USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > The history of Ludlow, Massachusetts > Part 6
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Henry Hobson was on board the Kearsarge, which sank the Habama off Cherbourg, France, in the Civil War.
From detailed accounts of the life and incidents of the stay in An- dersonville, sent by surviving comrades who were there. we are per- mitted to call brief selections:
From Jasper Harris of Holyoke:
The brigade including my regiment (16th Connecticut Volunteers) was captured April 23, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C., and taken en route for Andersonville, where our rebel guard told us was a splendid, shady camp, with plenty of new barracks for shelter. We arrived at the Anderson- ville station at dark on the evening of May 9. The next morning we were marched towards the stockade, a quarter of a mile away. Just before arriving at the main gate we came to a rise of ground from which could be seen the whole stockade, and most of the inside of it. I shall
John MeCutcheon, John McDonald, Charles McFarland,* Charles McFeathers,
Charles MeKenney, Charles MeSheney,
Peter Scott,
John Shangnesey, Alexander Shaw,
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
never forget the gloomy and depressed feeling with which I looked on the horrible sight. The high log stockade was composed of straight young pines, cut sixteen feet long, hewn on two sides, the back peeled off, and then the log sunk on end in a trench six feet deep, close together, leaving ten feet at least above ground on the inside. Cross-pieces were spiked to each timber horizontally, making a fence strong enough to hold cattle instead of men.
Rations were issued daily, being drawn into the stockade by a mule team, and when divided and subdivided furnished each man a pint and a half of cob-meal and from two to four ounces of bacon. For a few days we received two common-sized sticks of cord wood to be divided among ninety men.
Grant's campaign had now commenced and soon more prisoners be- som to come in. After a while came the Ludlow boys. The first man I met was Sergeant Perry, looking every inch a soldier, and in excellent health. The next was Flavius Putnam, a new recruit, captured in his first battle. Ialways knew him as being a thoroughly good man when I lived in Ludlow, and exceedingly strong and quick in farm work, and always cheerful.
If I should attempt to write a complete description of Andersonville and its horrors, of Wirtz, his guards and his bloodhounds, and all the sights and incidents which came under my own eye there and at other prisons during my eight months' stay, of the murders and robberies amongst our own men, of the hanging of six of them by a court of our own men, it would fill the pages of a large book, while a part would be descriptive of such monstrous cruelty and so striking to sensitive minds that I am afraid it would not be believed if written.
From an account by James E. Perry of Adrian, Mich .:
Just two weeks from the time we were captured found us marching into the renowned Andersonville prison pen. When introduced into that loul den of crime, wretchedness, and sorrow, our hearts failed us, and we made up our minds for the worst, and we would rather have risked our chance with the regiment even in these bloody battles of the campaign of 1864. One third of the men who occupied that vast charnel pen lie buried there to-day.
Willie Washburn died August 21, Daniel Pratt, August 22, Eben- ezer Lyon, September 11. Caleb Crowninshield, September 15, Hiram Aldrich, the latter part of September, John Coach, during the fall, Flavius Putnam, some time in September. Joseph Miller not from Ludlow ) and Albert Collins of Collins Depot, during the summer. Putnam and Coash were admitted to the hospital and died there. I think it can be truly said that these men died of starvation, for we received nothing that a sick man could relish or eat.
GRAND .ARMY VETERANS, SONS OF VETERANS, CCADETS, AND SI HODE GIRL. ", MEMORIAL. I)\1, 1911
CADETS IN FRONT OF SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, MEMORIAL DAY, 1911
TOWN ANA.ALS
MEMORIAL DAY
Memorial Day is observed every year by the veterans of the Civil War and citizensof the town. An appropriation is made each year by the town for the use of the Grand Army in the observance of the day. The children from the schools, the boy cadets, under command of Captain George Chamberlain, the veterans, and citizens form in line at the village and march to the different cemeteries, to decorate the graves of the sokliers therein, then return to the soldiers' monument at the Center, where exercises are heldl. Later they proceed to the church. where the annual address is given. Afterwards the boy cadets give an exhibition drill near the monument. Dinner is served for all who wish by the ladies of the church.
