USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 24
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THE CALIFORNIA ADVENTURERS
From about 1849 to about 1855, the excitement caused by the discovery of gold in California spread over the country like wildfire, and thrilled in the hearts of the young men of that time, until they saw visions of great wealth waiting for them on that far shore, if they only had the courage to go and gather it.
Here and there, one with the wanderlust more strongly developed, determined to make the attempt, and small com- panies from many communities pledged themselves to go. Public meetings of neighbors were held to wish them Godspeed.
A shooting match was held in East Longmeadow, in a field about 75 rods southwest of the Baptist Church, where the adventurers might test their newly acquired rifles. And when the shot of some adventurer rang out, and the signal showed that the bullet had hit the mark, cheers went up and the air thrilled with excitement.
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A song, "The Golden Lure," was sung and shouted to a rollicking "hurrah, boys" tune. The chorus and several lines of the song have been told me by one of those who used to sing it, and I have reconstructed some of the verses.
THE GOLDEN LURE
We've heard a tale of a western land, Where gold is found in the river's sand, And all one needs is a spade and pick, To take out chunks as big as a brick.
Chorus
Heigh, ho! and away we go, To the golden shore of San 'Frisco. Heigh ho! and away we go, To dig up the gold at Sacramento.
We've formed our band and our trip is planned, To journey far to that promised land,
For the golden ore is now in store,
On the banks of Sacramento's shore.
Heigh, ho !- etc.
With pick and shovel and iron bar,
We'll probe the hills in that land afar;
We'll dig all day with all our might,
And weary not till the stars are bright.
Heigh, ho !- etc.
We'll make our beds on the cold wet ground, And when the wolves come a-howling 'round, We'll give them a shot from our rifles true, And we'll bring their pelts back home to you.
Heigh, ho !- etc.
Oh, soon afar, on that shining shore, We'll turn the sands for the golden ore; We'll work with a will and all our pull, And we'll come back with our pockets full.
Heigh, ho !- etc.
Among those who heard and heeded the call to that "shining shore," were the following from Wilbraham:
James Merrick, Samuel F. Merrick, Pliny K. Merrick, D. Brainard Merrick, Erasmus B. Gates, Myron Brewer, Reuben
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Jones, Walter Hitchcock, George McGregory, Franklin Steb- bins, Darwin Chaffe, Carson Cone, Charles Hancock, Gilbert Stacy, John Bradway, Otis Lincoln, Joseph Baldwin. Perhaps a few others, whose names I have not learned. I have learned some of the details of the journey there, from my uncle, Horace G. Kibbe, of East Longmeadow, now of Sonora, Cal. Most of them went by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The demand for passage was so great that it was necessary to secure tickets several weeks in advance.
The fare for steerage passengers was $200 from New York to San Francisco, which included meals while on shipboard. Most of the men walked across the Isthmus, their baggage being carried on pack mules. They were twelve days on the Atlantic Ocean, three or four days crossing the Isthmus, and were seven days sailing up the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco.
Nearly all of those whose names I have given returned to their homes here, after a few years. I heard it told around at the time that S. F. Merrick said that he was "going to show the men of Wilbraham how to build a barn." The stone barn on the west side of our Main Street, some 20 or 40 rods north of the Tinkham Road, is the result of his efforts. It was an ambitious undertaking.
Not all of the men who felt the call of the "golden lure," travelled as far as California, in their search for it. About the time of the California excitement, there were persistent rumors in many of our New England towns that some of "Captain Kidd's gold" was buried within their borders. There was a man here who "dreamed," or conceived, or believed, that some of it was hidden on the top of our mountain, in an old cellar hole, a little east of the Ridge road and a little north of the road to Monson. Two or three others became interested in the subject, and for several nights they visited the place and turned the sod, the soil and the sands, in and around that old cellar, in their eager search for the buried gold.
During all the digging, not a word must be spoken, for they believed that if their efforts should be successful and the iron case containing the golden treasure should be uncovered, and
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if at the same time the sound of a human voice should vex the spirits of the midnight air, the object of their quest would glide a hundred or even a thousand feet down into the bowels of the mountain and be lost to them forever. A boy about eight or ten years old learned something of what was going on, and, like many other boys, he wanted to know more about it. So when the men gathered with their picks and shovels near his home, in the late evening, to journey to the abandoned cellar, he fol- lowed on after them, keeping a discreet distance in the rear, and was able to observe their operations. He survived the experience and has related the incident to me.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
A Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, under the name of Freedom's Guide Lodge No. 163, I. O. of G. T. was established here about 1866, and was quite successful as a social organization for a few years, holding meetings in the vestry of the Congregational Church, and doubtless doing some good for the temperance cause. The society went out of exist- ence about 1870.
