USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Longmeadow > Proceedings at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Longmeadow, October 17th, 1883 > Part 12
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With affectionate remembrances to you and sincere regards for your col- leagues on the committee, I am most truly yours,
H. M. STORRS.
BUFFALO, Oct. 13, 1883.
To the LONGMEADOW CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE :
GENTLEMEN : Your communication is before me, and it would be very gratifying if I could accept your invitation and be present with you : but my advanced age-94 the 5th of November next-forbids it. I was eleven years old when my father moved to Longmeadow. He, with my mother, were members of the church, and we attended there until they removed their rela- tion to the East Longmeadow church. At 16 I left home, and my studies preparatory to entering Yale College in 1809, were at Monson. During my Junior year an unusual interest prevailed, at which time I, with many others, ·was converted and joined the College church. I graduated in 1813, and soon after entered the Theological Seminary at Andover. During my vaca- tion in 1816, learning that the Association were to meet at Mr. Storrs' house, I applied for and received a license, and at Mr. Storrs' request supplied his pulpit the next Sabbath. Since that time I have known comparatively little of Longmeadow, though always remembering with pleasure my early asso- ciations. I trust that your centennial gathering may be a very happy one and am, Gratefully yours,
D. L. HUNN.
CITY OF JEFFERSON, Sept. 7, 1883.
To Rev. JOHN W. HARDING, R. S. STORRS, and others :
GENTLEMEN : Your kind invitation to the " Longmeadow Centennial " is received, and hereby gratefully acknowledged. Born and nurtured upon her soil, where have dwelt my grandfather, my father, and my brother, as culti- vators of that soil, in unbroken succession, from a date long anterior to that event which you propose to celebrate, I would be base indeed were I to be wanting in respect and reverence for her, or in love for her people. If it be possible, I shall be present.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. C. PRATT.
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· IOWA UNIVERSITY, IOWA CITY, Oct. 4, 1883.
KIND FRIEND AND " COMRADE IN DAYS GONE BY " :
It was very kind and thoughtful in you to send me an invitation to your cen- tennial gathering. As I read, a memory-chamber of my heart opened, and I was a little girl again in your good old town, going to school, happy in my home, with older as well as younger friends. How well I remember the street with its " grand old trees," and the beautiful sunlight and moonlight shadows upon snow and grass ; remember also the houses, and the dwellers in those homes ! I seem almost to see their faces,-to hear their voices once more. Your home, your grandmother, and dear aunt Eunice, and the portraits in the parlor that always had such charms for me, they seemed so like " real folk." I thought of my sister and her babes as resting, with many other loved ones, in your village cemetery. The living friends are widely scat- tered ;- what matter, if all are workers for the Master ? As I cannot be with you (save in spirit), I send all good and kind wishes for a happy and highly successful celebration for you all. I feel sure you will extend a loving remembrance to those absent, as well as give loving greetings to those present at your celebration. Kindest regards from
MRS. CORNELIA WOODHULL PICKARD. To R. S. STORRS, Sec'y Centennial Committee.
BELOIT COLLEGE, BELOIT, WIS., Oct. 10, 1883.
Rev. J. W. HARDING, R. S. STORRS, and others, Committee, etc. :
Longmeadow's call through you to her sons and daughters to gather and celebrate with songs and thanksgiving her one hundredth birthday has reached me, and it means me; for in my veins is mingled the blood of her Coltons and Elys, Blisses and Burts. From earliest childhood I have been familiar with her broad street, her grand old elms, her "enerable meeting- house, her comfortable homes, and the simple, genial ways of her industrious, godly people. For my school and college vacations the place always had strong attractions,-especially in the watermelon season ! Delightful was the companionship of cousins, there born and bred ;- alas ! that most of them have been already called away from earth ;- and yet, thanks to God for the good lives they lived, and for the good record they have left behind.
I am sorely grieved that I cannot appear in person to share in the festivi- ties, and to get a blessing from the goodly fellowship of the occasion. My thoughts will be with you, under the ancestral elms of the olden green, this day a week, and I will call on my soul to be glad and bless our God for all the good people and all the good influences sent out by our revered Mother. Praying that the day may be bright with sunlight, and brighter still with the light of God's favor shed on all who may be gathered, I am,
Yours fraternally, A. L. CHAPIN.
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TUSTIN, Los Angeles Co., Cal., Sept. 25, 1883.