CEMETERIES
From the house of God to the resting-place of the dead is a frequented path. There are sufficient references to the places of burial to assure us that these busy scenes were often interrupted by the service funereal.
The first cemetery of Ludlow was given by Benjamin Sikes, the earliest in town of that name, and is known as the Sikes Cemetery. It is situated about a mile northwest of the Center, near Truman Hlub- bard's. Mrs. Anna Sikes, wife of Lieut. John Sikes, was buried here in 1772. Benjamin Sikes was great great-grandfather of Otis Sikes. Mrs. Jackson Cady, and Danforth Sikes. There is something touching in the record of the transaction.
Receive a deed of Gift from M' Benjamin Sikes of a Certain piece of land in order to or as a place to bury our Dead voted also that the Thanks of the Town be return for the same to the said M' Sikes for his Benevolence.
A board fence around it was ordered in 1782. In 1865, Edward Sikes of Wisconsin, a descendant of the Ludlow Sikeres, and whose ancestors are here buried, left a sum of money to help build a wall around it, which was created in the following year. This cemetery is still in use and in good condition. Many of the earliest settlers of the town are buried within it.
In 1792, the selectmen were instructed to procure a bier and keep it in the meeting-house. There are a few (1911) living who remember this
HISTORY OF KUDLOW
bier It was made of four-inch square white pine timber, the handle- being rounded. It was entirely painted black.
In 1794, a committee was appointed to obtain a deed of another burying ground, and. seven years later, although a little late in the courtesy, the town thanks Elisha Fuller for the cemetery adjoining the church on the south. (Elisha Fuller was the grandfather of Edward E. and Henry S. Fuller. This is known as the Fuller Cemetery. The first person buried in it was a grandchild of Captain Joseph Miller, who was crushed to death beneath a cart wheel. Some of the stones indicate that it must have been in use as a place of burial some time before the formal ceding of the ground. It was probably laid out in 1786, the first burial taking place that year.
It became necessary in 1805 to fence this vard with posts and rails and half wall. A dozen years later the people met to "pell" in repairing the fence.
In 1823 the town appropriated thirty dollars for a hearse. Before this time the dead were borne on biers to the grave, a journey of miles on foot being often required.
In 1825 the fences of both yards needed repairs. Simeon Pease, the wit of the town, bid off the repairs of the center yard at the sum of five cents. evidently to postpone the HEADSIONE OF HANNAH OLDS work until the town would do it with thor- oughness, In a few weeks he became one of a committee to build a thorough half-wall fence, with sawed posts and rails above. Great excitement was caused about this time by a proposition to move all the bodies previously interred in this yard, the proposition being scornfully rejected how wisely is not evident.
A hearse-house was erected in 1827. It stood near the southwest corner of the present First Church and was painted red.
The East Cemetery, familiarly called the "Ould Burying Ground." lying partly in Ludlow and partly in Belchertown, is inclosed by one fence, each town caring for its own portion. It was laid out in 1801 The oldest stone in this cemetery is that of Hannah Jones Olds, who
,8.5
TOWN ANA.ALS
is buried in the Belchertown portion of the yard. She was born in 1728 and died in 1802. Here also lie "Nick" and "Tarzy," though on opposite sides of the dividing line. AA bequest from Ludlow has been left for a lot in that yard.
The Center Cemetery, containing three acres, was purchased from Increase Sikes, and opened in 1842. Mr. Sikes found three cemeteries upon his farm at that time. The first person buried was John Q Day, son of Zachariah Day; the second, a son of Henry or Harry Fuller, and brother of Edward E. Fuller: third, Harriet E. Burr, daughter of Lyman Burr, and sister of Benjamin F. Burr. All were buried in Septem- ber, 1843.
