USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Heath > Sesquicentennial anniversary of the town of Heath, Massachusetts, August 25-29, 1935; addresses, speeches, letters, statistics > Part 11
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tained, and the interest was continued through the next winter.
Mr. Miller's pastorate covered the period of the town's greatest prosperity, and the new meeting house, built in 1833, remains as a permanent memorial of it. At this time the population of Heath was about 1200, and the church numbered 316 members, with a Sabbath school numbering over 500 mem- bers, church and school were each the largest in the county.
During the last year and a half of his ministry here Mr. Miller had as his colleague the Rev. Calvin Butler, a graduate of Dartmouth, who left when Mr. Miller did and went to Ver- mont. Mr. Miller undertook a pastorate in West Hawley, where he remained for six years. He was seen again in Heath on the memorable occasion when he preached his "Historical Dis- course" on October 13, 1852 and received in overflowing measure the affectionate recognition which his character and ministry so well deserved.
After the long pastorate came a short one. The Rev. Sam- uel M. Emerson was settled as fourth pastor of the church Sept. 16, 1840 and died in Heath July 20 of the following year. He was a graduate of Williams College, where he had also tutored and studied theology. The son of Rev. John Emerson of Conway and brother of Dr. Joseph Emerson, he was the fourth clergyman of his family in direct succession. He was distinguished as a preacher, and so popular as a pastor that "in mid-winter his people would go for him through the deep snows two, three, or four miles, and carry him back in their vehicles." His early death was a grief to the entire community.
After Mr. Emerson's death the Rev. Josiah Fisher, a graduate of Bowdoin College and of Andover Theological Seminary was settled here for a pastorate of three years. He was the son of the Rev. Jonathan Fisher of Bluehill, Maine, where he was born. It is said of him that he was "a scholarly man, a fair preacher, a good pastor," and that he took a great interest in the education of the young. "There was much op- position to him when he came, and the church was warned that
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if he were called many would withdraw, but the council was called and nothing was found derogatory to Mr. Fisher ; accord- ingly he was installed Sept. 7, 1842. Immediately 32 people withdrew their names from the roll, and the deacons resigned. They formed a new church and worshipped in the Baptist church, with the Rev. Salmon Bennett as supply. Mr. Fisher was dismissed August 17, 1845, and the next year the members who had withdrawn returned to the mother church." The short- lived schism was healed.
For nearly six years thereafter the church was without a settled pastor and was dependent upon pulpit supplies; then on June 18, 1851, the Rev. Alpheus Graves was settled as the sixth pastor. Mr. Graves was born in Sunderland; he studied at Union College but did not graduate ; and he pursued his theo- logical studies at East Windsor Hill. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edward B. Emerson, and after him the Rev. Messrs. C. W. Fifield, B. B. Cutler, E. F. Abbott, John C. Edgar and I. W. Peach supplied the pulpit down to the time of the Rev. Joseph R. Flint, whom some of the older residents of Heath remember. They remember also the Rev. John C. Edgar, an Englishman who had seen service in the British army and who rode in the famous charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, where he was wounded and left on the field.
During these years other churches had been organized in Heath, chief among them a Baptist church in 1801, a Unitarian Society in 1825, and a flourishing Methodist church in 1859. By 1891 the population had so decreased that the churches were having a hard time to pay their ministers' salaries. So they did the wisest thing possible; they held a meeting and decided that the several churches would dissolve and form one church on a union basis. On February 21, 1892 another meeting was held and delegates from each church drafted a constitution and by-laws for the new church, to be known as the Union Evange- lical Church of Heath. Charles D. Benson, Hugh Maxwell and William H. Burrington were chosen deacons; and it was voted
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to instal the Reverend Charles W. Purington, the Baptist minister, as pastor of the united church.
A council was convened March 17, 1892 for the purpose of organizing the church, installing the pastor and ordaining the deacons. The names of those whom the Committee recommend- ed to be received into membership include many which still appear on the roll. From the Methodists there were Bassets, Brown, Burringtons, Harris, Kinsmans, Maxwells, Peterson, Rice, Tanners, Thompson; from the Congregationalists there were Bensons, Chaffins, Cutlers, Dickinsons, Gleasons, Gould, Guild, Haskins, Hunt, Tucker; from the Baptists there were Mrs. Bolton and the Puringtons. The first standing committee chosen were William Bassett, Hugh Maxwell, William E. Gleason, Rollin Bassett and W. E. Kinsman, and it was said, "The outlook for the church of God in Heath is bright and hopeful and a deeper unity prevails than has ever been known before."
