USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Heath > Sesquicentennial anniversary of the town of Heath, Massachusetts, August 25-29, 1935; addresses, speeches, letters, statistics > Part 9
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A big tannery stood across the road from the chair shop- it was about where the Hitchcock mill stands, now Wildred Poulin's. Joel Rugg had a tannery, too, which was on the Branch near Fairbanks' Mills; another stood in the Center, south of the watering trough, down in the lot now owned by George Peon.
There was also a bolting mill at Dell, the only one for miles around; Col. Asaph White started a woolen mill here, and later agricultural implements were made here. Coffins were made in the Branch district and made to order ; they were strongly made with wood handles, sometimes painted-oftener not. They were often ordered years before they were needed and were used for storage room. Lemuel Harris, who lived where Geo. Brown did, now Francis Gallipo's, made caskets and used brass nails, making them quite fancy. He made these eight inches wide at the foot, and wider at the shoulders, then tapered again at the head-the boards were sawed in, so the other boards could be set in. There were several other carpenters who were coffin makers-they charged $1, $2 or $3, never more. Lemuel Har- ris also got out gravestones, and firestones for boiling sap-he got the stones near Mrs. Newton's farm also on the old Gleason place. Instead of using dynamite he used to throw water onto them after heating them to break them.
Wooden ware bowls of all sizes were made at Tom White's shop which was on the brook just below Rev. Clarence Hick's dwelling. It was said he made his bowls, then packed them on his cow with some meal and the traveled all about making sales, and having mush and milk en route, saving board.
In 1843 there were 12 sawmills, run by Elijah Allen and Elijah, Jr., Calvin Coates, Nathaniel Carroll, John Davenport, Elijah and Joshua Flagg, Lemuel Harris, Reuben Rugg, Wmn. Saunders, John Temple, 2nd, and David Temple, Job Warfield and Lysander Ward ; three tanneries, run by Elijah Allen, Rufus and Samuel Barber, Joel Rugg; two blacksmith shops run by Amos Brooks and two by Wm. Burrington; one chair factory,
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by Lysander Ward, one shingle mill, by David Snow; two stores, Edward Tucker and Lysander Ward, as tenant for S. Reed ; grist mill, by Ephraim Hastings; one shop, Cassius Har- rington ; clothier's works, by Upton; there were 155 houses assessed that year and 171 polls.
Nathaniel Carroll used to make nails in his shop in Dell. He made them from rods of iron 1/4 inch square and could make enough for a house in a few minutes. One day as he was making some, one of the nubs dropped and a hen grabbed it, red hot, and it came out directly-out of her throat.
David Fox, who lived where the Cormiers do now, used to make axe-helves and shingles. He would buy straight ash trees, usually cut them himself, split the shingles out, and shaved them carefully over and over again. What a stupendous task! When shingle shops began to spring up, Mr. Fox used to take the shingles there to be smoothed by machine.
There were two rake shops, one was east of George New- ton's on the Branch, the other, better known, stood on the brook between Col. Newland Smith's and Oliver Tanner's; Arad Hall was the owner and Cassius Harrington used to turn out rake teeth for Hall in his little shop by the brook, where the Ryans live now. One time he was sitting in the big spout resting from his labors, when some of the boys in the neighborhood raised the wheel, and out shot Mr. Harrington! He used to fix clocks and was an expert at it, and went about all over town and would stay over night wherever he chanced to be. He used to shake very badly and sometimes after he had a clock all to pieces, a shaking fit would occur and the little wheels and screws would fly in all directions. But his patience was inex- haustible, and as sure as his clocks were certain to run, he would carefully assemble the bits together and assort them, and all would go well, unless the spell came on again.
The old Red House that stood where Sawyer Hall now does, was not exactly an industry, but there was quite a lot of business carried on there. It was a large two-story building and like
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many of the old houses, had a room on each side of the central hall. The room on the west side was the salesroom or store where goods of all kinds were sold or exchanged in barter. The room on the east was the bar-room, a spacious room where much liquor was sold. The people of that day drank intoxi- cants, pastors and people alike, yet you seldom heard of them being drunk. The liquor then was much superior to some that is sold now.
They used to tell of an ox-team starting from Christian Hill, when the word came that a new consignment was in, and breaking their roads as they went over the hills, down past where the Franklin Forestry now is, and on-down our Ledges and ending at the Red House for-liquid fire !
The upper story of the house was a long spacious hall where dances were held. In later years the room was furnished with desks and seats and became a valuable education agency. John Haskins, Jr., was postmaster in 1833, and the office was located at this house. It was last a residence.