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE, LONGMEADOW :
It is with sincere regret that I, a "daughter of Longmeadow," am com- pelled to decline the cordial invitation of our "beloved Mother " to meet under the "ancestral elms" to celebrate her one hundredth birthday." Three thousand miles lie between us, with the Sierras and the Rockies.
One hundred years ! What changes and revolutions have they wrought ! " A wonderful stream is the River Time ; " sixty-three years has it borne me along, until now, the last of my father's family, it has landed me, with my husband, in a pleasant home, among the orange groves of this sunny land of California. We eat the fruit of our own " vine and fig-tree," and summer and winter alike, are surrounded with living green. Still, I look back with fond and loving memory to the place of my nativity, and am " made a child again " as I remember my childhood and youthful days passed in happy freedom in dear old Longmeadow.
To all her sons and daughters who may gather in October to celebrate her natal day, I send my best wishes and kindest regards. Yours truly,
HARRIETT NEWELL KELLOM.
VAN, EASTERN TURKEY, Oct. 1, 1883.
Rev. J. W. HARDING, R. S. STORRS, and others :
DEAR FRIENDS : Yesterday's mail brought the kind invitation from your- self and the other members of the committee for my wife and self to be present at the coming centennial anniversary of the settlement of the good town of Longmeadow. Though my residence in the town of my birth was too short to fully identify me with it, yet the memory of my sainted father who lived and died there, and the continued residence within its bounds of many loved and honored friends, have sufficed especially to endear to me my native village.
And who is there that has ever wandered "under the ancestral elms of the Olden Green," and been permitted to visit in the beautiful, cul- tured, and hospitable homes that border it on either side, who would not feel honored by an invitation to its centennial gathering, and make every effort to honor the same by acceptance? But alas ! too many leagues of sea and land divide us. I regret that I cannot hope that the letter will reach you in time for the celebration, for I would like to ask the many there assembled to entreat the Lord to grant to us here in Van that gracious out- pouring of His Spirit's presence, which we so much need.
With grateful acknowledgments and hearty greetings from my wife and self to all who may remember us, I remain yours most truly,
G. C. RAYNOLDS.
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SHWEIFAT, TURKEY, Nov. 28, 1883.
MY DEAR COUSIN SALTER :
I was much gratified by the receipt of the invitation from our "venera- ble and beloved Mother," and still more by the very interesting notice of the celebration in the Republican, which I read with the greatest pleasure. With its aid, I can imagine a great deal, though I cannot but wish most earnestly that I could have been there. How pleasant must have been the gathering of relatives and friends, as well as of townspeople, on such an occasion. Dear Aunt Schauffler must have so enjoyed her visit with Aunt Eunice.
I cherish delightful memories of my early home at Longmeadow, and of later visits there. With tender interest I always walk through the quiet grave-yard, and I love, here in my distant home, to recall the grand old elms and beautiful green sward beneath, of my girlhood. That photo- graph of the old meeting-house and part of the noble street which you so kindly sent me hangs in my own room, and in imagination I see it in its natural coloring.
How many of our precious ones who have walked those paths with us are already garnered above. I often recall the silent, sad moments, after my dear father breathed his last, broken by my grandfather's voice, in quiet tone saying, " Be still, and know that I am God." It is good to lie still in His hands and to learn more and more what a God he is ; how merciful and gracious, even when he takes our precious treasures from us. To that heavenly home, with its river of life and trees of healing for the nations, may we all at length attain, to go no more out forever.
Your affectionate cousin,
EMILY P. CALHOUN.
A fitting "pendant " to the letters of those invited guests who were detained from the exercises, might be a series of those since received from guests of the occasion, testifying their enjoyment of it. A sin- gle sample from many must suffice.
SPRINGFIELD, Dec. 13, 1883.
Prof. R. S. STORRS, Secretary of the Centennial Committee :
Next to the Bible, I would like the Longmeadow Centennial Volume. Such an enjoyable occasion I never shall forget, and Rev. Mr. Harding's historical address on that gala day for Longmeadow. And all those fine speeches ! Ministers are full of wit and are very human, I find, and like fun at the right time as well as professors do. I thank you for starting that ball which assumed such large proportions as the day wore on.
We do not belong to the Colton family. My husband's father was deacon of the church at East Longmeadow, though we were not born deacons-all of us. Please send the book, when it is issued, to Mrs. E. A. B. McNary Chandler.
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D .- EAST LONGMEADOW GROWTH.