A year later the congregation accepted and moved into the Congregational property, where it has been worshipping ever since, and there was a rededication service at which one person present, S. G. Benson of Troy, had also been present at the dedication of the church in 1833, sixty years before. Henry E. Stetson was chosen clerk of the church December 4, 1894, a position which he held for 40 years, and a trust which he kept faithfully down through the years, until his resignation in December, 1934, which was accepted under protest.
Mr. Purington preached his farewell sermon in 1895. After him came the Rev. A. V. Fisher, who was here for two years ; the Rev. Frank Snowden, who resigned his pastorate in July, 1901, and was followed by the Rev. Daniel Beardsley Wyman, who remained for three years. The Rev. C. E. Smith of Peru, Mass., came in 1904 and left in 1907. The Rev. Allen Charlton came in 1907 but resigned in 1909 and was succeeded by his father, Dr. Emmanuel Charlton, who closed his labors here in April, 1912. Dr. Charlton was a Swede who had enlisted as a seaman
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on an English ship where his original name, Carlson, was Anglicized. Then the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. W. H. Davenport of Colrain and others until the Rev. J. H. Childs of North Rochester was called August 1, 1912.
This brings us down to our own times, for most of us, summer visitors as well as residents of Heath, remember the ten year pastorate of Mr. Childs; his gentleness, his extraordi- nary gifts in prayer, and his fervent interest in missions, to which he and Mrs. Childs gave their daughter, Leila, now the wife of a missionary in Angola. Mr. Childs resigned in Decem- ber, 1922. His resignation was accepted with great regret, for his pastorate had been marked by ten years of harmony and good fellowship. Mrs. Childs had established a strong Christian Endeavor Society in North Heath, which with the Society in Heath Center made a force for good in the com- munity.
Mr. Childs went from here to Pelham, and he is now living with his son, the Rev. Irving Childs in Huntington, Mass. He was succeeded in 1923 by the Rev. Herbert Dixon who was here for four years, and whose interest in the young people, gifts as a preacher and winning personality made for him many devoted friends. He closed his pastorate here in September, 1923, and is now pastor in Leverett. Then came the brief pastorates of the Rev. J. H. Gould and the Rev. Samuel S. Gaylord ; and our pastor is now Rev. Frederick Dixon, brother of Herbert, who had been in Rhodesia, Africa, as a missionary for several years before he began his ministry here in January, 1934. In addition to his work in Heath Mr. Dixon preaches in West Hawley on Sunday afternoons. We hope that his pastorate will equal or exceed that of the Rev. Moses Miller, "mountain shepherd," who came in 1804 and stayed for six and thirty years.
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The following are the present church officers. Deacons : Frank B. Burrington, Horatio F. Dickinson, Henry E. Stetson ; clerk, Mrs. Oscar N. Landstrom; treasurer, Frank B. Burring- ton; auditor, Edward P. Dickinson; organist, Miss Flora
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Howes; Sunday school superintendent, Mrs. Orman Hicks; Sunday school secretary and treasurer, Horatio F. Dickinson ; president Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. Frank B. Burrington ; stand- ing committee, Henry E. Stetson, Mrs. William Fairbanks, Mrs. Orman Hicks, Homer Tanner; Sunday school teachers, Edward P. Dickinson, Mrs. H. F. Dickinson, Mrs. Orman Hicks, Miss Flora Howes, Mrs. Oscar N. Landstrom.
Such, in brief outline, is the history of the Church of Christ in Heath, a church in which Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Methodists feel equally at home because the spirit of fellowship in it has broken down the barriers of denomina- tionalism and built in Heath a true Bethel, a House of God.
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History Of Agriculture In Franklin County BY JOSEPH H. PUTNAM
The history of agriculture in Franklin County begins long before the advent of the white man. The Connecticut Valley was then the garden spot of the Indian. It had long been famous for its extensive corn fields. Once a year in Indian summer they set fire to the grasses and burned the plains, thus keeping these river bottoms free from brush and trees. One writer says that when the settler arrived much of western Massachusetts was as bare as a prairie. Here they cultivated corn, beans, squash and tobacco. Their one tool was a hoe made from the shoulderblade of a deer. They are still existent in the valley plots of ground never since broken by humans, where the original corn hills hilled up by these bone hoes may still be seen.
The Pocumtucks planted about 300 acres of corn in the Deerfield Valley in 1676. The women did all of the farm work except the care of tobacco. Tobacco was too sacred to allow any squaw to handle or smoke. Only warriors who had proved their metal were allowed to smoke it.