Thompson Smith, an early settler, was born in 1784 and married Charlotte Fox and were the proprietors of the Red House. Later they moved out north and then moved onto Florida Mountain. They had 16 children, one of whom was Joseph Emerson S., one of the many children who were named for the early physician, Dr. Joseph Emerson. Joseph Smith married Elizabeth Carley and they had 12 children. The fifth child was Charles, who married Emma Clark and had two chil- dren ; Mary married Arthur Fairbanks; Roy married Delia Bowers and they have five children; Martha married Alfred Hillman; Herbert married Loretta Roper this year; Mildred married Wesley, son of Fred Burrington; Ernest and Leola ; the eighth child of Joseph was Omer, who was born in 1849; he married Katie Carley and later Delia Day ; he has two sons, Carl, who married Nina Stockwell, they have two children; Robert married Ruth Cromack and Margaret married Dean Jones; Paul, brother of Carl, married Edith Gilbert and they have several children.
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Thompson Smith was a grandson of the famous Hezekiah Smith of Colrain of Revolutionary fame. Col. Newland Smith was a great-great-grandson of Hezekiah.
Another tavern or hotel was the one in the south part of Heath, which was owned by Job Colman, earlier by the Spooner family. This stood by the old elms, the old landmarks which could be seen for many miles around. The view from this site is probably the most beautiful of any in town, commanding as it does an interrupted vista from Greylock in the west, Hay. stack to the north, and all the territory between.
The Rev. Moses Miller, the second pastor, "was a man of good abilities, sound judgment and a faithful and devoted pastor. He took a deep interest in education, and was a teacher as well as pastor. Many young men came to study with him, some preparing for college and others for the ministry." A large per- centage of the people were represented in the church services which was due in a large measure to the mountain shepherd, Rev. Moses Miller, "the beloved pastor, who with untiring efforts, with his earnest, persistent, energetic labors aimed to educate and instruct his loved people, most carefully studying their needs and necessities, and preparing his mental, moral and religious forces to meet their needs."
A distinguished religious man of North Adams said of several people who moved there from Heath, that they were renowned for their intelligence and extensive Bible knowledge. Prof. Tatlock of Williams College, said he never went before an audience to preach where he expected to be so sharply criticized as at Heath, for the people were so thoroughly in- structed in the Scriptures. He said it would not do for him to make any mistake there-if he did he would be called to account before he got out of the church.
The influence which went out from that early church was very great. There were so many revivals of pure religion adding many who became pillars in the church of God.
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Mr. Miller "was not a sensational preacher, but sought to enlarge the understanding, enlighten the conscience, and edu- cate the judgment. In person he was tall, stately and majestic, with a calm, serene and placid countenance. To many of us his very presence seemed like a benediction. His wife was a model of excellence, purity and refinement."
Mrs. Welch wrote, "I remember how much I was impressed with Father Miller's dignity and always compared him with Washington. I felt greatly honored when he spoke to me. It was a great occasion when the minister visited the little red school-house on the hill."
Several sons and grandsons received college educations and all became men of prominence in the world. Hart Leavitt, Aaron Dickinson, Rev. W. A. Nichols and Rev. Lemuel Leonard married daughters of Mr. Miller. Rev. Cornelius Dickinson, who settled in Marietta, Ohio, and Rev. Samuel F. Dickinson were both grandsons of Mr. Miller. Mr. Spencer Miller, Jr., of New York City, who delivered the address Sunday evening, the first day of the 150th anniversary of the town, is a great-grand- son.
THE METHODIST CHURCH. This church was organized in April, 1859, but had no meeting house in which to worship. In 1872 it was decided to build one. Several meetings were held to raise funds and at one of them a unanimous choice was made of the corner lot which was owned by Rev. Ephraim Scott as the site of the edifice, Mr. Scott generously giving the land. John Burrington was chosen treasurer, and Horace McGee, Ira Nichols and H. D. Gould, building committee. They secured $1200, most of which was raised in town. In four years these alert and determined people had succeeded in wiping out the debt of $2400 from the church.
The building that was erected was one of the prettiest structures for miles around with all curved lines, including the seats which were arranged in a semi-circle, making it an easy
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matter to see and hear the preacher from all directions. The parsonage was the house now occupied by Max Churchill. In 1884 the church was appraised, after repairs were made, at $3500 and the parsonage at $500. Ministers who have preached were Rev. G. R. Bent, Rev. Moses Spencer, Rev. C. E. Seaver, Rev. Lorenzo White, Rev. Geo. E. Hill, Rev. Wm. Ferguson, Rev. Jason Hatch, Emanuel C. Charlton and Rev. Mr. Nicklin and others. In 1892 when the three churches, Baptist, Congre- gational and Methodist decided to unite in one church body, the Methodist people offered their building but it was decided to occupy the Congregational church instead.
