USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume three > Part 38
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Originally the land had been bought from the Indians in a man- ner and at a price entirely satisfactory to them, so that peace existed until the outbreak of King Philip's war. Even then the only serious trouble occurred at Skipmuck, where two soldiers, Aaron Parsons and Berijah Hubbard, were killed, as was also one child. A few others were wounded and one or two persons were made prisoners.
The settlement of what is now the village of Willimansett did not begin until 1720, when a house was built there by Land- lord Abel Chapin of Chicopee Street. Many years passed before any further settlements were made there, but by the time of the revolution houses had been built by Collins Brown, Eleazer Wright, Gillis Frink and Rev. John Pendleton, a Baptist min- ister. After the independence of the colonies had been secured other houses were built from time to time, and gradually the village grew up.
The military record of Chicopee previous to the war of the rebellion is embodied in that of the town of Springfield, but there is abundant evidence that in all the trials through which the colonies passed in the early wars, and until the independence of the colonies had been secured, the sons of Chicopee bore well and honorably their part. Unfortunately, the full list of those who served in the various wars is not available. In the French and Indian war the several villages of the present city furnished quite a number of officers and enlisted men, including Captain (afterward Colonel) Abel Chapin, Ensign Moses Chapin, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Lake George in 1757; Edward Chapin, clerk of Captain Hitchcock's company, and Caleb Chapin, who was killed at Lake George. All of these were from Chicopee Street. The same locality may also claim credit for the brave Captain Elisha Chapin, who shortly before this time removed from Chicopee Street to the northwestern portion of the state. In 1754 he was commanding officer of Fort Massachu- setts, on the Hoosac river, and July 17, 1756, while working in the fields, was captured by the Indians, taken near to the fort, and tortured to death in the sight of his family, who had sought the protection of the fort, which the savages had vainly attacked.
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When the struggle of the colonies with the mother country broke out at Lexington, messengers were sent to the settlements on the Connecticut for soldiers, and sixty-two men from Spring- field responded on the moment, of whom Chicopee furnished Jacob Chapin, Israel Chapin, Phinehas Chapin, Eleazar Chapin, Jr., Solomon Chapin, Joseph Chapin, Jr., Gad Horton, John Stedman, and Phinehas Stedman. In a company which marched to Ticonderoga later in the war under Captain Abel Chapin were Moses Bliss, Benoni Chapin, Ezekiel Chapin, Zerah Chapin, Ebenezer Burbank, Eleazar Wright, Thomas Frink, and Collins Brown. In a regiment commanded by Colonel Woodbridge, Captain Ephraim Chapin led a company, in which were Paul Chapin, Japhet Chapin, Seth Chapin, David Chapin, George Chapin, Jacob Chapin, John Frink and Ebenezer Jones.
The terrible depression following the close of the revolu- tionary war brought on the Shays rebellion, which for a time threatened serious trouble for the government of Massachusetts, though happily but little blood was shed and no serious results followed, the insurgents realizing the rashness and hopelessness of their position, and scattering to their homes after the first passage of arms at Springfield. During the brief life of the insurrection, Chicopee was headquarters for one company of the rebellious force, who, in lieu of barracks, took possession of the covered bridge which had been built across the Chicopee river some nine years before. Learning of the defeat of their com- rades on Armory hill in Springfield, they dispersed in all direc- tions without the formality of a "muster out."
For many years Chicopee Street remained the most import- ant of the villages. Its lands were the most desirable for farming purposes, its residents were prosperous, and its general charac- teristics were attractive. There were located the village tavern, stores and post-office, with such shops and small manufactories as naturally developed to meet the needs of the people. But this prestige gradually gave way as the fine water powers on the Chicopee river were utilized, and the villages of Cabotville (Chicopee) and Chicopee Factory (Chicopee Falls) increased in population and in social and commercial importance. With
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this growth there very naturally came the desire for independent government, which strengthened as the years went by and the material interests of the Chicopee end of the town became larger and more prosperous, and in a measure less directly connected with those of Springfield proper.
