USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > The history of Pittsfield (Berkshire County), Massachusetts, from the year 1800 to the year 1876 > Part 41
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During his whole life, Mr. Colt held many offices of honor and trust in the town which none loved better, and to whose good name few contributed so much. Mr. Colt held strong opinions and took a deep interest in politics, but he had little inclination or time for political office. He was, however, chosen presidential elector in 1852.
The prominent virtue in Mr. Colt's character was thorough, unqualified, uncompromising integrity; a love and appreciation
1Mr. Colt died at Pittsfield, in 1856, at the age of eighty-eight. Mrs. Colt also died at their homestead, April 8, 1865, aged ninety-four. Some account of Mr. Colt will be found in a previous chapter.
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of perfect honesty between man and man, that would not admit the variation of even a penny, when perfect adjustment of accounts was attainable. This, however, was only an indication of character manifested in that relation in which he came most in contact with men. The same exact sense of right governed his actions in all the affairs of life. Neither in word, thought, or deed, would he have knowingly wronged any man. In the great- est material interests of life, in its minutest courtesies, he was alike desirous to render every man all that was his due. For the proprieties of society, he was an earnest advocate, and he enforced them by precept and example. For all the social and moral vir- tues, he demanded, as he yielded, a strict observance. For every kindly and genial aspect of society, he had a keen and liberal appreciation, but for every violation of propriety which could lead astray, a stern rebuke. The hospitalities of his elegant home were extended to a wide circle of friends from abroad; and here many distinguished visitors to the town, met its most culti- vated society. With deep-seated convictions of the realities of religion, although not a church-member, he had for it, and all its institutions, the highest respect and reverence.
Mr. Colt was married December 9, 1819, to Miss Electa, daughter of Capt. David Campbell, who was born at Lenox, May 5, 1793, and died at Pittsfield, June 25, 1875. Mr. Colt died December 3, 1860.
Among the strong men of Pittsfield, in the period we are con- sidering, was Gen. Nathan Willis, who is described in the gene- alogy of the Willis family, as the son of Nathan; who was the son of Thomas ; who was the son of Benjamin ; who was the son Benjamin 1st; who was the son of Dea. John Willis, a Puritan of distinction and great respectability, who first appears in 1637, at Duxbury. In 1650, Deacon Willis was one of the grantees of the town of Duxbury, to which he removed the next year, and which he represented in the General Court without interruption for a quarter of a century. Nathan was born in 1763, at Bridgewater, where he spent his early years as a nail-maker and iron-forger. Removing to Rochester in 1790, he became a merchant ; and, engaging also in ship-building and navigation, accumulated what was then considered a large fortune.
In 1814, at the age of fifty, he removed to Pittsfield, where he made farming his chief occupation, although engaging sometimes
Rob Campbell
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in mercantile pursuits, and to a small extent in manufactures. " As a business-man," says his biographer, " he was remarkable for exact punctuality ; and never, it is believed, during his long life, suffered any one to be disappointed in pecuniary transactions through the non-fulfillment of his promise. Esteemed for his integrity and economy, and confided in for his good sense and judgment, he became the strong man of the democratic party, was repeatedly chosen representative and councilor, and repre- sented both Plymouth and Berkshire counties in the senate." He was, also, twice the democratic candidate for lieutenant-gov- ernor, and was delegate from Pittsfield, in the constitutional con- vention of 1820.
He married in 1787, Sophia, daughter of Col. Benjamin Tup- per of Chesterfield, who died in 1790; and in the same year, he married Widow Lucy Dagget, daughter of Noah Fearing of Mid- dleboro, who died in 1860.
General Willis had thirteen children; the best known of whom is Col. George S., who was born at Bridgewater, in 1810, and educated at Union College in the class of 1832. Afterwards he was a merchant and agriculturist in Pittsfield. He was high- sheriff of Berkshire, and several times selectman, and has been otherwise prominent in town-affairs.