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A Unitarian church was formed in 1825 and supplied at different times by Rev. Messrs. Winthrop Bailey, Dan Hunt- ington, Henry Coleman, Joseph Field and Rev. Dr. Samuel Willard. There were a few Universalists, too, in town.
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WAR RECORDS. During the French and Indian wars, as well as in the Revolution, in the Shay's Rebellion and in the war of 1812, our gallant, brave soldiers brought much credit and honor to themselves and Heath. In the war of 1812, Col. David Snow served as Captain, and others that served were Lieut. Eli Gould, Abijah Gleason, Solomon, Benjamin and John Temple, Amos Brooks and Clement Porter.
In 1827 the Heath Rifle Company was formed with Col. Roger Leavitt as its first captain. This company was made up of the best of our young manhood. They wore handsome uniforms, were carefully drilled and "no where were there to be found troops of more martial and soldierly bearing than the Heath Rifle Company." Col. Leavitt was afterwards Colonel of the Fourth Regiment. In Oct., 1834, in an order for review, Col Leavitt addressed his regiment thus: "At the approaching
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review you will be the representatives of the ancient Fifth Regiment, let then, the completeness of your arms, equipments and uniforms, the soldier-like appearance of your persons and your strict attention to orders, evince to the reviewing officer and the world that you are worthy sons of those worthy sires who constituted that regiment in the days of its glory, and that in your hands, in the hands of free republican citizens, the cause of liberty is far more safe, than under the protection of mer- cenary armies."
In the Civil war Heath furnished 68 men, more than its quota. Among them were many whose ancestors had fought through the Revolution. They all belonged to the 52nd Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. Capt. H. S. Greenleaf of Shelburne Falls was chosen Colonel and Rev. John Farwell Moors, the beloved pastor of Greenfield, was chosen Chaplain; he was the uncle of John F. Moors of Boston and Heath.
Aaron Trask and Samuel Spurr Gould, who lived where Wm. Kott recently did, belonged to Company E. But more belonged to Co. B. In this were Wm. H. Temple, Chas. Ham- ilton, who was a Corporal; he was the father of Myron and Newton Hamilton. Edward H. Gleason, son of Capt. Wm. Gleason, who died at Baton Rouge, Geo. C. Coates, brother of Chas. Coates and Patrick Conley were also Co. B men. Conley lived at Edward Warfield's.
Henry Temple and Edwin Sumner of Co. B, were among the number who returned to Greenfield, and Henry Temple rushed to Heath to inform the folks of Edwin Sumner that he was critically ill. Sumner was a brother of Mrs. Edmond Gleason, who lived just below the town hall. Mr. Gleason borrowed a carriage of Hart Brown, the only one in town, and drove to Greenfield and brought the war-worn, ill soldier home, where he died soon after his arrival at the home of his sister, happy that he could die in his beloved town.
V. D. Thompson was a member of Co. B., although he enlisted at Colrain. He could tell many stories of the war and
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especially graphic was his telling of the march to Pt. Hudson and back without fighting-he was as indignant as were his mates at what seemed like weary, back-breaking march for nothing. He told of their using cotton bales and hogsheads filled with cotton for breastworks, behind which they fought, of our men throwing hardtack over to the rebel line for fun, and of their throwing back cartridges to which burning salt- petre paper was attached, with the probable intention of setting the cotton on fire. One day this did happen, so our men threw some bomb shells as a return compliment !
"Uncle Abe" Tanner was also in this company. He was born in England in 1815 or '16 and was among the oldest of the men who enlisted in the regiment. But though he was 46 when he enlisted, he was a strong rugged type and able to hold his own in the hardships of war. He was with the regiment 11 months. One time when Capt. Nelson was urging him to get up and march, though Uncle Abe could scarcely rise, and threatened to shoot him if he didn't obey, Uncle Abe replied, "Shoot away, I'll bide where I be."