Shades of King Philip! Could he just look into a modern restaurant and witness the squaws of today, methinks he would raise a blood-curdling war cry.
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When the white settlers from the eastern part of Massachu- setts braved the difficulty of the wilderness and came over the mountains to the Great River Valley, they found the Indian none too willing to give up their gardens to strangers and
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bloody wars followed, but the white man wanted the fertile land and proceeded to take it. Basic human instincts have changed but little. Mussolini craves the same right of might today.
Wherever the settler stirred the soil and planted the seed, 1 .
a bountiful harvest resulted. Wheat, oats, barley, Indian corn and flax proved to be a renumerative crop and furnished food and clothing and a bountiful surplus for market.
Animals were brought in from the far hills of Connecticut and Eastern Massachusetts and a live stock industry founded. From the first tobacco was raised and history records children hiding from the Indians among the stalks of tobacco, hanging front rafters in the attics. About 1790 it became a staple crop in the valley and although there have been many lean years, it has produced much of the wealth of the valley.
In 1670 the Deerfield settlers drew lots for cow commons and in 1675 the first Indian fights occurred, followed by the early wars. These did not, however, prevent the rapid develop- ment of agriculture in the valley. In addition to the crops mentioned the raising of sheep was a leading industry to be followed by beef cattles. For generations beef was king in the valley, fattening on the great crops of grass and corn and during the summer they were up on the hills surrounding it. A man's standing was determined by the number of fat oxen he possessed. The people lived from the land. Industry thrived. Local artisans from local supplies made all the implements of farm and home and the clothing for the family.
The blacksmith, the tanners, the shoe makers, the millers of flour and lumber furnished the dwellers with the necessities of life. Mill dams were erected on every stream. It was said in one town that "Every one in town was a shoemaker except Thom Robert and he did a little more than his own."
But with the development of the West, the beef industry was forced to give way to dairy, corn to broom corn and broom corn to onions and tobacco; while both tobacco and onions are now yielding the supremacy to a large acreage of potatoes and
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market garden crops. But the valley remains a glorious garden spot. From the valley settlers spread up into the hills to the West and to the East.
Jonathan Taylor, about 1750 took a fancy to a swamp in Heath. He built a log cabin, thatched with hemlock bark and the floor laid with split planks with never a nail in the whole building. He set out an orchard but he did not succeed in raising corn or rye, "the ground was too cold and wet."
The first town meeting in Ashfield was held March 8, 1762. Four Hog Reeves were appointed and it was voted that hogs shall run from the first of April. It was also voted to give ten pounds for a bull and three pounds for a boar. Here is a pre- cedent for modern economists for government interference in agriculture. Seriously, it was a cooperative means for improv- ing live stock by the first settlers. To this day, Ashfield retains her reputation for high quality live stock. Live stock, apples, grass and potatoes are the crops suited to these hill towns and there was a market for grass steers, as feeders for the corn farms in the valley. That enabled them to rapidly in- · crease in population until towns like Heath and Wendell num- bered 1200 each.
With the opening of the West and the passing of the beef industry in the valley the steer market collapsed and the hills depleted rapidly in population until 15 years ago. Since then these hill towns have mostly either been holding their own or have slightly increased in population.
While live stock was the basic agriculture of these hills the early settlers brought with them seeds of apples, currants, pears, and peaches. The apple seedlings were hardy and productive and later proved good stock for the grafting of better varieties. Cider was in great demand and these seedling apples produced a cider that appeared to satisfy the connoisseur of the early days and was believed to be a necessity at all house, barn and even church raisings. Many of these seedlings were grafted to improved varieties, largely Baldwin and form the basis for
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the world reputation Franklin County has enjoyed for high quality apples. A hundred years ago there was a fruit nursery in these hills.
The development of railroads along the valleys drew the industry away from the hills and with the valley demand for feeder steers gone, beef slowly changed to butter and cheese making, only to be driven out again by western competition. In these lines our sheep industry suffered from the the same com- petition of vast areas of cheap fertility. Through it all apples held their own as a support to the hill farmer. They used to figure that the live stock would furnish the living and they could bank the apple check but in 1917 a severe winter wiped out many of our Baldwin orchards and in 1934 frost again took toll from old and decrepid trees. Many good orchards are left and there is hope ahead because the MacIntosh and the early MacIntosh, the two outstanding varieties in quality and price today grow to the greatest perfection at these high alti- tudes and are as hardy as oaks. It may be possible to rebuild these orchards to greater excellence. Milk is produced at a great- er profit, or at a less loss than in most other sections of the country. Poultry continues to offer good returns to enterprising poultrymen. There are school boys in the county who with their flock of two or three hundred hens furnished the entire family during the past winter.