By 1845 the total population of Springfield had grown to some 18,000, nearly 8,000 of whom belonged to the Chicopee section. The Chicopeeans were anxious for a separate town gov- ernment-the southern portion of the town desired a city charter with the territorial limits unbroken. Neither faction
Historic House in "Johnny Cake Hollow," Chicopee Falls
was able to secure its wishes through the medium of the town meeting, and much bitterness of feeling was the result. The question of division was one of the important articles in the town meeting of 1848, and was decided in the negative by a vote of about three to two-representing closely the voting strength of the two sections. But the matter was taken up by the legisla- ture, and an act incorporating the town was passed on the 25th of April of that year. The boundary line between the two towns was thus described in the act of incorporation :
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Beginning at a stone monument by two oak trees standing together on the bank of Connecticut river near to and northerly of the house of Edwin Spooner, and running thence westerly by a line at right angles with the river to the easterly line of West Springfield, thence returning to said stone monument and running thence northeasterly a straight line to a stone monument standing on the southerly bank of Chicopee river at or near the westerly extremity of "Birchem Bend" of said river so called, thence the same course to the thread of said Chicopee river, and thence easterly by the thread of said river to a point opposite the southeast corner of the town of Ludlow, and thence to the said corner of Ludlow.
The new town government was organized at a meeting held at Cabot hall in Chicopee May 17, 1848, and this list of officers was chosen :
Selectmen, Sylvanus Adams, Harmon Rowley, Ezekiel Blake, Amos W. Stockwell, Adolphus G. Parker; assessors, Syl- vester Allen, Amaziah Bullens, Harmon Rowley; school com- mittee, Rev. Jonah G. Warren, Rev. Eli B. Clark, Rev. Robert Kellen; overseers of the poor, Clark Albro, Andrew Hubbard, Phineas Stedman; surveyors of highways, Jacob P. Brown, Sidney Chapin, Joseph B. McCune; pound keeper, Almon Nel- son ; constables, Sylvester Churchill, William Wheeler, Benjamin F. Willard, William L. Bemis, John C. Bartlett, Simeon B. Fairbank, George Mosman, Amory Doolittle, Alfred Warriner, Luther Pierce, Andrew Hubbard, William R. Kentfield; meas- urers of wood and bark, Madison E. Willey, Benjamin E. Bal- lard, Sylvester Allen, Clossen Pendleton, Phineas Stedman, Emilus E. Albro, George S. Taylor, John E. Carpenter, Andrew Hubbard, Varnum N. Taylor, Otis Chapman, Elijah P. Kimball, Nathaniel Cutler, Amaziah Bullens; sealers of leather, Adolphus G. Parker, Joseph W. Hitchcock, Andrew Hubbard; board of health, Clark Albro, Andrew Hubbard, Phineas Stedman, Dr. John R. Wilbur, Dr. Daniel K. Pearson ; fence viewers, Lysander Chapin, Caleb S. Chapin, Edward S. Robinson, Orrin Fuller, Lyman Van Horn, Norman Day; surveyors of lumber, Veranus Chapin, Benjamin Parsons, Sylvester Allen, Joseph Clough,
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Richard Johnson, Francis Moore, Norman Chapin; sealer of weights and measures, William G. Bliss; field drivers, Oliver F. Pinney, Varnum N. Taylor, Samuel P. Clough, Frederick A. Barber, Ebenezer Bartlett, Levi Chapin, Titus Chapin, Benning Leavitt, James Wells, Ezra H. Corning, Benjamin B. Belcher, Royal Wyatt, Abel Chapin, Luke W. Kimball, Jonathan C. Bowker, Henry Moore, Aloristan Wait, Robinson Brock; tithing- men, Charles P. Collins, Horatio Colton, Levi C. Skeele, Alex- ander H. Childs, Sylvanus Adams, James Kervin, Patrick Gorman, Luther Streeter, Davis Dunham, David M. Butterfield, Cyrus Spaulding, Benjamin H. Ellis, Lemuel H. Brigham, Cyril A. Southworth, James L. Sikes, Lucius E. Ladd, William Mc- Dermott, Ralph White, Josiah Osgood, Lester Dickinson, William Blake, Harvey Robinson; committee on school district bounda- ries, John Wells, Edward Renney, Phineas Stedman.