There were at least seven men who enlisted in the 10th Mass. Regiment ; two of Capt. Gleason's sons, T. Spencer, and Chas. F., the first named was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va. Others were Thos. Harrington, Chas. and Richard Powers, Chas. Robbins and Serg. Lemuel M. Bolton. He was later trans- ferred to the 37th Regiment. Gen. Win. Schouler said of him, "In the short space of four months, he had risen from a private to a sergeant. He was one of the most perfect soldiers the regiment could boast and always courteous as a gentleman and was lion-hearted in battle." He fought unhurt through nearly four years of the battles of the army of the Potomac, having been in 28 battles, but he fell in the very last engagement of the war, at Saylor's Creek, Va. His brother, Wmn. H. Bolton, was in the 22nd Mass. Regiment, and also a member of Co. G., First Veteran Reserve Corps.
Algernon Mandell and Almon Hawkes were in the 36th,
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too. There were four men of Heath in the 2nd Battery of light artillery, Samuel K. Gleason, Arthur Hall, son of Arad Hall, Spencer Elmer and Fred Burton. John L. Harris enlisted in the first Mass. Cavalry; he was brother to our celebrated artist, Philip Harris; they lived where Francis Gallipo does now. Henry Barber was in the heavy artillery. He was a son of Samuel Barber, who kept store where Geo. Peon lives now. Lysander Estee and Martin A. Brown enlisted in the 34th regi- ment. Henry Kinsman was in the Ohio Volunteers as stated before.
Aaron Cady was in the 8th Vt. Reg. He died on the boat near New Orleans. He was a brother of Faxon Cady, uncle to Charles Cady.
There were also a number of men who had moved away who served well in the Civil war ; Amos Temple, Orsamus Max- well, George and David Maxwell. Geo. Scott, Amos Merrill, Henry, Joshua and Edward Leavitt and others.
There are many extracts from the letters and diaries of the soldiers that gave vivid pictures of the life of the 52nd. Chaplain Moors helped a great deal in alleviating the hardships of the men. The rations were hard bread twice a day, an al- lowance of four crackers to a meal, "the tea and coffee were well flavored with salt water and grease." The close packing of the soldiers on the ships-like sardines, together with the bad air and odors, caused so much misery that it was said it was a wonder that any of the 1200 that embarked, survived. Capt. Stowell said, "The army is just the place to give a man an appetite and make him rugged-if he is only tough enough to endure."
Another : "It makes me mad to be put under such restric- tions in regard to rebel property. The powers that be, would allow us to starve rather than touch anything that belongs to the cussed rebels. We can do nothing towards stopping the rebellion so long as we are so careful of the rebels. They destroy our lives and property at sight, while we have to dally along and try to do nothing to aggravate them."
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"Capt. Long has admitted me very cordially to his mess. On entering the house occupied by him, you are amazed at the costly and elegant furniture, the bedposts are of solid mahogany at least 10 inches in diameter. The owner fled at the approach of the Yanks and took away what he could but could not carry off costly bedsteads, sideboards, etc., so we can now use them- as if we owned them."
From Moors: "The news from Vicksburg is very dis- heartening-just heard Gleason (Edward Hosmer) is dead-and only 18 years old. Had a bang-up dinner, as the saying is here, bought two pounds of butter, strong enough to draw a load of wood up my driveway on High Street. We buried Gleason just at sunset."
Capt. Hosmer : "a great character in camp is Niles, he ought hardly to have passed the medical test, but he furnishes us with fun which helps to keep up the spirits of the regiment. He has wit-seeing some officers looking at the big hole in a hollow tree, he came up and peered with his queer, whiskered face into the hole. 'That is a big hole,' said one of the officers. 'Yes,' said Niles, 'next time the long roll is sounded, if it isn't full of officers, I will come here and hide'."
Chaplain Moors : "A boat has arrived with a regiment of 1100 negro soldiers-a splendid regiment, worth I believe any two regiments on the ground." Later, "I told you the other day of a splendid negro regiment-these have all been dismissed and their places filled with white men. This is out of deference to the prejudices of the N. Y. officers. The effect will be to cripple this regiment."
Hosmer: "the Colonel comes riding back from the Gen- eral and says-'Gen. Grover says the 52nd is the best nine months regiment in the service'." Yes, the 52nd all through, never lacked in valor and they bore their part well, and took their share of the labors and hazards of the fortunes of war, and the "army of the Gulf can have the sweet consciousness that no portion of the army of the Union has been more active and untiring than this."
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The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by Heath on account of the war, exclusive of State aid was $5625. The amount appropriated and expended by Heath for state aid of the families of the soldiers, was $2114.76. Besides the above a large amount of money was contributed by patriotic citizens of the town to encourage recruiting. We owe a debt we can never repay these soldiers, and they all, in whatever capacity they served, did their part; and who can say that those who "held the fort" at home did less than those on the battlefields.