The lots in this cemetery were given to the residents of the town without cost, when a lot was needed. but not before. The remains of three of the Ludlow pastors lie in this yard, Rev. Ebenezer B. Wright and Rev. Jeremy Webster Tuck, who were pastors of the First Church for long terms, and Rev. Daniel K. Banister, who was pastor of the Methodist Church and was here when the Civil War broke out. and whom the whole town loved. He attended the funerals of many of the people of the First Church and Society, as they had no pastor at that time. These beloved pa- tors are buried near each other on FOODSTON OF HANNAH OFUS the east side of the cemetery and north of the hearse-house. Aminister from an adjoining town said as he stood by their graves. "What a pleasant spot for the burial of ministers, where they lie facing the East!" There are many handsome monuments in this cemetery.
The first mention of the cemetery at the village, which was later removed to Island Pond Cemetery, was on May 30, 1842, the year the town was asked to enlarge it. The tomb was constructed in 1846, all cost of $100.
86
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
The Island Pond Cemetery is the latest laid out. In 1891, the town elected three cemetery commissioners, Benjamin F. Burr for three years, Charles F. Grosvenor for two years, and Edward E. Fuller for one year, also Jackson Cady and Danforth W. Sikes in addition, together with the selectmen, to choose a site for a new cemetery. They purchased eighteen acres of land of Michael H. Lyons near Chapin Pond, about a mile north of the village. Charles F. Grosvenor took charge of laying out and get- ting it ready for use.
A year or two later the bodies from the old cemetery in the village were removed to the new cemetery and the old site was deeded to the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates.
In 1893. Robert Kyle was elected to succeed Mr. Grosvenor: in 1907. Elbridge J. Streeter succeeded Mr. Fuller, and Arthur M. Jones succeeded Mr. Burr, who resigned; in 1908, H. Berton Payne succeeded Mr. Kyle; in 1911, the commissioners are Minor ML. Wilder, Arthur M. Jones, Charles Graham.
Many have left bequests, and others have given sums of money that the income may be used by the town for perpetual care of their lots. The town, however, takes good care of all of them, besides giving special care to those for which a fund has been left.
Requests and gifts have been made by the following persons: Rufus Kimball, Mrs. Sarah Swart, Mrs. Joanna Fuller, Mrs. Martha Billings, Mrs. Martha B. Kendall, Mrs. Delia E. Talmadge, Austin F. Nash, Mrs. Susan A. Green, Mrs. Amnie Hubbard. John B. Alden; Mrs. Olivet B. F. Bridge, Mrs. Theodosia P. Clough, Isaac H. Plumley, Alexander Whitney, Mrs. Charles Beebe, Mrs. Lucy A. Perry, children of Daniel Brewer and Ela Walker, Mrs. Harriett A. Baggs, Mrs. Mary Tuck Vinal (daughter of Rev. J. W. Tuck), D. M. Collins, Benjamin F. Burr, and Chauncey Davis.
TOWN AANNALS
EPITAPHS
The following quaint epitaphs are found in the three oldest cemeteries in Ludlow: the first six in the old Center or Sikes Cemetery, the next ten in the North yard or Fuller Cemetery, and the last four in the East yard or "Ould Burying Ground."
This stone is erected to the memory of a son and a Daughter of Cap' Joseph and Mr. Mary Miller (viz) Wilder, who died Oct 13 1786 in the 5 year of his age. And Joanna who died Dec 10, 1787. in the 3 year of her age.
In memory of Mr. Cyprian and Mrs. Lucy Wright who died as follows August 220 1794 in the 37th year
he died Jan 7th 1779 in the 45th
When death receives the dir command None can elude or ttay his hand Nor can a hope or beauty fave From the dire conquest of the gr.a.
hand reader, when these hoes you see Think how oncertam bfe mas he Wenner had lite & health like you But now have bid the world atien
In Memory of Chester the Son of M'Asa & ME Sarah Dodge who Died Sept" 11th 1805, aged 3 years 4 Months & 18 days
With disentery & with worms God did Death licence give To take my precious Soul any And fay I should not live.
In memory of Doc Philip Lyon who died July 25 1802 aged 40 years Who after having experienced the sweets of connubial bliss died leaving no family, his amiable consort died at Ran- dolph Oct 1801.
