3) Jonathan, (4) Daniel, (5) Ruel.
on January S, 1867 ; she died October 30, 1873, without issue. He was married. sec- ond, to Clara Elizabeth Galpin. of Spring- field, Mass .. October 2. 1879. Their chil- dren are Allen Galpin Rice, born July 20, 1880 ; Elizabeth Banks Rice. born September 10. 1881: and Ellen Birnie Rice, born (6) Justice. Justice Willard was born in April 11, 1883. John L. Rice is the nluth Greenfield, Mass .. April 5. 1700, son of in descent from Edmund Rice (D). who was Ruel and Margaret (daughter of Samuel born in Barkhamstead. England, Ju 1594. Wells, of Greenfield, Mass. I Willard. He He came to America and settled in Sud- was educated at New Salem academy and bury, Mass,, in 1038, sharing in the original at Dartmouth college, from the latter of division of land in that town. A wife and which he was graduated in 1\11. He read seven children accompanied him from Eng- Jaw at Albany. N. Y., and Greenfield, Mass.,
land. Four of their children were born and after admission to the bar hegan prac- later. Ilis residence in Sudbury was on tice of his profession at Springfield, Mass .. in 1814. Ile was collector of internal rev. enue after the war of 1812-15. publisher and editor of the Hampden Patriot about five years, member of the general court in 1823, and of the state senate in 1825; served as legister of probate from 1827 to 1850, was actuary of the Springfield Mu qual Fire Insurance Co .. and was an active participant in the promotion and building of the Western railroad and was a member of the first board of directors thereof. It his public and private life he bore an ut sullied reputation, and was one of the prominent factors in the upbuilding and development of the city of Springfield. In
the easterly side of Sudbury river. in the southerly part of what is now Wayland. lle was a selvetman in 1644. and also in subsequent years ; deacon of the church In 1648 and one of thirteen to petition the General Court for a new plantation, which petition was granted and the plantation Incorporated as Marlborough. whither he removed in 1660, sharing In the first divis- lon of lands in that town. His English wife. Tamazine, died In Sudbury. June 13, 1654. On March 1. 1655. he married Mer- cie, widow of Thomas Brigham. of Cam- bridge, Mass .. the progenitor of the New England Brighams. Ile died in Martbor- ongh, May 3, 1663, and was burled at Sud 1819 he was married to Sally Lyman Bry- bury ; his widow. Mercie, married William ant, daughter of Capt. John Bryant, of Springfield. Their family of children num- bered nine-two sons and seven daughters -of whom the following are now living : Charlotte Willard. of Springfield : Mason Willard of Longmeadow ; and Lt. Col. Wells Willard. of the United States army. Mr. Willard died in Springfield. April 11. 1561. Hunt, of Marlborough. in 1664, and died December 25, 1693. Edward Rice (2), sec- ond son of Edmund, was born in England in 1619, and died In Marlborough. Mass .. Angust 15. 1712. Danlel Rive (3). third son of Edward, was born November S. 1665. In Sudbury, Mass .. and dled In Marlborough. Mass .. December S. 1721. Daniel Rire 2d RICE. JOHN LOVELL. Springtiell, Mass., ( 1). frst son of Danlet. was born In Marl- was born in Wenthersfeld. Vi .. February 1. borough, Muss .. June 3. 16sh and dled f 1840, son of Lysander Mason and Clarinda Shrewsbury. Mass., 1n 1733. Jubez Klep Whitmore (Upham) Rice. He was educated (5), sixth son of Daniel 2d, was barn April
36-3
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APPENDIX
7. 1727; no record of his death, but it oe- 1555. He was the maternal grandfather of curred later than 1782. Stephen Elce (G), John L. Rice. John Lovell Rice, after leav- fourth son of Jabez, was born in Maribor- ough. Mass .. June S. 1762, and died in Reading, Vt. (whither he removed in 1786). July 12, 1802. Hayen Rice (7), first son of Stephen, was born in Petersham, Mass .. October 25, 1766. and died in West Wind. sor. Vi .. February 6, 18%. Lysander Mason Rice (S). first son of Haven, was born in Reading. Vt .. November 11. 