Dr. Robert Campbell, son of David Campbell, the elder, was born at Pittsfield in 1796, and graduated at the Berkshire Medical College in 1822, having commenced his studies before the found- ation of the Institution. No Pittsfield man, of his generation at least, excelled him in mental power or in liberal culture. The variety of the subjects of which he acquired accurate and practical knowledge was remarkable. His skill in his profession was widely recognized, although he abandoned it in the prime of his life. In the principles and details of the manufactures which were devel- oped in the town during his youth, he became thoroughly versed, although not himself a manufacturer. Placed in command of the primitive fire-engine which served the town until 1844, he made himself acquainted, not only with all that he could learn con- cerning that class of machines, but with all their appurtenances, with the building of cisterns and tanks, and whatever pertained to the protection of property against fire; knowledge which proved of great value to the town when it came to establish a fire- department. When the subject of building the Western rail-
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road, and of its location in Berkshire, was agitated, it was found that he had quietly become the best-informed man in the county on all points connected with those questions. Even in minor matters, his thirst for experiment and study was ardent ; and as an instance, becoming interested in pyrotechnics, he formed a club for their study, which displayed some very brilliant fire- works of their own manufacture, on the park.
He was an excellent connoisseur in the fine arts, and in music was himself an adept; and this, not only from culture, but from a mental organization originally delicate and sensitive.
Another and most distinguishing characteristic of Dr. Camp- bell, was his extreme conscientiousness, displayed not only in business-integrity, but in all the affairs of life. Neither personal interest or feeling, nor the persuasion of friendship seemed able to swerve him from the course which he believed right and just, as was shown in some notable instances.
With these traits of character, Dr. Campbell could hardly have been expected to prosper as a politician ; but he was elected repre- sentative in the years 1834 and 1835. He died in 1866.1
Among the most active of the early anti-slavery men of Pitts- field, was Dr. John Milton Brewster, a son of Dr. Oliver Brews- ter, the surgeon of Colonel Brown's regiment at Stone Arabia, and a descendant of Elder Brewster of the Plymouth colony. Dr. J. M. Brewster was born at Becket, October 22, 1789, and in July, 1813, he married Miss Philena Higley, by whom he had ten children. He was educated at the Lenox Academy, and com- menced the study of medicine under the instruction of his father. He attended lectures at New Haven in 1810, and graduated in 1812, at the Medical School in Boston, under the charge of Dr. James Jackson. He practiced medicine at Becket until 1821, when he removed to Lenox, where he was a successful physician and surgeon for sixteen years. In April, 1837, he removed to Pittsfield, and continued the practice of his profession with zeal and fidelity for thirty years : making fifty-five years of practice. He died May 3, 1869, at the age of eighty.
Among the citizens who, for the half-century ending with the year 1875, have been the most active and practical in their devo- tion to public improvement, Solomon L. Russell has been among
1 For further account of Dr. Campbell, see chapter on Railroads.
SE Rebell
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the most generous, disinterested, and indefatigable. No effort which he believed for the good of the town has lacked his most efficient aid. Mr. Russell was born at Chesterfield, in 1791; his father, Solomon Russell of that town, although blind from the age of seventeen to his death at seventy-nine, rearing a large family in honorable poverty, and proving an especially excellent teacher in morals and religion ; his favorite text-book being, "Edwards on the Will." His son, Solomon L., worked on a farm at North- ampton, from his nineteenth to liis twenty-eighth year, as "hired help." He then removed to Conway, where he cultivated a small farm of his own, and married Wealthy Nash.
In 1826, he removed to Pittsfield with his brother Zeno, an experienced hotel-keeper; and, in the following April, the two purchased the inn on the corner of North and West streets, pre- viously kept by Captain Merrick. In the fall of the same year, the inn was burned accidentally ; but the proprietors, new-comers as they were, found themselves among warm-hearted friends. On the adjoining side of Park square, stood the coffee-house, then kept by David Campbell, Sr., who, upon the suggestion of his son, immediately leased it at a fair price to the Messrs. Russell, who occupied it while they were rebuilding their own hotel ; mak- ing the liberal profit of fifteen hundred dollars. In addition to this, the citizens of the town raised for them a subscription of about six hundred and fifty dollars; the donors stating their desire to aid the Messrs. Russell "in building a house suitable to the public wants, on the same ground as the old one, with barns a suitable distance from the house, and to perfect the whole estab- lishment and make it such as it should be in our beautiful village."