The act of incorporation provided for the distribution of the surplus revenue between Chicopee and Springfield in the proportion of 37 per cent to the former and 63 per cent to the mother town, which would indicate the comparative taxable valuation of the two sections. The population, however, was more evenly divided, the national census of 1850 showing 8,291 inhabitants in Chicopee, against 11,766 in Springfield. In 1860 -- doubtless owing to the hard times of 1857, which seriously affected manufacturing interests-the census figures for Chi- copee fell to 7,261; but in 1870-notwithstanding the stress of the civil war-they had increased to 9,607, and the subsequent reports have been as follows : 1880, 11,286; 1890, 14,050; 1900, 19,167. The assessed valuation of the city at the latter date was approximately $10,000,000. Prior to 1890 the census reports had shown a population entitling to a city charter, and during that year the necessary steps were taken for changing the form of government. Elections were held in December, and on January 1, 1891, the city was duly inaugurated, with George S. Taylor as the first mayor. Until 1897 the form of government closely resembled that of Springfield, consisting of a board of aldermen comprising one member from each of the seven wards of the city, and a common council of two members from each ward. In
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1897 a new charter was adopted, which, in connection with some minor changes, vested the legislative power in a single body of seventeen aldermen-one from each ward and ten "at large," five of whom are elected annually for two years. The incum- bents of the principal offices, from the creation of the town to the present time, under both forms of government, have been as follows :
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Selectmen .- 1848, Sylvanus Adams, Harmon Rowley, Ezekiel Blake, Amos W. Stockwell, Adolphus G. Parker; 1849, Sylvanus Adams, Orange Chapin, Bildad B. Belcher, Ezekiel Blake, John Wells; 1850, John Wells, Nathaniel Cutler, Giles S. Chapin, Bildad B. Belcher, Lucius E. Ladd; 1851, Charles R. Ladd, Giles S. Chapin, George S. Taylor; 1852, Charles R. Ladd, George S. Taylor, Abner B. Abbey, John Herrick, Mar- shall Pease; 1853, George S. Taylor, Benning Leavitt, Abner B. Abbey, John Herrick, Marshall Pease ; 1854, Nathaniel Cutler, Benning Leavitt, Timothy W. Carter, Austin Chapin, John H. Smith; 1855, Titus Chapin, John E. Marsh, Caleb S. Chapin, William E. West ; 1856, Otis Chapman, Andrew Hubbard, David F. Randall, John A. Denison; 1857, Otis Chapman, Benning Leavitt, Sidney Chapin, Andrew Hubbard, William H. H. Con- ner; 1858, Otis Chapman, Giles S. Chapin, John E. Marsh, Thomas A. Denison, J. Henry Churchill; 1859, Otis Chapman, John E. Marsh, Thomas A. Denison, J. Henry Churchill; 1860, Otis Chapman, J. Henry Churchill, Theodore Williams, Lucas B. Chapin, Thomas A. Denison; 1861, Otis Chapman, Lucas B. Chapin, Daniel Knapp, William Thayer, Silas Mosman; 1862, Otis Chapman, Lucas B. Chapin, Daniel Knapp, William Thayer, Silas Mosman; 1863, Otis Chapman, Lucas B. Chapin, Daniel Knapp, Edgar T. Paige, Silas Mosman; 1864, Sylvester Adams, Phineas Cadwell, William R. Kentfield, Henry S. Her- rick, George H. Knapp; 1865, George H. Knapp, Henry S. Herrick, Russell S. Furney, Simon G. Southworth, Charles S. Stiles; 1866, William R. Kentfield, Russell S. Furney, Simon G. Southworth, Milo A. Taylor, Benjamin H. Stedman; 1867, William R. Kentfield, Milo A. Taylor, Simon G. Southworth,