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
Sacred to the memory of Cap' Joseph Miller, whender stedt the- life at West Spring field April 3 1803 Aged 79 years.
SKRED TO THE MESMO
RY of Mr Mary wile of Mr Leonard Miller who died in Childbed June 6ยบ 1790 in the 38" year of her age Bolides a birth and the left & Imall 10 Children to mourn her untimely la
In memory of MU- Sarah wile of M Timothy Root who died War 3 1785 in her 44 year 1,- in intant bury -ed by her
In memory of MIR GAD LYON who died
Dec 20. 1815
aged 47 yours.
In Memory of Mr Cyrena Sikes the Consort of Mr Jonathan Sikes who died Det 11, 1808 I.t. 28.
& Take this ich 400cols the hmm
In memory of Licu! JOHN SIKES who died July 27, 1807 in the 60 yout of his age
Priends not Be hoans
TOWN IA.I/S
In memory of MIKS HANNAH SIKES the wife of M' Benjamin Sikes who died Apt 17 : 1790
Death is fue Smis the wound & Chit the cm
In memory of AP ABNER SIKES who died Jun 24th 1800 in the 70 year of his age
& nut but few who
Submit daun of MP Reuben & ME Mary Chapin was born July 34 1774 & died Oct 16th 1776
Merick Son of above Namd Chapin died at Fifhkill a c 16 22 Jan 1778 aged 16 Years
In memory of MIRS AAnna y wife of M' John Sikes who died June 9 1772 in y 231 Year of her Age
Boatt med thysell thon knowelt not
bmg forth
In Memory of AIKS MARY SIKES wife of M' Abner Sikes who died March 10th 1818 85 years Et
faith in Elifist I Jett Tirs ~1.100
In Memory of MISS SARAH SERIES daughter id Lieu' John Sikes & Mrs Sarah his 20 wite who died Sept 19th 1806 aged 20
The Longest life must het attend
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
In Memory of MIK BENJAMIN SIKES who died Auguft 24 1781 Aged 77 years Thathisa deht To nature due Which I have pand & lo mult von
IN MEMORY OF THE WIDOW' HANNah OLDS WIFE OF MR JONATHAN OLDS DECEAST WHO DIED FEB 34 1802 IN 74 YEAR OF
(illegible)
Mortals we are none can deny Farewell my friends prepare to die
In memory of NICHOLAS DANIELS who died April 26, 1827 .Et. 05
In memory of MIK BERIAH JENNINGS who died May 12th 1776 in the 45 year of his Age.
BERIAH JENNINGS JUK fon of Beriah & Eunice Jennings who died Deet 8th 1775 in the 22 year of his age.
Blessed ate the dead which die in the Lord
Mr. David Paine Departed this Lite July 2nd 1807 (by a cart wheel runing acrofs his breast: he expired instantly) .Et. 70 Ile was a friend 10 Religion & Piety
Rathin my friends without a to .It The vote your lives unto God's low That yon with him mas always liv. This is the last adyne | give
Mrs Mahitable
Rev Ephraim Scott died May 25 1831 .16 34
01
TOWN ANIMALS
COPY OF AN OLD DEED
The original is in the Historical Room in the Library)
To All People to whom these Prefents Shall come, GREETING:
KNOW YE, That I Chauncy Brewer of Springfield in the County of Hampshire & State of the Massachusetts Bay Esq'
For and in confideration of the Sum of Fifteen Pounds Current Money of the State aforesaid, to me in Hand paid before the Enfealing hereof by Elisha Fuller of Ludlow in the aforesaid County Yeoman the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and am fully fatisfied. contented and paid, HAVE given, granted, bargained, fok, aliened. released, conveyed and confirmed, and by thefe Prefents, do freely. clearly and abfolutely give, grant, bargain, fell, aliene, releafe, convey and confirm unto him the faid Elisha Fuller his heirs and Affigns for ever, A certain Lot of Land lying & being in the Town of Ludlow; being Lot No. 99: Originally laid out to John Miller; said Lot being Six Rods & five feet in width & four Miles in Length & Containing fifty Acres be the same more or lefs.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the before granted Premifes, with the Appurtenances and Privileges thereto belonging, to him the faid Elisha Fuller his Heirs and Affigns: To his and their own proper tfe, Benefit and Behoof forevermore. And I the faid Chauney Brewer for myself my Heirs, Executors and Administrators, do Covenant, promise and Grant unto and with the faid Elisha Fuller his Heirs and Affigns, for ever, That before and until the Enfealing hereof, I am the true, fole. proper and lawful Owner and Poffeffor of the before-granted Premifes. with the Appartenances. And have in myself good Right, full Power and lawful Authority to give, grant, bargain, fell, aliene, releafe convey and confirm the fame as aforefaid; and that free and clear, and freely and clearly executed, acquitted and difcharged of and from all former and other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Leafes, Mortgages, Wills, Intails, Joyntures, Dow ries, Thirds, Executions and Incumbrances Whatfoover.