There was also a society of the Sons of Temperance in the centre, and one at North Wilbraham, a little later, but both have ceased holding meetings. And, earlier than these, there was a society of "Know Nothings" here. But we know nothing of what it accomplished, although I think I have a copy of its printed ritual, which I found among the Wm. W. Merrick papers.
THE FREE MASONS
In 1870, Rev. Edward Cooke, D.D., and eighteen other Masons in Wilbraham, were granted a charter for Newton Lodge, and Brother Cooke was elected the first master.
The first meeting of the Masons of Wilbraham to consider the matter of forming a lodge was held at the office of Dr. Stebbins Foskit, October 6, 1870. Other meetings were held there and at the office of Rev. Dr. Cooke, principal of Wesleyan Academy. The first meeting in the present lodge rooms was
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held January 4, 1871. The charter members were: Rev. Dr. Edward Cooke, Dr. S. Foskit, C. G. Robbins, W. H. Day, J. W. Green, J. S. Morgan, E. Jones, E. B. Newell, W. F. Morgan, L. J. Potter, W. L. Collins, A. Boothby, C. M. Parker, W. M. Green, W. Kent, D. A. Atchinson, H. H. Calkins, and W. F. Eaton. About one-half of the charter members with- drew from Hampden Lodge of Springfield to form Newton Lodge. One night in 1875, there was considerable excitement in Newton Lodge, caused by a fire in the barn of one of the charter members, Dr. Foskit. The barn was near the lodge rooms and the fire threatened to spread to the near-by build- ings. About forty brothers were in the hall at the time and most of them were excused at once, and rendered efficient service in putting out the fire. After they had withdrawn, the lodge was regularly closed in form with only the traditional number present.
In 1891, about twenty-seven of the members withdrew to form Brigham Lodge of Ludlow. In 1894, one of the members of Newton Lodge was appointed Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge, and served for seventeen years, visiting the lodges throughout the state to instruct them in the ritual. He de- clined a reappointment for the year 1911, because of some historical work he had been selected to do. He is now, (1914) Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge. Newton Lodge has now about 55 members.
THE WILBRAHAM GRANGE
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
was organized in 1888, and for about twelve years held their meetings in the Chapel of the Congregational Church. By the kindness and munificence of Mrs. Lucia S. Foskit, the present commodious and convenient Grange Hall was erected in 1900, and first used in 1901, and has since served as a meeting place for the order, and for many social gatherings. The membership of the Grange is about 80.
The ladies of the town have a Study Club, which meets
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regularly and is interested in questions around the Wide, Wide World.
The boys have a serenade "Band," which is sometimes heard where it may not be desired, or welcomed.
GRANGE HALL.
THE WILBRAHAM FARMERS' CLUB
This society was formed under the name of "The Agricul- tural Lyceum of Wilbraham." The first meeting was held in the basement of Fisk Hall on December 22, 1854, and Nelson Mowry was elected chairman and Henry M. Bliss secretary. An address was given by Prof. Oliver Marcy, a teacher at the Academy, and Horace M. Sessions, of South Wilbraham, spoke on the subject of peach growing. In 1861, the name was changed to Wilbraham Farmers' Club, and quite regular meet- ings were held at the homes of different members, and occa-
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sionally at one of the churches, until about the year 1900. The secretary, Henry M. Bliss, was statistical correspondent for the U. S. Department of Agriculture for many years.
A YOUNG PEOPLES' LITERARY SOCIETY
Was formed in the Centre village about 1870, and gave a drama, or an entertainment of that character, nearly every year, for about twenty-five years. The first was a selection from the poem written by Dr. J. G. Holland, entitled "Bitter Sweet," in 1870.
One of the most popular was the "District School," given in 1892, and as the mention of it brings to mind so many familiar names and interesting incidents, I give a copy of the program.
Ye STONY HILL
DEESTRICT SKULE
WILL BE AT
Ye Chapel of Ye Congregation Meeting House ON YE MAIN RODE Near Ye Allis Tavern in ye Towne of Wilbraham Ye 23ยช Day of March, MDCCCXCII
Ye Master of ye Skule House with ye Children of ye Deestrict, will open ye doors and commence to reade and spell their lessons at half past seven by ye Towne Clock. Ye good people of ye big Towne will please get ye chores done earlie and put on ye Meeting Clothes so as not to be late. Ye Young Men and Maidens will want to heare these lessons and see how ye children are getting their Eddication.