From the earliest, Franklin County produced the high- est quality live stock. For nearly a century, it was the fountain head for dairy short horns. George E. Taylor, John Anderson, the Barnards and many others produced animals of national reputation, and shipped many to found herds in the West. They still carry on. In the Jersey, Stoughton and Burn- ham were early constructive breeders. John T. Carpenter bred and developed world record cows, and furnished founda- tion animals for many of the noted herds of the country. In Holstein, E. E. Copeland produced world record animals. Mt. Hermon furnished foundation animals to foreign governments
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and Quonqont Farm with its certified milk ranks with the best Holstein breeders.
The Ayrshires have long been represented by breeders of national reputation. The greatest families of Guernseys in the country were founded just over the line and the Koch and Davenport herds are now up-holding the Guernsey reputation, the country over.
Franklin County is the only county in Massachusetts selling more dairy cows than she buys. In the past it was known far and wide for its work oxen and there are still some fine yokes left. Jim Avery with his two-ton oxen will long be remembered. Horses have been surplanted by the auto, truck, and tractor but we are again beginning to see colts gamboling with their mothers on our hillsides.
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Heath And Rowe BY
MRS. GEORGE E. STANFORD
When Dr. Robbins asked me to bring a greeting from Rowe to Heath I immediately began to wonder why I should have been the one chosen since I am not a native of Rowe. I believe my grandfather did live in Heath for a short time, some 80 years ago, and one of my uncles was born here, which may serve as an excuse.
Side by side Rowe and Heath have passed through many parallel experiences in the last 150 years, always standing for the right and led by men of sturdy character. They had to be sturdy to establish themselves in these rugged hills and do the fine things that have been done.
Both towns gave generously of their men in the Revolu- tionary and Civil wars and worked together in the struggle to form the Union and the Commonwealth. The two towns were very closely bound together in those early days. The early inhabitants of the two towns seem to have been men of action, and often times needed a steadying hand. It would seem from the records that on more than one occasion Heath played the part of big brother to Rowe and whenever help or advice was asked, it was most graciously given.
At one time Col. White, Col. Maxwell and the Rev. Jon- athan Leavitt were asked to appraise some land belonging to one Zenus Nash of Rowe which was to be taken in case he failed to meet certain notes.
Later, during Shay's Rebellion, action taken by Hugh Max- well probably saved some citizens of Rowe from serving a
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prison sentence-nine men had taken up arms against the State but were obliged to surrender them at the command of Col. Maxwell. In June 1787, after these men had pledged allegiance to the Commonwealth, Col. Maxwell ordered John Wells of Rowe to "deliver to Ebenezer Ingersol, Nathan Knight, David Weer, Stephen Brown, Henry Willson, Junior, Eben Goodnow, William Steel, Silas Colton and Warren Willson their arms which are lodged in your care they paying you nine pence cash for my trouble and signing the Receipt herewith Sent which shall be your discharge for the same." The receipt read, "We, the Subscribers, having been concerned in the Rebellion in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Since in Obedience to the Resolves of the General Court have taken and Subscribed the oath of Alegiance to this Commonwealth and thereupon delivered up our arms to Hugh Maxwell Esq. do now acknowl- edge that we have each of us Received of the said Hugh Maxwell our arms again and do hereby discharge him of them." The document bears the signature of six of the nine belligerents. It is now in the possession of Mrs. Anna Wells Henry, great- granddaughter of John Wells to whom it is directed.
There is a story told which probably most of you have heard that at one time Mr. Leavitt came to Rowe and in some way roused the ire of some of the citizens to such an extent that they chased him home with whatever weapons were at hand, hoes, scythes, shovels. I believe an old musket was dug up on his farm a few years ago which it is thought might have figured in the affair. However, when they reached his house the reverend gentleman talked with the men and so calmed their troubled spirits that they returned to their homes peace- ably and, may we hope, a little ashamed of themselves for taking part in such an escapade.
In spite of a few skirmishes which after all added zest to their hard lives, I believe that the relations between the two towns always have been most friendly and never more so than at the present time.
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I recall with pleasure the many happy times that Mr. Stanford and I enjoyed during the years he was here so much- and I am glad to bring cordial greetings from Rowe to Heath -best wishes and congratulations for the splendid contribution the town has made to the country in the fine men and women who have gone forth from her broad acres.
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The Families Of Heath in 1935
ALLEY, Mrs. (Maud Pike) came about 1925.