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Benjamin H. Stedman, Bailey West; 1868, William R. Kentfield, Milo A. Taylor, Simon G. Southworth, Benjamin H. Stedman, Bailey West; 1869, William R. Kentfield, Simon G. Southworth, Josiah B. Fuller, William Blake, Marshall Pease; 1870, Thomas A. Denison, Josiah B. Fuller, Marshall Pease, Edgar T. Paige, James E. Taylor; 1871, Josiah B. Fuller, Marshall Pease, Edgar T. Paige, Erasmus Stebbins, John R. Wilbur; 1872, Josiah B. Fuller, Marshall Pease, Edgar T. Paige, John R. Wilbur, Henry H. Harris ; 1873, C. M. Kendall, Marshall Pease, S. D. Stoddard, John R. Wilbur, Henry H. Harris; 1874, C. M. Kendall, Mar- shall Pease, S. D. Stoddard, John R. Wilbur, Patrick Rourke; 1875, C. M. Kendall, John R. Wilbur, Giles S. Chapin, George M. Morton, Patrick Rourke; 1876, John R. Wilbur, Giles S. Chapin, George M. Morton, Patrick Rourke, Warren S. Bragg; 1877, John R. Wilbur, Edgar T. Paige, Patrick Rourke, Warren S. Bragg, William White; 1878, William R. Kentfield, Silas Mosman, Edgar T. Paige, Terrence Hogan, William White; 1879, Silas Mosman, George M. Morton, Terrence Hogan, William White, Norris R. Wood; 1880, Silas Mosman, Michael Dunn, Terrence Hogan, William White, Norris R. Wood; 1881, Silas Mosman, Jonathan R. Whittemore, Terrence Hogan, Amos W. Page, Charles E. Crehore; 1882, Terrence Hogan, Simeon A. Jacobs, Norris R. Wood, Amos W. Page, Charles E. Crehore; 1883, Amos W. Page, Simeon A. Jacobs, Norris R. Wood, Patrick Rourke, Charles E. Crehore; 1884, Amos W. Page, James J. Regan, George W. Gibson, Frank H. Morton, Charles E. Cre- hore; 1885, Emerson Gaylord, George W. Gibson, Amos W. Page, Dennis Murphy, Morris R. Wood; 1886, Emerson Gaylord, George W. Gibson, Nelson Whittier, Locero J. Gibbs, Norris R. Wood; 1887, Emerson Gaylord, George W. Gibson, Charles A. Bryant, Locero J. Gibbs, Daniel Dunn; 1888, Emerson Gaylord, George W. Gibson, Charles A. Bryant, George A. Edgerton, Norris R. Wood; 1889, Emerson Gaylord, Norris R. Wood, George W. Gibson, William White, Ansel F. Wildes; 1890, Emerson Gaylord, Norris R. Wood, George W. Gibson, George D. Eldredge, Ansel F. Wildes.
Town Clerk and Treasurer .- William L. Bemis, 1848-54;
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Jonathan R. Childs, 1854-6; Moses W. Chapin, 1856-7; Lester Dickinson, 1857-82; John D. White, 1882-90.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Mayors .- George S. Taylor, 1891; William W. McClench, 1892; Henry H. Harris, 1893; William M. E. Mellen, 1894; Andrew Gale, 1895; Alexander Grant, 1896; George D. Eldridge, 1897-8; Dennis Murphy, 1899-1900; James H. Loomis, 1901.
City Clerk and Treasurer .- John D. White, 1891-1901.