1N12. and is still living In Springfield, Mass .. to which place he came lu IAAtt, on the death of his ing school. was engaged as a clerk in a store in Cornish, N. H., until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in the 2d N. H. Vols., was appointed captain of a company in the 16th Regiment on November 4, 1862, and on September 20, 1563, was promoted to colo- nel of the 75th U. S. Colored Infantry. Ile was severely wounded, being shot through the lungs at the first Bull Ruu battle, and was reported dead ; funeral ceremonies were held at his home, and he was deeply wife In Weathersfield. Vt .. September 2G. mourned. the meanwhile he was suffering 18\0, the only one of the ancestors who in Libby prison until January 3, 1862. In over lived in Hampden county. On the December of the latter year he was ordered maternal side, John k. Rice is descended to Louisiana, sharing in many of the ardu- from John Upham (1), who was born in ous campaigns in that State, including the Somersetshire, England, In 1500: sailed siege of Port Hudson. Ile returned in March 20. 1035, with his wife and three Jannary, 1867, and took up his residence in children, from Weymouth. England. and Springfield, Mass., where he has since lived. settled in Weymouth. Mass .. where he was "admitted a freeman" September 2, 1635. In 144% he removed to Mahlen, Mass .. where he died February 25, 1Us1. He was many times a member of the General Court. and a commissioner to treat with the Indians. He was an active pioneer in the settlement of Weymouth, Malden, and Worcester. He
After being engaged in business for six years, he served two years as inspector of customs in Boston. devoting his spare time to reading law and was admitted to the bar on April 24, 157G. and has been in practice in Springfield since. Ile has held many positions of honor and responsibility and has been active and prominent in the affairs was married in England to Elizabeth Webb of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
abont 1027: she died about 1670, and in August. 1671. he married Catharine Hol GALBRAITH, HAYWARD, P. o. Springfield, land, one of the original settlers of Wey. Mass., son of Frederick W. and Abbie (Sas- mouth. No record exists of her death. ward) Galbraith. was born in Benecia. Cal- ifornia. March 6. 1570. Ile came to Hamp- den county with his mother and three brothers in November, 1584. On May 23, 1504, he married Esther Frances Towne. One child has been born of this union, llelen. on June 9. 1597. Mr. Galbraith's first American ancestor was Jonas Clark, the famous elder of Cambridge church, where the records show him to have been in 1642. Ile married July 30, 1650, and died in 1099, aged eighty years. Jonas' son Thomas was born in 1652, and died in 1704. He was made second minister of Chelmsford, Mass .. October 17. 1676. The records state : "Mr. Thomas Clark, minis- Ter. being seven weeks in the army at Nar- ragansett and officiating at the request of the commander-in chief during that time, the (General) Court judgeth it meet to grant him six pounds money to be paid by Phineas I pham 12h, third son of John, was born in Weymouth, Mass., in 1636. and died in Boston, in October, 1676, of wounds re- ceived at the storming of Fort Canonicus. in the King Philip war. where he was a lentenant in the Massachusetts forces. lohu Upham (3), third son of Phineas, was born In Malden, Mass .. December 9. 1666. and dled there June 9, 1733. Ezekiel Up ham +41, third son of John, was born in Mahlen, Mass .. in 1700, and died in Stur bridzs. Mass .. April 21. 1753; he was a captain in the provincial army in the French and Indian war. 1755 G1. Asa l'p- ham 15), third son of Ezekiel, was born in Sturbridge, Mass .. May 15. 170G, and died in Ww: therstie d. Vt .. September 13. IS2%. whither he had removed at the close of the French and Indian war in 1743. Asa l'p- ham 2d off second son of Asa. was born In Sturbridge. Mass. November 26. 1771. the Treasurer." Thomas was graduated and d'ed in Wrathersfield. Vt .. July 21. from Harvard in 1670. By his wife. Mary,
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APPENDIX