Ye price to go inne is two Dimes and a half Dime.
Parte First.
Ye Towne Skule Committee will meete Mr. Jabes Epaphroditus Quacken- bush, and see if he has larning enough to teach Ye Younge Men and ye Maidens of ye Stony Hill Deestrict.
Parte Seconde.
Ye Schollares in all ye Deestrict of Stony Hill will begin to larn their A B C's, also to figger and rite, and get an eddication such as was never seen in the Deestrict skule on Stony Hill.
Parte Third.
Ye examination of ye skule will be held, showing what larning and eddication will do for our Younge Folke, so that every Farm House in ye
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deestrict even to yc big Townes of Ludlow, Monson, South Wilbraham and Longmeader will heare of these wonderful things.
Ye Skule Committee
Squire Isaac Skinnum Rev. Abinidab Twistem
Deacon Ichabod Jollyboy
C. C. Beebe C. E. Peck A. J. Blanchard
Ye Teacher
Mr. Jabes Epaphroditus Quackenbush
F. E. Clark
Ye Schollares
Phebe Ann Higgins
Peggy Pinchbeck Warriner
Tirza Mehitable Thorp
Lucretia Arcetta Ladybelle Burt
Silence Samantha Langdon
Thankful Deborah Bliss
Mehitable Maria Merrick
Prudence Priscilla Patience Jackson
Experience Delight Sawtelle
Betsy Jane Livermore
Jemima Virginia Piper
Roxalena Smith
Phebe Ann Sunlight Mulbury
Oliver Jedediah Adams
Peletiah Abial Glover
Silas Doolittle Phelps
Zenas Erastus Brocket
Obadiah Higgins
Daniel Hosea Baldwin
Solomon Ichabod Jones
Patsie Moriety
George Washington Tarbox
James Buchanan Jackson
Bert Eaton H. A. Day
Caleb Spindleshanks Brewer
Mrs. C. M. Pease Mrs. F. W. Green Mrs. Wm. R. Sessions Miss E. M. Howard Mrs. C. P. Bolles Mrs. F. C. Learned Mrs. W. L. Phelps Miss Ida L. Bolles Mrs. L. B. Smith Mrs. D. L. Bosworth Miss Clara McKeeman Miss M. E. Bliss Miss Lillie Phelps Anson Soule Ethelbert Bliss Leroy B. Smith Wm. H. Day C. P. Bolles N. C. Rice Arthur Stebbins H. E. Clark Theodore Bottome
THE WOODLAND DELL CEMETERY
This is very pleasantly located, near and east of the Center Village. The grounds now occupied by this association, con- taining ten and a half acres, were first purchased by R. R. Wright, H. Bridgman Brewer and J. M. Merrick, at the cost of eleven hundred dollars.
The association was organized under the General Statutes, February 12, 1858.
A board of trustees, nine in number, are chosen annually, who have the care of the property.
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The first burial in these grounds was Mrs. Louisa W. Wright, the wife of R. R. Wright, who died December 26, 1851.
The officers are, Chauncey E. Peck, president; Charles N. Mawry, vice-president; Frank A. Gurney, treasurer; Carrie A. Moody, secretary. 184 lots have been sold up to the present time.
SLAVERY IN WILBRAHAM
From what I can gather from old records and traditions, there were at least five families who owned eight or more slaves in Wilbraham along about the years 1745 to 1780. The "Worthy" Rev. Noah Merrick had three, Mr. David Merrick had one, and Capt. John Shaw had one. There were probably a few more. The slaves of the Rev. Noah Merrick are supposed to have been inherited by his wife, from her father's estate in Haddam, Conn. Dr. Samuel F. Merrick had two, but they may have come to him from the estate of his father (Rev. Noah Merrick.)
There is a strange and almost tragic incident in connection with those slaves of Dr. Merrick, which has been told me by members of the family and, while I have clothed the story in language of my own, I have endeavored to give a description of it which will convey a true idea of the incident, and still con- form to the truth, as regards the principal event.
The names of Dr. Merrick's slaves were Luke and Luc (Lucy). Luc was a plump, kind-hearted creature, of the good old negro mammy character, and assisted in the household duties. Luke was generally of the same kindly disposition and very valuable as a worker on the farm. But he had a most violent temper, and when crossed in his wishes, or sometimes without any apparent cause, he would fly into a dreadful pas- sion, showing no more reason than a wild beast. In an hour or two the fit would pass off, the sunshine in his heart would assert itself, and he was kindly and genial as usual.