That portion of the town now designated as East Longmeadow, was originally an almost unbroken forest, infested with bears and wild cats, which considerably annoyed the early settlers. It was also prolific with deer, turkeys, pigeons, and other wild game. Pastor Williams alludes to the bear hunts which were organized to protect the cornfields in their clearings from this pilfering beast, and also to the more welcome and noble flocks of wild turkeys which used to emerge from the forest into his home lot. The countless pigeons that thronged these woods, tempted our fathers to spread their nets, and furnished them with cheap game in great abundance. A wide expanse of this original forest still remains to separate the two por- tions of the town, and so extensive and intricate is it, that a wild hog which had been imported from Smyrna by Mr. Francis T. Cordis and had escaped from his enclosure, not many years ago gave an exciting chase of several days duration to a company of expert hunt- ers. This forest, which, by reason of its natural soil and situation, gives promise of indefinite continuance, is traversed by a labyrinth of roads that are much sought for as pleasure drives, and may well be widened and improved in view of their easy connection with the sys- tem of "park roads," and the utilization of the adjacent Pecowsic Valley contemplated in the public improvements of Springfield.
The eastern part of the town used to be called "Inward Commons," because it consisted, apart from the scattered clearings here and there appropriated to private ownership, of undivided lands which were used for general pasturage. The early settlers of East Long- meadow acquired their titles either from "Town grants " or " Pro- prietor's grants." The town originally owned all the land, and made its own grants. The "proprietors " were inhabitants and land owners, among whom were distributed these undivided lands in the time of the tyrannical Governor, Edmund Andros, when he began in other parts of the province to sequestrate the undivided or "common " lands, and the threatened danger was that the provincial charter might be annulled, and that all such lands might revert to the crown. They were hastily laid out-taking advantage of the saving clause which protected individual property-into long and narrow strips proportioned to the number of polls belonging to each man's family, and to his rateable estate ; and they were merged in the course of time by sale and exchange into the more convenient form of compacted farms.
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The first settlers from the " street " were Jonathan and Elijah, sons of David Burt ; and Silas, son of Thomas Hale, about the year 1740. After them came from various quarters, the Taylors, Dwights, Lathrops, Hancocks, Ashleys, Munns, McGregorys, Cooleys, Wolcotts, Halls, Websters, Indicotts, Hunns, Stebbinses, Hills, Swetlands, Pratts, Bil- lingses, Markhams, Steels, Browns, Scotts, Porters, Peases, Cranes, Ellises, Morgans, Calkinses, Chandlers, Webbers, McIntoshes, Chap- mans, and Rumrills.
Notwithstanding the separation by several miles of intervening for- est, the two portions of the town were from the outset closely con- nected by intermarriages, and identified in the same precinct and town, and until 1829, in the same church,-if we except from this statement the Baptist organization of a somewhat earlier date, in the extreme eastern district.
During this more recent period, however, their several interests have been growing more and more divergent and diversified by the formation of new churches, as well as by the thriving industry of the stone quarries, the centralization of business in the East Longmeadow village, and the new railroad connecting it with Springfield and Hart- ford.
Although in the past the advantages of a richer soil, larger wealth, and larger population have belonged to the old community of the "long meadow," the thrifty agriculture, growing enterprise, and increasing population of the eastern part of the town, are already balancing the accounts. The outlook of the stone quarry business especially gives cheering financial promise. In the chief cities far and near, the Longmeadow red sandstone has gained a national reputa- tion. Of fine grain and durable material, rich and warm in color, it is more and more demanded.
The earliest quarries were upon the lands of McGregory and Pratt, the Lords, Ashley, and McIntosh, who used principally the surface stone and furnished little beyond local demands. As the business extended, it was for a time monopolized and extended by Burgess Salisbury, and Seth Taylor. Then the Messrs. Kibbe and Alfred Taylor engaged in it. Again, it was concentrated in the hands of A. Dwelly of Spring- field. In the course of time Edmund Pratt, Sidney Kibbe, and Je- rome Billings, took it up. At the present time this industry, with greatly enlarged facilities of labor and machinery, is mainly absorbed by the Norcross Brothers of Worcester, and James and Mara of Springfield, who do a widely extended and increasing business.
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The settlers of East Longmeadow were, from the beginning, men and women of the same sterling character and homogeneous stock that peopled the elder community, and their friendly rivalries in all public affairs of town or State administration have been maintained with equal ability. No men have better served the town in offices of trust, both at home and abroad, than such as Joseph W. Cooley, Deacon Abial Pease, Seth Taylor, Burgess Salisbury, Randolph Steb- bins, and others of like capacity.