Aldermen .- 1891-Ward 1, William M. E. Mellen ; 2, Fred- erick B. Doten; 3, Irving H. Elmer (president) ; 4, Frank H. Morton; 5, William O. Kentfield; 6, Henry F. Moriarty ; 7, Mar- shall J. Bannister. 1892-Ward 1, William M. E. Mellen (president) ; 2, Frederick B. Doten; 3, Irving H. Elmer; 4, George E. Carter; 5, Andrew Gale; 6, Henry F. Moriarty ; 7, Marshall J. Bannister. 1893-Ward 1, Michael C. Collins; 2, Alexander Grant; 3, Irving H. Elmer; 4, Justin P. Woodworth; 5, Andrew Gale (president) ; 6, Peter C. Garrity ; 7, E. Ashwell Bardwell. 1894-Ward 1, Edward A. Rourke; 2, Charles A. Wilson; 3, Charles M. Bixby; 4, Lorenzo D. Sanborn (presi- lent) ; 5, George W. D. Lyon; 6, Thomas J. Bowen; 7, Robert E. Alben. 1895-Ward 1, John J. Hogan; 2, Fred M. Gilbert ; 3, Charles M. Bixby; 4, Lorenzo D. Sanborn (president) ; 5, George W. D. Lyon; 6, Thomas J. Dillon; 7, Edward S. Day. .896-Ward 1, John J. Hogan; 2, Fred M. Gilbert (president) ; ', Frank P. Ludwig; 4, Francis M. Bennitt; 5, Charles A. Bogardus ; 6, Thomas J. Dillon ; 7, Edward S. Day. 1897-Ward , John J. Hogan (president) ; 2, Zachary T. Damon; 3, Alfred 1. Chapin; 4, Luther White; 5, Charles A. Bogardus ; 6, Thomas T. Dillon; 7, Edward S. Day. 1898-Ward 1, Edward O'Con- tell; 2, Clarence J. Wetsel; 3, Edward A. White; 4, Woodman 3. Page; 5, Eugene F. Russell ; 6, James A. O'Rourke; 7, Jasper 3. Harris; at large, Frank X. Deroin, Omer Guimond, Amos O. Kinney, William F. O'Neil, James O. Stone, Patrick J. Griffin, Richard F. Riley, Wilfred St. Amour, Albert E. Taylor, Luther White (president). 1899-Ward 1, Edward O'Connell; 2, 'larence J. Wetsel; 3, Edward A. White; 4, Oliver E. Smith;
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5, Winfield S. Davis ; 6, James A. O'Rourke; 7, Edward Breck; at large, Frank X. Deroin, Omer Guimond, Amos O. Kinney, William F. O'Neil, James O. Stone, Patrick J. Griffin, Charles F. McDevitt, Locero J. Gibbs, Albert E. Taylor, Luther White (president). 1900-Ward 1, Michael F. Walsh; 2, Amos O. Kinney ; 3, Frank L. Simpson; 4, Duffield Miles; 5, Frank E. Smith; 6, Michael J. Dillon ; 7, Frank A. Rivers ; at large, Frank X. Deroin, Omer Guimond, Fred M. Gilbert, James F. O'Brien, Charles I. Scripture, Patrick J. Griffin, Charles F. McDevitt, Locero J. Gibbs, Albert E. Taylor, Luther White (president). 1901-Ward 1, Michael F. Walsh; 2, Charles R. Price; 3, Frank L. Simpson ; 4, Charles J. Seaver ; 5, Frank E. Smith ; 6, Michael J. Dillon ; 7, Frank A. Rivers ; at large, Frank X. Deroin, Omer Guimond, Fred M. Gilbert, James F. O'Brien, Charles I. Scrip- ture, Frank O. Cook, John J. Reddy, Locero J. Gibbs (presi- dent), Peter C. Garrity, Adolph Nantais.