AND FURTHERMORE, I the faid Chauney Brewer for myself my Heirs, Executors, and Adminiftrators, do hereby Covenant, Promife and Engage the before-granted Premifes with the Appurtenances unto him the said Elisha Fuller his Heirs and Affigns, for ever to Warrant,
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
Secure and Defend against the law ful Claims or Demands of any Perton ur Perfon- whatforever.
And I Amy Brewer wife of the faid Chauncey, do hereby relinquish all my Right of Dower or Thirds in or unto the afore bargain' Lot of
In Witnet- Whereof We have hereunto for our Hands & Seals this Twenty third Day of June Dom: 1780.
Sign' Sel" & Delivered in
CHAUNY BREWER & SCAL ) AMY BREWER ( Scal )
Profence of
N'AIME BREWER ! EUNICE BREWERY
Chaney Brewer & Wife Deed to Josh' Fuller Reid June 24th 4780 Wiees Hampshire fs. June 24 1780
Then the within named Chauncey Brewer i know ledged written Instrument to be his free Act & Deed -
before W" Pynchon Jun' Just Paris Hampthire fs Springfield June 2F 1780 Received & Registered in Lib. 15. fol. 715 and Examined P W. Pynchon Jun Reg
IV
TOWN DEVELOPMENT
Population Longevity Highways and bridges: Early roads. First bridge- Put's bridge; Cooley bridge; First bridge at Collins Station; Red bridge. Iron bridge Care of highways, Wages, Commissioner, State highway Railroads: Boston and Albany; Springfield and Athol; Hampden - The street railway -The Ludlow reservoir -Fire department -Fire alarm system-Lighting: Gas, Electric lights Telephones Post office: At Jenks. ville. Postmasters: At Ludlow Center Rural free delivery Taverns Stores: Center. Village -Savings bank Court Library -Antiques and relics-Hospital -Fraternal organizations: Brigham Lodge of Mason -: Ludlow Farmers Club: Patrons of Husbandry. Ludlow Grange. No. 179. Women's Club: The Ludlow Social and Debating Club Physicians Lawyers.
POPULATION
IN 1774, the settlement at Stony Hill numbered two or three hundred. No further statistics are available till 1835, when the number given is 1,329; in 1840 it was 1,268; in 1850, 1,186; in 1860, 1,174; in 1870, 1,136; in 1880, 1,526; in 1890, 1,939; in 1900, 3,536; and in 1910. only a few less than 5,000.
Ludlow has long been noted for the longevity of its inhabitants. Of twenty deaths in 1874 (the year of its centennial) nine were of persons over sixty years of age, and one had borne the weight of a hundred win- ters less three.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES
Taking in survey the period from the incorporation of Ludlow to the end of the eighteenth century we find that it was a time of establishment. At its close, across the trackless wilds of 1774 were marked the lines of travel. The embryo neighborhoods of the earlier date had developed into considerable communities, while clusters of houses had been formed elsewhere. The fertile slopes of the eastern base of Mineachogue had been improved by the Danielses. Okres, and Wrights: the dense woods along Broad Brook above had been invaded and appropriated by the Aldens, then nearer than now kindred of John Alden and " Priscilla, the
HISTORY OF LEDLOW
Puritan maiden ", and there are not wanting those who trace the fairness of many a Ludlow maiden back
"To the damsel Priscilla, the loveliest maiden of Plymouth."