When in one of these moods he would throw the chairs or other furniture about the kitchen, sometimes doing considerable
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damage. If out of doors or at the barn, the farming tools were served in the same manner.
When one of these "tant-trums," as Luc called them, came on him, and the men folks were all away, the women of the family would usually manage to coax him out of the house, lock the doors and let Luke wear away his "tant-trum" by throwing himself against the trees or buildings, in an insane fury.
On a day when the men folks were all away, perhaps haying in a distant meadow, Luke was sent up to the house to fetch some water. Luc was sweeping out the kitchen and, for the moment, had set a chair in the doorway. Luke sprang at the chair, insane with passion, and flung it far out in the yard, but Luc slammed the door in his face and locked it. All the other doors were quickly locked and Luke drifted away toward the barn, venting his spite upon everything that came in his way.
The time for the mid-day meal was approaching and Mrs. Merrick went into the pantry to select the materials. While looking among the shelves, with her back toward the open window, she heard a noise in that direction and turning around, she saw the passion distorted face of Luke at the window, with his hand resting on the shelf within, as if he were about to spring in. Screaming with fright she ran out into the kitchen, where she was comforted by the faithful Luc.
Dinner may have been late that day and-perhaps-Luke didn't have any.
A baby girl, born in that family some months later, bore upon her breast the mark of a broad black hand.
When the state constitution prohibiting slavery was enacted about the year 1780, it is said that some of those slaves were invited to accompany "Massa" on a visit to Hartford, and were privately sold and invited to go on board a sloop lying at the wharf, to have a good time, and while fiddling and dancing, the sloop dropped into the stream, spread sail, and disappeared down the river. They were never heard of again.
Senator Hoar's wife was a descendant of one of the families
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which is said to have disposed of their slaves in that way, but they always most emphatically denied that they were sold.
The phrase, "Underground Railroad," is rarely heard in these days, and may be meaningless to many persons now. But fifty to one hundred years ago it was carefully whispered around that there were in many towns certain havens of refuge, where the escaped fugitive slave from the Southland, seeking for a home of freedom in far-off Canada, might find a hiding place from the hunters pursuing their human prey across the states. And when the hunters, hot on the trail, had come and passed on, and the shadows of night had fallen over the earth, the shrinking fugitive would be taken in a team, or might be directed to another place, ten to twenty miles away, where he would find shelter and a hiding place from the officers of the law.
It was an unlawful thing to do, but then, as now, there pre- vailed in the hearts of men an unwritten law, far above the decrees of courts, or the enactments of legislatures; and it is a well established fact that the fleeing fugitive slaves were sometimes helped in that way.
A house in our center village, directly across the street from the one in which I reside, was torn down about 1907, when it was discovered that there were two cellars under it. One of them was quite small, entirely separate from the other and larger one, and entered by a trap door in the pantry. The story quickly spread that the house had been a "station" on the "Underground Railroad."
I boarded in that house during the winter and spring of 1871 and 1872, and did not know of that small cellar.
The house was owned and occupied by Rev. Mr. Virgin for several years, about 1838, and when the report of the "Station" was being circulated, I wrote to his son, also a clergyman, to learn if the story could be verified, but he answered that he "would neither confirm or deny it," but he knew that in those days, if anyone in want, whether it was a homesick student, seeking for a shelter, in whom there might be the making of a Methodist bishop, or a fugitive slave fleeing from the man
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hunters, with his face set toward the promised land of freedom, "Mother" Virgin, as she was familiarly called, would not have turned him empty away.
More than one embryo Methodist preacher, presiding elder or bishop, found a motherly, welcoming woman in what was then called the "Virgin Hollow Hotel," and it is quite within the bounds of probability that some hunted fugitive slaves may have been hidden there for a time. A severe struggle once took place at Mr. Edward Morris's, where two fugitives had taken refuge. Their masters or hunters came after them, and a fight ensued, in which one escaped to the woods, and the other was taken, bound, and carried away. I have no knowledge that any assistance was ever rendered to the hunter when he sought his human prey.
The following, relating to some of those slaves, is copied from the record kept by (Clark) Samuel Warner, 1734-1783.
"Meneder (?) a Neegrow girl of the Rn Mr. Noah Mirrick's Dyed March 20th 1774."
"Joseph Coat a Negrow man Dyed Januarey 15th 1782."
"Joshua Ede (?) Lost a Black Child January yr 1782."