Common Council .- 1891-Ward 1, Michael C. Collins, Patrick F. Cronin; 2, Charles B. Wells, Chester H. Ballard (president) ; 3, James C. Buckley, Henry S. Herrick; 4, George E. Carter, Henry H. Harris; 5, George W. D. Lyon, H. Smith Newell; 6, John M. Ash, John J. Whalen; 7, Jasper S. Harris, Herbert B. Burnham. 1892-Ward 1, Michael C. Collins, Patrick F. Cronin; 2, William D. Manchester, Chester H. Bal- lard (president) ; 3, James C. Buckley, William F. Hall; 4, Lorenzo D. Sanborn, Henry H. Harris; 5, Fred L. Hinkley, H. Smith Newell; 6, John M. Ash, John J. Whalen; 7, Hiram J. Young, Herbert B. Burnham. 1893-Ward 1, Edward O'Con- nell, Dennis E. Sullivan; 2, William P. Hadley, Charles Wilson ; 3, Abijah Hastings, Henry Lilley ; 4, Lorenzo D. Sanborn (presi- dent), Luther White; 5, Fred L. Hinkley, William H. Hamilton ; 6 , William H. Trumbull, Patrick Welch; 7, Edward Breck, James O. Stone. 1894-Ward 1, Edward O'Connell, Dennis E. Sulli- van ; 2, William P. Hadley, Fred M. Gilbert; 3, Abijah Hastings, Alfred L. Chapin; 4, Merrick L. Fuller, Luther White (presi- dent) ; 5, J. Napoleon L'Amoureux, Eugene F. Russell; 6, Eugene H. McCarthy, John T. Moriarty ; 7, Nathan W. Loveland, David McKay. 1895-Ward 1, Michael J. Foley, Dennis E.
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Sullivan; 2, Zachary T. Damon, John H. Gregg; 3, Frank P. Ludwig, Abijah Hastings; 4, Albert E. Taylor, Luther White (president) ; 5, J. Napoleon L'Amoureux, Zebina E. Leonard; 6, Daniel J. Driscoll, Eugene H. McCarthy ; 7, Samuel Beaulieu, Eugene Legare. 1896-Ward 1, Michael J. McLane, Eugene A. Sullivan ; 2, Zachary T. Damon, John H. Gregg; 3, George J. Morse, Abijah Hastings; 4, Woodman S. Page, Luther White (president) ; 5, H. Gordon Forbes, Leon Petit, Jr .; 6, Daniel J. Driscoll, James A. O'Rourke ; 7, William R. Weaver, Nathan W. Loveland. 1897-Ward 1, Cornelius J. O'Brien, Edward O. Wood; 2, Herbert S. Martin, Clarence J. Wetsel; 3, Abijah Hastings, George J. Morse ; 4, Frederick W. Heathcote, Worden S. Page (president) ; 5, Leon Petit, Jr., Albert E. Taylor; 6, Thomas F. Mahoney, James A. O'Rourke; 7, Alexander Finlay- son, William R. Weaver.
Assessors .- 1891-6, Dwight L. Shaw, James Flint, Patrick Rourke ; 1897-9, James Flint, Patrick Rourke, Paschal J. Newell ; 1900, James Flint, Patrick Rourke, Louis Beauregard; 1901, Patrick J. Enright, Patrick Rourke, Louis Beauregard.
Overseers of Poor .- 1891-2, Norris R. Wood, Dennis Mur- phy, William F. Smith; 1893, E. Ashley Bardwell, Dennis Murphy, Wilbur F. Smith; 1894-5, Norris R. Wood, Dennis Murphy, Wilbur F. Smith; 1896, James Flint, Dennis Murphy, Wilbur F. Smith; 1897-8, Wilbur F. Smith, Dennis Murphy, Lorenzo D. Sanborn; 1899, Dwight M. Cook, Wilbur F. Smith, Jeremiah Kirby ; 1900-1901, Wilbur F. Smith, Dwight M. Cook, Charles J. O'Brien.
City Physician .- 1891, Francis F. Parker; 1892-3, Charles H. Prindle; 1894, Michael H. Lynch ; 1895, Frank X. Deroin; 1896, Samuel E. Fletcher; 1897, H. Gordon Forbes.