The Lyons also had commenced a settlement where their descendants now live and thrive, while the falls of Wallamanumps already had con- stant admirers in those dwelling near by.
OLD LUDLOW BRIDGE ACROSS CHICOPEE RIVER Taken from Springfield side
The early annals of the highway - are very defective, so much so that they can with the greatest difficulty be traced at all. The first roads in the town were merely bridle paths which were marked by blazed trees. After the incorporation of the district, the roads from the present west Schoolhouse to Ludlow City, and from L. Simond'- to Jenk-ville, are the first mentioned. The old Cherry Valley road through to John Wilson Hubbard's, but not entirely as now, was laid out in 1782, and that
05
TOWN DEVELOPMENT
from the Mann place (now E. J. Streeter's) to W. G. Fuller's in the same year. A highway from the East Cemetery to Miller Corner was pro- jected in 1784, and the same year one across Cedar Swamp. The road from the Congregational Church northward was laid out in 1800, and the land damages were one shilling per square rod. In 1793, a petition was sent the county officers to lay out a road corresponding to the route from Collins Station to Granby, as part of a line which shall "commode the travil from the eastern part of Connecticut to Dartmouth Colledge in New Hampshire."
The first reference to guideboards is in 1795, when it needed a com- mittee of nine to erect "way-posts."
Nearly every highway east of the mountain was either laid out or ro- laid before 1811; a different course was marked out and worked from John Wilson Hubbard's and between Lovinski White's and the moun- tain south, where Jonathan Burr lived, to the Center post office, in 1803, involving the first construction of the terrible Cedar Swamp causeway, so long an eyesore to exasperated townspeople and bewildered selectmen. In 1817 was established the highway from Joy's store to Plumley's, to accommodate, it is said, travel from the Jenksville to the Three Rivers factories. A year later somebody called down the wrath of the county commissioners on the principal north and south roads through the town, resulting in general repairs and relocation of the Put's bridge and Belcher- town and Collins and Granby routes. In 1826 we find one of the earlier movements toward a money system of repairing the highways.
The road from the present Danforth W. Sikes place southward was laid out in 1834, and one or two smaller ways of travel established. while of course Cedar Swamp continued to perplex the citizens.
Before the opening of the eighteenth century only the most inexpen- sive modes of crossing the Chicopee were employed. It can hardly be presumed that the bridge for which provision is made in the charter was on the Ludlow line. A memorandum of highway survey bearing the date of 1776 speaks of the north end of a bridge which was probably at Wallamanumps. There were " riding places" or fords at Wallamanumps and where now Collins bridge spans the stream. As early as 1781. a committee from Ludlow was to meet another from Springfield to see about the construction of a bridge at Wallamanumps. In 1788 $50 was granted for a like purpose in April, and in November a committee on sub- scriptions was appointed, possibly to secure a better bridge than the town
06
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
felt able to construct unassisted. In 1792 the bridge, which must have made pretensions to respectability, had probably become a river craft. for the town petitions the county authorities for another.
In 1794 plans more or less elaborate were consummated for a strue - ture, which was inspected by a solemn committee in the later autumn. The conditions of building are worthy of preservation.
Noted that any Person or Persons that will undertake and build with good materials a good substantial Bridge over Chicoper River, so called, at Wallamanumps Falls, and shall keep the same in good repair, shall receive sixty pounds from the town of Ludlow-Provided that the Person or Persons being so entitled to the said sum of sixty pounds for building the said Bridge shall procure sufficient bonds to the Town Treas' in the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds for the return of the same money into the Treas' of said Town if the same bridge so built shall not stand the rapidity of the Floods and the Breaking up of the winter, for four years-And also that the same Person or Persons that shall build the same shall be entitled to all the fare or toll allowed by Law from all Persons not being inhabitants of the Town of Ludlow forever.
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