FRAGMENTS GATHERED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES
In 1837, Delos D. Merrick of this town attended the Medical School at Pittsfield, Mass. The following is part of a letter written to his brother, William W. Merrick.
"Pittsfield Oct. 1837
"Dear Brother Last sabbath I took a walk out to the Lebanon Shakers, having heard much in regard to their late mode of worship, and for the first time was out of New England, it being just over the line in the state of New York, and certainly it is very mountainous as we go west from this towards Albany. The proceedings of the Shakers during their services were truly rediculous. They conducted themselves very much as they do at enfield for nearly one half hour then throwing aside all decency cut all manner of shines that you could imagine. Turning upon their heels until so dizzy that some even fell upon the floor & others would have fallen had not they been so thick as to hit some one as they were falling. One woman turned upon her heel 84 times without stopping & another 100 checking herself for about a minute when she had got 50 turns accom- plished. They would all spat their hands stamp their feet & hallow at the same time. Oh! what a noise. You imagine 220 making as much noise as possible & you think what we had. They acted precisely like crazy people.
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One would start from one end of the house and run around in a ring turn- ing her hands about her head & like lightening go around 5 or 6 times cutting as large circle as the house would allow. Another bending back- wards & forwards as far as possible & not fall. I declare I expected every moment to see them tumble flat. Another would run and take hold of some one and both would wheel about 2 or 3 times and then run to another and perform just so again until he had gone to 10 or 12 & then he would leap up & down & spat his hands. They had one girl probably just joined them, I was pleased to see her trudge about. She could not begin to keep up & when they moved their hands up & down, as you have seen them at E. they would get hold of hers & help the poor thing. They also had a very noble looking man about 28 years of age I should think, he had not taken off his velvet vest & broadcloth pants, but he beat the Shakers themselves. He would cut around like the mischief. He would hug one and kiss him then another & and so on, & I'll be bound he got hold of a bluberliped negro. How sweet. I saw him upon the floor at length & I concluded that the fellow had got the apoplexy from his exercise & almost begun to feel for my lanech. But in a few minutes up he hopped and at it again. I wonder the men and women did not hug & kiss each other But I never saw a bit of the thing. No sport in this. I should have made a mistake and kissed a young girl for they had 2 or 3 very pretty looking girls. Perhaps you may think I exagerate the proceedings. N: I fall far short of it. You can have scarcely any idea of their conduct. They do more injury to their health in an hour this way than a months hard work, for what is like getting drunk by turning and tumbling about thus."
In 1837 or 1838, Antoinette C. M. Bliss, went to Louisiana to visit her aunt, Mrs. Susan (Brewer) Thomas. Susan Brewer was daughter of Charles Brewer of this town. She was the second Preceptress of Wesleyan Academy, 1827-1829, and married Capt. David Thomas of Louisiana in 1834. About 1838, her niece, Antoinette C. M. Bliss (afterwards Mrs. Speer) made Mrs. Thomas a visit. The following is a copy of part of a letter she wrote to her aunt (Mrs. Thomas Merrick) of this town.
"Cottage Hall, Jackson La. "Feb. 8th 1838.
"I have just been out in the ironing house and it is a real curiousity. 4 nursing babes and 8 others from creeping up to 3 or 4 yrs of age. I dont know what will be when summer comes; 6 cradles, and they make the larger ones rock the least now. No one need to say, but that uncles niggers have an easy time."
THE WARNER PAPERS
I have made the following copies from a collection of about a thousand old papers and letters, formerly belonging to
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("Clark") Samuel Warner, and his son, James Warner, now in possession of Edward P. Chapin, 97 Spring Street, Spring- field, Mass.
James Warner was conductor of the mail stage between Boston and New York for a few years, about 1790. The stage line was owned by Pease & Sikes.
On back of old Deed:
"A Recight to make a good ointement for Bruses and maney Sorts of Lamenes-Vis. take spear mint and mutton tallow Simer them togather till Looks green then as much Beas Wax as tallow and as much Rosam as Each of the others and Simer them well. Set it by till it is as Cold so you may have your finger in it then poor in Rum and Stir it to gather till it is Could.
"Take Spere mint & mutten taller Bees wax Rossom Rum as much of one as the other."
"Boston Mar 3rd 1790
Recd of John Templeman
One Hundred Thousand Dollars in old Continental money, One Hundred and Twenty one Dollars in New York new issue? Money and Twenty Dollars in Pensilvania Do. Five Dollars New Jersey Do. All of which I promise to deliver to Mr Ebenezer Thayer in New York."
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