The house built under these auspices-the Berkshire Hotel- immediately acquired a wide and exceedingly favorable reputa- tion, which it retained for many years. From the date of its erection until the completion of the Western railroad, it was a central station for the several stage-routes, with whose passengers it was constantly thronged. The Berkshire hills, in those days, except under the most favorable circumstances in regard to the condition of the skies, presented few attractions for night-travel ; and the hotels, especially the favorite Berkshire, were often so crowded, that they were obliged to seek lodgings for their guests in private houses; while their dinner-tables presented a busy scene, far out of proportion to the size of the village.
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After the completion of the railroad, this class of travel very much diminished ; but from other circumstances the Berkshire continued a popular and prosperous house, particularly as a resort of travelers for pleasure.
Mr. Russell continued his connection with the Berkshire Hotel for nine years, when he was succeeded in the firm by Lyman Warriner. Afterwards it became Warriner and Cooley; and then, Mr. Warriner withdrawing, Mr. William B. Cooley became sole proprietor, and continued so, until 1866, when he sold the premises, and the Berkshire Life Insurance Company built upon them the finest business-structure in Pittsfield.
In connection with the early story of the hotel, Mr. Russell gives some interesting facts regarding the temperance-reform. Previous to the interest in that cause excited by the addresses of its great apostle, Hewlett, the annual sales of liquors were about one hogshead and one forty-gallon cask of brandy ; two hogs- heads of Santa Cruz rum; one pipe and forty gallons of gin ; twenty barrels of ale; three quarter-casks and a few dozen bottles of choice wines.
It was the practice to place upon the dinner-table a bottle of brandy for each ten plates, from which the guests were privileged to drink at their pleasure, without extra charge. They, however, only partook moderately, and generally not at all. But after Mr. Hewlett's visit, the sales of liquor were diminished fully one half, and the practice of placing brandy upon the table was discon- tinned.
In 1826, Mr. Russell having disposed of his interest in the hotel, purchased a farm in a beautiful location a little north of the village, where he has since resided ; continuing the active interest in town-affairs which he manifested at his very first settlement in Pittsfield. We have already noticed, elsewhere, his valuable serv- ices in connection with the first improvements of the park, and the establishment of the cemetery. In many other undertakings for the public interest he was equally zealous; but, perhaps more than any others, in the building of the Western railroad, to which he contributed much as a member of the legislature and other- wise; and in the management of the public schools. In regard to the latter, he was able to effect, shortly after his arrival in town, the reform of an abuse which had gradually grown up in the entire dis- trict. It had become the practice, after the school-taxes were
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assessed, to return to each tax-payer the portion paid by him, which he was to devote to the defraying of the tuition of his own children ; so that practically there was no free school in the dis- trict. To this custom Mr. Russell strenuously objected, and more with the thought of testing his courage in a contest with the vil- lage magnates than with the expectation that he would effect a change, he was elected district committee-man. But he at once refused to draw the customary orders or any other, until schools had been organized as the statute required. Threats of suits at law were made against him, but he was unflinching, and finally triumphant. The illegal custom was broken up.
CHAPTER XIX.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
[1824-1875.]
First Church and Parish-Rev. Mr. Bailey-Rev. Dr. Tappan-Rev. Mr. Yeomans - Revivalist preaching, and division of the church - Six ex-pastors of the Congregational churches become college-presidents-Rev. Dr. Brinsmade-Rev. Dr. Todd-Church-statistics-Rev. Mr. Bartlett- Encouragement of sacred music-The first organ and other instrumental music-Trustees of the Ministerial Fund-Parsonage bought, burned and rebuilt - The church hires the Union Parish meeting-house for a lecture- room - Building struck by lightning - Objections to its use-A new lec- ture-room built-The church of 1794 damaged by fire, sold and removed -A stone-church built- A stone-chapel built -South Congregational Church and Parish-Measures preliminary to colonization-Organization of parish, and first members-New church begun and burned-Rebuilding -Organization of church - Pastorate of . Rev. Dr. Harris - Succeeding pastors-New organ-Second Congregational Church.
T HE affairs of the First Congregational Church and Parish, after the removal of Dr. Humphrey, flowed so smoothly in the channel in which he had guided them, that its history pre- sents few points of a striking character.