In the war with Spain, Fred H. Peon of Heath, brother of George E. Peon, served for 18 months. He was a member of Company I of the Ninth Infantry. He died on the passage back for a furlough of a rheumatic fever which he had con- tracted in service, homesick for the hills of Heath which he was not to see again. Others from Heath who served in the Spanish war were Alonzo Caswell, Michael Smith and Walter Tole.
WORLD WAR. In the World war five men from Heath were enlisted. Andrew Royer enlisted April 1, 1917 and was discharged July 11, 1919. He was with the Canadian 87th Grenadier Guards (Montreal) and was decorated with the King's Bravery Medal. Louis Lively enlisted May 27, 1918, went to Camp Upton, New York, was transferred in July to Camp Joseph E. Johnson, Jacksonville, and was discharged March 1, 1919. George Newton went to Camp Devens July 23, 1918, was transferred to Camp Upton Dec. 4, and was dis- charged Jan. 13, 1919. George Williams enlisted Nov. 6, 1917, spent 30 days in Camp Devens, was then transferred to Camp Greene, North Carolina, and was discharged March 20, 1919. Henry Lively, who was at that time a resident of Heath, was also in service abroad. He enlisted October 6, 1917, went to Camp Devens, was transferred to Camp Gordon and then to Camp Merritt. Left for France March 23, 1918. Served in France for a year, was discharged April 14. 1919.
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OTHER HEATH FAMILIES. There were many other people whose names are not so familiar to our ears, who arrived quite early. In fact there were families living at the northern- most bounds of Charlemont nearly as soon as they settled on the river. This north line began on the east, a little north-west of Henry Dwight's house, and runs west in nearly a straight line; it was a little north of the cemetery and runs on until it meets the west line of Rowe. The first lot or farm was the Kinsman one, although there are two deeds recorded for this, before his in 1795, next west was Jonathan Thayer's. This was before 1773, for in that year Jonathan sold to Jonah Thayer. Next was lot No. 8 which was subdivided into two lots, the first one where the Baptist church stood, Talcotts, later Selah Severance; the west one, Silas Allen, later Wm. Fiske, etc .; next lot west, Samuel Taylor, before 1779; next Thomas Har- rington; next Azariah Dickinson before 1779, later sold to Jonathan Nims; next west, Eph. White to Willis Wilder. Wilder sold to Asa Marsh. There were two houses here that stood side by side, one occupied by Asa and the other by Asa, his son. This cellar hole is west of the cemetery quite near the road, Joseph Strong, our first minister was next, Daniel Thompson, then Thomas Walker, which takes us down to the foot of Long Hill, and the rest of the land was the two Hunts, to the Rowe line.
Thomas Walker sold some to David Walker, and their houses stood one at the foot of the hill where you can see this cellar hole on the south of the road, and the other up the hill near where the Wilbur camp is. These Walkers also owned the mill here on the brook.
THE DAVENPORTS. John Davenport was the first of the family to come here. He came from Colrain and married Hannah Hall, probably a daughter of Arad Hall of Rowe. They settled in No. 9 and cleared the land and built a log cabin which
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stood some distance from the present house. This is where Mederic Lively lives now. He came sometime before 1825 for his oldest child, John Bradford, was born in Heath, as well as the rest of his children. He also built a saw-mill and sawed out much of the timber on the place which found a ready sale. They had six children. Maria married Reuben Stacy, the mother of William Stacy, who lived here with his family once ; Emily married George Wells. She was the lady who made such beautiful rugs and sold them down on the Trail. J. Brad- ford kept a hotel in Shelburne Falls, and while there became interested in the farm in East Heath, which he bought. There had been plans made to make the house into a hotel which would cater to horsemen-and the big mowing east of the house used as a half-mile track, but Mr. Davenport's partner died sud- denly and all the plans fell through; his daughter, Mrs. Cora Howes, is living in Shelburne Falls.
Jonathan G. Davenport, son of John, was born in 1840. He married Mary Warner and eventually settled in Rowe. They had seven children. His daughter Florence, married George Bolton, son of Wm. H. Bolton, and they live in the west part of Heath and have two daughters, Bernice and Mildred; an- other daughter, Bertha, is living in Charlemont, the wife of Ed. Vincent, Mary or May married Dennis Carpenter and is living in Charlemont, two sons, Louis and Frank, are living in Rowe, another, Jonathan, in Shelburne Falls.
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