BALL, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf Lewis (Georgiana Florence Kolb)
Juniors : John Walton, Georgiana Katherine, Leon Rudolf, Henry Ernest. Came 1924.
1 BARNES, Arthur L. Son of Joseph Barnes, who came about 1880.
BELLOR, Mr and Mrs. Adellor (Marion Bolduc) Came 1917.
Juniors : Leonard De Cota, came 1932; James and Patrick Half- penny, came 1932.
BELLOR, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Joseph (Sadie Galvin) Juniors : Marion Sylvia, Richard Philip. Came 1933.
BOLTON, Mr. and Mrs. George Lemuel (Florence Davenport) Juniors : Bernice Lurene, Mildred Annette. Mr. Bolton's father, William H. Bolton, came about 1860. Mrs. Bolton's grandfather, John Davenport, came about 1824.
BOLTON, Mr. and Mrs. William Henry (Maud Mitchell) Miss Florence Maud.
Mr. Bolton's father, William H. Bolton, came about 1860.
Mrs. Bolton is a descendant of Jonathan Taylor who came about 1757.
BOLTON, Ransom S. and Miss Viola.
Their father, William H. Bolton, came about 1860.
BOWERS, Orin, Came 1901.
BROWN, William Henry Came 1935.
BRUNELLE, Mr. and Mrs. George (Francea Lively) He came 1925.
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Her grandfather, Joseph Lively, came 1874.
BURCKARD, Mr. and Mrs. Albert (Annie Harvey) Came 1926.
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BURCKARD, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Henry (Gladys Perry) Juniors : Marjorie Emma, Dorothy Imogene, Bernice Loraine. Came 1918.
BURRINGTON, Charles B. Grandson of John Burrington who came 1837.
BURRINGTON, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ballard (Anna Marion Howes) His grandfather, John Burrington, came 1837. She came 1901.
BURRINGTON, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wm. (Hannah L. Landstrom) Juniors : Lawrence Everett, Catherine Ann, Jane Elizabeth, Paul Frederick, Irma Jean.
Mr. Burrington's great grandfather, John Burrington, came 1837. Mrs. Burrington's father, Victor Landstrom, came 1911.
BURRINGTON, Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. (Elsie Harris) His grandfather, William Burrington, came about 1815. She came 1898.
BURRINGTON, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley (Mildred Smith) His great grandfather, William Burrington, came about 1815. Her father, Roy W. Smith, came 1880.
CADY, Charles Faxon His grandfather, Joseph Cady, came about 1821.
CHAGNON, Wilfred, Joseph Philias, Charles. Came 1931.
CHURCHILL, Herbert
His father, Anson Churchill, came about 1860.
CHURCHILL, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Anson (Eleanor Jane Canedy) His father, Anson Churchill, came about 1860. Her grandfather, Dennis Canedy, came 1863.
CHURCHILL, Mr. and Mrs. Max Austin (Sarah Caroline Stetson) Juniors : Alton Winthrop, John Anson, Bertha Anna. His father, Anson Churchill, came about 1860. Her grandfather, Robert Mclellan Stetson, came about 1860.
CHURCHILL, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace E. (Laura Harris). Juniors : Harlow Wallace, Harold Ralph. His father, Frederick Churchill, came about 1860. Her grandfather, Emerson Harris, came about 1859.
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COATES, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Spafford (Blanche Edna Joy) Juniors : Edith May, Robert Frederick. Mr. Coates came 1892. Mrs. Coates' grandfather, George Chase, came 1860.
COATES, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Maldron, came 1932.
COBB, Mrs. Robert (Vivian Luella Smith) Her great grandfather, Thompson Smith, came about 1800.
COOK, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lovel (Lillia Quackenbush) His grandfather, William Lovel Cook, came 1841. She came 1899.
COOK, Mrs. Murray L. (Jennie Estella Todd) Came 1871.
COOK, Carlton.
His grandfather, William Lovel Cook, came 1841.
COOK, Mr. and Mrs. William S. (Olive Bolton)
His grandfather, William Lovel Cook, came 1841. Her father, William H. Bolton, came about 1860.
COOPER, Frank F . Came 1933.
CORMIER, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Joseph (Caroline Lucy Lively) Junior : Richard.
Mr. Cormier came 1932. Mrs. Cormier's grandfather, Joseph Lively, came 1874.
CRAMER, Catherine Came 1932.
CROWNINGSHIELD, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur William (Mildred Laura Cady )
Juniors : Frederick Arthur, Howard Charles, Robert Leon.
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