Rev. Rufus William Bailey became pastor in 1824, and con- tinued until 1827; his salary being raised during his pastorate from eight hundred to nine hundred and fifty dollars. He was succeeded in August, 1828, by Rev. Henry Philip Tappan, one of the most profound scholars who ever resided in Pittsfield. He resigned in August, 1831; and was followed in February, by Rev. John W. Yeomans. The salary of both Mr. Tappan and Mr. Yeomans, was eight hundred dollars per annum ; but the parish made Mr. Tappan a farewell gift of four hundred dollars.
The latter years of Mr. Yeoman's ministry were disturbed by a difference of opinion in the church, which resulted in a tempo- rary division. The wonderful revival of religion, in Dr. Hum-
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phrey's time, under the preaching of the evangelist Nettleton, was remembered by many with an ardent longing for another such outpouring of the Spirit. And this, the more sanguine believed would certainly result from the employment of similar means. The advent of a certain Mr. Foote from Albany-who, although a Congregationalist, preached at Pittsfield in the Baptist Church, was therefore hailed by them with joy ; and, for a time, Mr. Yeomans favored the attendance of his people upon his ex- hortations. Afterwards, however, observing things in Mr. Foote's behavior which he deemed indiscreet and presumptuous, he with- drew his countenance from him. Upon this, those who were styled the "New Measure Men," as favoring the employment of evangelists and other extraordinary means for exciting a popular interest in religion, charged their pastor with obstructing the Gospel work, by neglecting to ask, and even refusing to receive, the class of aid that, gladly welcomed by his predecessor, had been so gloriously effective.
We are not called upon to enter into the merits of this contro- versy; but having stated the charge against Mr. Yeomans, it is only right to say, that Dr. Humphrey did not sustain the course of those who appealed to his example for support. " Mr. Nettle- ton," said he, "had many imitators, but not one, that I have any knowledge of, so safe and so helpful to pastors in times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. They generally insist upon taking the reins, for the time being, out of the hands of the ministers. * By so doing, they have unsettled many pastors, instead of strengthening them; weakened and divided many churches."
Whether this was the case or not with Mr. Foote, a large num- ber of the members of the First Church, who favored the "New Measures"-including Deacons Josiah Bissell, S. A. Danforth and T. E. Mosely, with Dr. H. H. Childs, and others-forsook the First Parish and worshiped in the old Union meeting-house, the use of which was tendered them by its owner, Lemuel Pomeroy. The article in the 'Bill of Rights regarding public worship having been amended, and the legislature having re- modeled the statutes in conformity with the change, Mr. Pomeroy and nineteen associates, on the 19th of May, 1834, organized a new religious society, under the name of the Second Congrega- tional Parish of Pittsfield.
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There was no formal secession from the First Church, nor was any church formed in connection with the Second Parish; but the professors of religion who joined it-having among them three of the four deacons of the old organization-partook of the com- munion as though nothing had occurred, except a vacancy in the office of pastor. The new parish settled no minister; but Rev. Samuel A. Allen, and Rev. Professor Chester Dewey, officiated for a time; and Rev. Messrs. Hooker of Lanesboro and Gridley of Williamstown gave their aid. Rev. Mr. Kirk-afterwards celebrated as the eloquent Dr. Kirk of Boston, but then a very popular evangelist of Albany-preached for the new parish two Sundays; and, with this and similar assistance, the advocates of the new measures realized from them their hope for a revival of religion.
But with such a breach in the First Parish, and with many of its remaining members affording no very cordial support to their pastor, it was clearly not a desirable post for him ; nor did duty require him to maintain it, when the point at issue was of so little consequence as compared with the harmony of the Congregational body. He therefore resigned his charge, and was dismissed September 9, 1835. 1
When the statutes passed in conformity with the amendment of the Bill of Rights took effect, in the year 1835, the action of the Congregational Society ceased to form a part of the town- records ; and the book in which the doings of the parish were afterwards recorded were destroyed in the burning of the clerk's office in W. M. Root's block, March 4, 1868. Our information regarding them is therefore less full and definite than it otherwise would have been. We believe, however, that the account we give is correct.