One of the elder citizens of East Longmeadow, thus records his early recollections. "There was a large extent of wood land, poor roads, some stone wall and Virginia rail fence, but more of hedge- fence, or piled up staddles and brush. The people were honest, indus- trious, capable, hospitable, obliging, and Sabbath-keeping. On a Sunday morning a long string of wagons would file into the highway leading to the old church in the street ; generally two horse farm wag- ons with boards across for seats, one covered hack-the Taylor car- riage, -- and Deacon Burt's chaise ; the boys and girls went on foot, and sometimes with their shoes in hand to be put on as they neared the church. As the long line filed out through the woods, the first were the Dwights, then came the Hales, Gowdies, Pratts, Taylors, Cooleys, and Ashleys; from another road the procession was joined by the Burts, Blisses, Hunns, Websters, and others-all worthy names- while in the southeast corner, or Baptist neighborhood, there re- mained to worship in the old and long school-house, the Peases, Mark- hams, McGregorys, Swetlands, Indicotts, and Dwights, with some of their neighbors living across the Somers line. Among the educated men furnished by the east part of the town, were Revs. Lathrop Hunn, Joseph Scott, Jonathan Burt, Henry Martyn Tupper, and Hon. Geo. C. Pratt of Missouri, Professor in the State University, and more recently Civil Engineer and Railroad Commissioner. Among the practising physicians may be enumerated Henry White, Edwin McRay, Rial Strickland, Edward S. Beebe, Ralph P. Markham, and Joseph B. Atwater."
From other local sources are gathered the following data. David Lathrop, the present David Lathrop's grandfather, came from East Windsor, Ct., in 1804, and lived where E. K. Sellew now lives ; his wife's maiden name was Nancy Chipman. Ephraim Hunn, father of Rev. Lathrop Hunn, came from Hadlyme, Ct., in the year 1800. He was taken prisoner by the British, being at Stonington when Arnold burned the place. He settled where his son Erastus now lives, and
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died in 1862, aged 96. Thaddeus Billings settled on the farm now owned by John Allen, and owned all the land reaching to and includ- ing the farm where Calvin Webster now lives. He gave the land for the burying ground on " Billings Hill." Ebenezer McGregory, at whose house pastor Storrs used frequently to preach, settled where Elliott B. Markham now lives, 93 years ago ; he built a log house in the wilderness and the first winter kept his cattle on brush. He was a blacksmith and used to make nails for the government. He married Susan Bradley from Tolland, Conn. His sons were Ebenezer and Joseph ; his daughters, Susan, Thankful, Hannah, and Lucina. The name Ebenezer continued in the family to the fifth generation.
Timothy Brown settled near where Warren Frost's house stands. He died without issue 56 years ago. Dea. Abial Pease was a prom- inent business man in the early history of the town. He lived to a great age and died without issue. Jacob Hills settled in the wilder- ness near Watchoag brook, where his son Solomon's widow now lives, 97 years of age. He built a cabin of poles, and after living in it a number of years built a log house which he occupied until 1811, when he built the frame house occupied by his son's family. He was in the Revolutionary war, and present at the execution of Andre. He married Naoma Bishop of Wilbraham. They had a family of nine children, some of whom are still living. Joseph Scott came from Brookline, Mass., and settled on the hill where his daughter Eunice now lives. Israel Swetland settled on the farm where Calvin Kibbe lives, and was probably one of the first proprietors. His daughter, Mrs. Hannah Hall, recently died at the age of 86.
The Dwights of East Longmeadow were descendants of Nathaniel, eldest son of Timothy Dwight of Dedham ; the Springfield Dwights being the descendants of Henry, the fourth son of Timothy. Elihu Dwight settled on Pecowsic Brook, in 1784. It is said of him, “ A very honest man but much set in his way ; a quaint old Puritan, of as strong likes and dislikes as any Dwight ever had." The " Dwight place " was bought for about 83 cents per acre. Elisha Dwight used to bring his family to church in an ox-cart, the custom also of some others. In his old age, he joined the Baptists, and one of his "dislikes" came near preventing his profession of faith. Standing upon the banks of Scantic river when his turn came to go into the water for baptism, he seemed strangely reluctant. Fixing his gaze upon the stream and shaking his staff in a mysterious man- ner, he would not move. " Come," said Elder Atwell, in a persuasive
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tone. But the old man, still gazing into the untried depths would not stir. Finally he broke the mysterious pause. "Paul Langdon killed three big water-snakes right there last June!" But having reassured himself by sundry vigorous passes in the water with his staff, he sub- mitted to the proprieties of the case. His son, Oliver, carried on the coopering business in connection with his farm. He left the old church and joined the Baptist because of his " strong dislike " towards the "seating " arrangement of the committee who "dignified the house." He taught school in " district No. 4," for $4.00 per month. His son, the late Oliver Dwight, carried on for many years the tanning business.