who died in 1700, he had four children : ty-six years. llis brothers, Edward settled Jonas, Thomas 2d. Elizabeth and Lncs. at Weymouth, Mass., and JJames at Dor- Thomas 2d had a son, Thomas 3d. who mar- chester, Mass. On the maternal side he Is ried Lydia Fletcher, and they had twelve descended from William and Abigail Car- children : Thomas 3d. died June 9, 1823, penter, who settled in Rehoboth in 1638. aged eighty years. Oliver, one of Thomas and whose ancestry in England is trace- 3d's children, married Anna IInse, of Meth- able back to 1300. Everett Alanson Bates uen. She died in 1815. leaving four was graduated from Yale in 1880 with the daughters, the second of whom, Elizabeth, degree of A. B .. and received his degree of born in 1810, married John S. Sayward, M. D. at the Harvard Medical school. On July 25. 1900, he was married to Ellen Ruth Bowen. They have one child. Eliza- beth Bates, born May 30. 1901. Dr. Bates settled in Springfield. March 28, 1892. born in Newburyport in 1805, of Bangor, Me. Abbie, daughter of John S. and Eliz aheth Sayward. was born at Bangor. Me., in 1845, married April 16. 1507, to Fred- eric W. Galbraith. at Augusta. Me. Their
CHAPIN, WILLIAM HIORACE, D. o. Spring- children are four: Sayward, born March field. Mass., is a direet descendant of Dea- 6. 1870, at Benecia, California ; Frederic con Samuel Chapin (see the Chapin Gene- W., jr .. born May 0, 1874. at Watertown, alogy for complete details. ) William Mass. ; John Sayward. born September 22, Horace Chapin married first, Miss Fannie 1875. at Boxford, Mass. : Archibald V., L. Stebbins. daughter of the late John It. born September 20, 1877. at Boxford, Mass.
Stebbins, of Hampden county. They were
FRISSELL, GEORGE NEWTON, D. o. Hlol- the parents of une daughter, Frances A .; yoke, Mass., was born in Peru, Berkshire he married, second. Miss Grace F. Ordway, of Arlington, Massachusetts, by whom he
county, March 26, 1847, son of Emerson
Scott and Sarah A. (Granger) Frissell. has had one son, Sammel Burnham.
He came to Holyoke in 1886 as manager for the J. S. Carr baking company, in whose MEEKINS, EMORY (deceased), was born November 1, 1837. in Conways, Mass .. son employ he remained until May 1. 1802, of Truman and Polly (Packard) Meekins. when he engaged with Glenville C. Frissell. as manager in his baking and ice cream manufacturing business. In this position boy's work on the farm. I'ntil he was fourteen years of age he lived in Conway, attending school and doing a At that time liis he remained until July 1. 1901, when. with parents removed to Greenfield. Mass., where William R. Frasier, he purchased the en- he completed his schooling, and at the age tire interest of Glenville (. Frissell and the of seventeen entered the general store of T. new firm is doing a very satisfactory busi- D. Root. in Greenfield, where he remained
ness. In 1873 Mr. Frissell married Ella until isto, undergoing the hard appren- A. Boutwell of Northampton, Mass. They ticeship of a clerk in a country store, but showing such aptitude and business ability that he was constantly promoted and won the confidence and esteem of his employer. January 1. 1860. he removed to Springfield have three children, Ethel Louise, Laurence Emerson and Bessie Irene Frissell. Ethel Louise, on October 5. 1897, married J. Wil- liam Carlson, of Arlington, New Jersey.
BATES. EVERETT ALANSON, M. D. p. o. and was employed In the store of A. F. Springfield. Mass .. was born in Danielson- Williams, and later in that of Tinkham & ville ( now Danielson, Conn., September 14, Co. While In the employ of the latter firm he enlisted in Co. A, 46th Regiment Mass. Vols., and served a year In the field, returning to his clerkship with Tinkham & Co. with whom he was soon taken Into 1860. Ile is descended from Clement Bates and Anna, his wife, who, both at the age of forty years, embarked at London for New England, April 6, 1633. in the ship "Elz- abeth." and settled in Hingham, Mass .. In partnership ; which connection existed until September, 1035. His ancient dwelling March 15, 1875, when he formed a part house was later known as the "Anchor nership with A. A. Packard laying the Tavern." The ancestors of Clement can foundation of the later prominent and well- be traced back five generations to 1485, in known mercantile house of Merkins. Pack- ard & Wheat. Mr. Merkins was a member
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