City Engineer .- 1891-1901, Frank P. Cobb.
City Solicitor .- 1892, George M. Stearns; 1893-1901, Lora- nus E. Hitchcock.
Chief of Police .- 1891-3, John E. Conner; 1894, George McQueen ; 1895, William Blake; 1896-7, John E. Conner; 1898 (title changed to Marshal of Police), John E. Conner; 1899, John J. Hogan; 1900, Richard F. Riley; 1901, Charles F. Kendall.
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Superintendent of Streets .- 1891-2, Edward W. O'Brien; 1893-6, Charles E. Crehore; 1897-8, Maurice Kennedy; 1899- 1900, Edward W. O'Brien; 1901, Maurice Kennedy.
License Commissioners .- 1896-7, Fred L. Hinkley, Dennis G. Canty, Henry H. Harris; 1898-9, James E. Higgins, Dennis Canty, Henry H. Harris; 1900, Frederick J. Chapin, Frederick M. Nichols, Eugene M. Sullivan; 1901, Frederick J. Chapin, Patrick P. Murphy, Joseph T. Lodge.
The four years of civil war from 1861 to 1865 severely tested the resources and patriotism of the town, but neither was found wanting. The population of Chicopee at that time was something under 8,000, and the military quota was small in proportion, owing to the large number of women employed in the cotton mills and similar manufacturing industries. But the town heroically responded to every call, and when recruiting stopped in 1865 had furnished forty-eight more men than were due as its quota under all the calls which had been made. The quality of its soldiers was excellent, showing that the martial spirit of the fathers, which had helped in former days to make the enviable record of Springfield, dwelt strong in the hearts of the sons. In material ways the devotion of the people was even more strikingly shown. Generous contributions were made for the assistance of sick, wounded and needy soldiers, and at the close of the war a fund of some $10,000 was still on hand for this most noble charity. By wise forethought this surplus was formed into a fund, the income of which might be applied to the relief of needy veterans and their dependent ones, and for that object it is still available, carrying gladness and cheer to many a home which otherwise must find relief through a less gracious charity.
Agricultural pursuits have never been of great importance to Chicopee in a commercial sense, though the fertile lands in the Chicopee Street section have given good returns for the husbandman, and to this fact was due the early development of that region. Elsewhere within the present city limits the soil is mostly of little value for tillage purposes.
The manufacturing interests of Chicopee naturally had their beginning on Chicopee Street and were of the simple sort
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common to most of the early settlements. A saw mill was built near the south end of the Street in 1791, and a blacksmith shop was established a little later. Boot and shoe making was car- ried on to some extent for outside trade in the early part of the nineteenth century, Otis Skeele being the first manufacturer. He established a shop at Willimansett after having carried on the business on Chicopee Street, and some time later he was succeeded by A. G. Parker. Both of these establishments mar- keted boots and shoes in Hartford and New York. In 1853 Mr. Parker took his son, Josiah A. Parker, into partnership, and the business was removed to Chicopee Center a little later, where it was carried on until about 1885. Brick making was also a profitable industry, Giles S. Chapin being the pioneer and fur- nishing brick for many of the factories and other buildings at Chicopee Center, as the village there developed. The making of friction matches was started in 1835 by Chapin & Phillips, their establishment being the first of the kind in the country and perhaps in the world. The business grew to considerable proportions, and at least twenty people were employed at one time. The industry passed into other hands after a few years and was finally removed from the town. Broom making was also for a considerable time one of the active interests of the place. The Willimansett Manufacturing company was organ- ized in 1831 for the making of machine cards and small hard- ware, principally carpenters' tools. Previous to this time all such articles had been imported, and were very costly. This company developed a business which at one time employed a hundred men and did much to make a name for American hard- ware. Bemis & Sheffield were the agents, and after a time removed the industry to Springfield, where it is still continued under the name of the Bemis & Call Hardware and Tool com- pany.
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