Elam Hale owned the first one-horse wagon in East Longmeadow, and Dea. Ebenezer Burt the first chaise, about 1812. An Enfield man having been injured by a fall from his wagon in descend- ing Burt's Hill, so that he was laid up in a neighboring house for several weeks, and his condition forbidding his riding in a wagon without springs, his Enfield neighbors came one Sunday and carried him home on their shoulders. The house now owned by Joseph Nichols is the oldest in the eastern part of the town. As late as 1820, there were only five painted houses, and these were painted red. Carpets were unknown, and stoves very rare.
Grindstones were furnished from the quarries for the government, until superseded by the Nova Scotia stone. Coopering was carried on by Solomon and Luther Hills, who also ran a saw-mill. A fulling- mill and several cider-mills were also numbered among the manu- factures, and cider-brandy was not neglected. The inhabitants of the eastern part of the town claimed and maintained their equal rights in school privileges, in military affairs, in town offices, and in the administration of the gospel, and shared in the support of a public library which was located in the street. At a later day they estab- lished a library of their own. Pastors Williams and Storrs were assiduous in their pastoral visitations in this portion of the united parish and frequently held preaching services in private houses. About 1820 the arrangement was consummated of holding the elections alternately in each part of the town. In 1882, a spacious Town Hall was provided by votes of the town, in the upper story of a new school building, and built at the center of the east village, of the native sandstone, by Norcross & Brothers, at a cost of $7,000. The recent increase of private buildings stimulated by the quarries and the new Railroad station, gives fresh evidence of the growing thrift and properous outlook of East Longmeadow.
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THE NEW TOWN HALL IN EAST LONGMEADOW.
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E .- SELECTIONS FROM PRECINCT AND TOWN RECORDS.
During the seventy years of the Longmeadow Settlement no Records appear to have been kept distinct from those of Springfield, of which it was an integral part. Its separate precinct records, commencing in 1714, are contained in two square octavo volumes, which are curiosities of ancient binding and chirography. One is a Book of Records of Precinct Meetings -the other of the accounts of the Prudential Committees. The latter bears on its fly-leaf the inscription, " The Commte for the Prudential Aff" of Longmeadow precinct in Springfield. Thare Book." The authority for its purchase is found upon page 17 of the Book of Precinct Records. " Voat- ted to purchas a book for the Committee for the prudential afairs of the precinct to keep the accompts of the precinct in from time to time; and by the voatt of the precinct the prefent Committe were ordered to Doe itt on the charge of the Precinct." Both are strongly bound in flexible hide. The records of the first century of Town history are contained in two large folio volumes of more modern make, and those of the Parishes in still separate vol- umes. Besides these there is a Road Book, as it is called, containing the record of the doings of the Springfield Committee who originally " modeled " the Longmeadow Settlement on the hill, including the individual " grants " as well as the highway " lay-outs,". besides many other documentary records.
It is the aim of the following selections from all of these Record books to group them in such a way as to tell successive stories of Town history as nearly as may be in the words of our fathers themselves.
The work of deciphering and collating such ancient manuscripts is no light one, as all who have attempted it know full well; but there is a raciness and flavor in the result which amply repays. The incessant challenge which such documentary history necessarily makes upon the imagination of the reader to link the votes together in the unity of the actual occurrences, is far more stim- ulating than the passive reception into his mind of the historian's narrative. These votes are the collective utterances of our fathers themselves-their very words-and have all the piquancy of actual dialogue and direct quota- tion, over diffuse narrative and oblique translation. Reviewing such a series of votes and reading between their lines, we seem to see our ancestors them- selves enacting before us the drama of their real lives, and to become partici- pants in their passing thoughts and plans. Their policy, their strategy, and all their phases of character become evident and real to us, as no mere description of another could make them.
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