Rev. Mr. Yeomans was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Horatio Nelson Brinsmade, who was installed in 1835, and con-
1 Mr. Yeomans afterwards became president of La Fayette College, at eastern Pennsylvania. It is a curious fact that five of the nine pastors ot the First Church became, after their dismissal, presidents of colleges : viz. Rev. Dr. Allen of Bowdoin; Rev. Dr. Humphrey of Amherst; Rev. Mr. Bailey of Austin ; Rev. Dr. Tappan of the University of Michigan ; and Rev. Mr. Yeomans of La Fayette. Rev. Dr. Harris, of the colonizing South Parish, also became successively Professor of Theology in the Bangor Theological Semi- nary, president of Bowdoin College, and Professor of Theology at Yale.
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tinued in office until August, 1841, when he resigned, notwith- standing the most earnest endeavors of his people to retain him.
On the 21st of December, 1841, the church and parish elected as Dr. Brinsmade's successor, his friend and classmate, Rev. John Todd; offering him a salary of one thousand dollars, and the use of the parsonage. Mr. Todd commenced his labors January 1, 1842, and was installed on the 16th of the following February. His pastorate, which continued through thirty-one years, embrac- ing the most prosperous era of the town's history, was distin- guished by six marked revivals of religion, under the influence of some of which seventy or eighty members were added to the church in a single year. 1
In the same period, and very much through his influence, a lecture-room of wood, a costly church of stone, and a more costly chapel of the same material were built. The parish grew in num- bers so that colonization became necessary and took place. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions met with it twice. The pastor's salary was raised from time to time, until it became twenty-five hundred dollars, in addition to the use of the parsonage.
In the year 1870, Dr. Todd made a communication to his people requesting to be released, at its close, from the responsibility and
1 In his historical sermon, February 3, 1873, Dr. Todd gave the following statistics of the church and parish, during their whole existence : " Under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Allen, of forty-six years, three hundred and forty-one members were added to the church ; there were seven hundred and ten baptisms, and four hundred and six marriages ; Rev. William Allen, seven pastorate years, fifty-seven admissions, seventy baptisms, thirty-five mar- riages ; Rev. Thomas Punderson, eight pastorate years, fifty-six admissions, ninety-seven baptisms, twenty-eight marriages; Rev. Heman Humphrey, six pastorate years, two hundred and fourteen admissions, one hundred and eighty baptisms, forty-nine marriages ; Rev. Rufus W. Bailey, four pastorate years, ninety-nine admissions, eighty-two baptisms, twenty-four marriages ; Rev. Henry P. Tappan, three pastorate years, one hundred and thirteen ad- missions ; Rev John Yeomans, two pastorate years, one hundred and forty-one admissions ; Rev. Horatio N. Brinsmade, seven pastorate years, two hundred and eighteen admissions ; Rev. John Todd, thirty-one pastorate years, one thousand and eight admissions, five hundred and two baptisms (three hundred and eighty-seven infants, one hundred and fifteen adults), three hundred and fourteen marriages ; and had those who thought they passed from death unto life at Maplewood made a profession here, I think the number would have amounted to twelve hundred at least."
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active duties of the pastorate, but desiring to continue with them as pastor emeritus, " so that he might not feel that he was cut off from their sympathy." His request was accompanied also by a very thoughtful and touching statement in detail of the position which he wished to hold.
The church and parish, in acting upon this paper, acceded unanimously and cordially to their pastor's propositions ; but with the condition that his resignation should be postponed for two years ; to January 1, 1873. But in May, 1872, sudden illness warned him that to persist longer in pastoral labor would endan- ger his life; and, his request for relief being renewed, was at once granted, with the most fervent expressions of love and sym- pathy. The parish also voted to continue his salary and the use of the parsonage as when performing the active duties of his pastorate. An additional sketch of his life, regarding matter not especially pertaining to his clerical character is given in another connection.
He was succeeded in January, 1873, by Rev. Edward O. Bart- lett of Providence, R. I .; his salary being three thousand dollars in addition to house-rent. He resigned in January, 1876.
THE MEETING-IIOUSES.
Liberal appropriations were made, as they were required, to keep the meeting-house, finished in 1794, properly painted and in good repair. Alterations were also made in it, from time to time, to meet the changing tastes of the age; the most important being the substitution of slips for the old-fashioned pews, connected with which was the abolition of the ancient method of seating the people, or "dignifying the meeting-house."
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