USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 2 > Part 8
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The most noted landmark in the early period of the town's history was the " Hartling stake," which stood near the junction of Main and West streets, or near the northeast corner of the Amherst house. The origin of the name is unknown. Many locality names have been applied to certain sections in the town, some of which have fallen into disuse while others are yet retained. The northeast section is still known
469
LOCAL NAMES.
as the " Flat Hills," as it was in 1738. "Broad Gutter," as a local name in the northern part of the town, has been forgotten. The common at South Amherst was known for many years as "Fiddler's Green," but neither memory nor tradition gives significance to the term. When in the early years of this century the East and West villages were contending for supremacy the local name for the East street was " Sodom " while the West street rejoiced in the name of "Mt. Zion." The section now known as " Mill Valley " was formerly called " Clark's Mills " and at a later date " Mill Hollow." The name of "Factory Hollow" at North Amherst is self explanatory and is of early origin. The Nutting family living in the southeast part of the town gave to that section the name of " Nuttingville." " Hawley Swamp" in the eastern part of the town derives its name from the Hawley family. Kellogg's tool-factory gave the name of " Kellogg- ville " to the thriving settlement about it. The woodland near the Hadley line has long been known as the " West woods." "Pine Hill" is on the Bay road near Hadley line. "Yale Hollow" and " Bartlett's Hollow " are well known to those who have hunted squirrels on the south mountain. The " Devil's Garden " on the mountain road to South Hadley must be seen if the significance of the term would be fully appreciated. "Irish Hill." the " Patch," the "Curry " and " Blackbird's Island" are terms that have a local significance.
PUBLIC SERVICE.
In matters pertaining to the public convenience Amherst has fared full as well as other communities of relative size and importance. Tele- graph communication with the outside world was established in 1861, the first message from Amherst being sent Dec. 9 of that year. The town has now the service of two companies, the Western Union and the Postal. In the fall of 1895; a local telephone exchange was established in Amherst, with some forty subscribers. As early as the days of stage-coaching the town was supplied with an express service ; the character of this service was changed when the first railway line was completed through the town, but has been continued, by different companies, up to the present time. A passenger transfer service between the depots and the Amherst house has been in operation for many years. The first public laundry was established in Amherst in the 'zos by G. W. Arms.
SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS.
Amherst has had an abundant quota of society organizations. many of which have already been considered in this volume under special chapter headings. Two physicians, resident in Amherst, Drs. Isaac G. Cutler and Rufus Cowles, took a prominent part in the organization of the Hampshire
470
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
District Medical society in 1833. Other Amherst physicians have been admitted to this organization as follows: In 1840, Gardner Dorrance ; 1841, S. E. Strong ; 1843; Seth Fish. then of North Hadley, and Israel H. Taylor, then of Pelham; 1852, Benjamin F. Smith ; 1861, Lorin H. Pease ; 1866, D. B. N. Fish and O. F. Bigelow; 1867, John Dole and Edward. R. Lewis; 1874, William Dwight; 1878, Charles W. Cooper ; ISS4, H. H. Seelye ; 1891, H. B. Perry ; 1895, J. Stowell, Jr .; 1896, G. W. Rawson and C. F. Branch. The following Amherst physicians have been fellows of the Massachusetts Medical society : Robert Cutler, Isaac G. Cutler, Rufus Cowles, Seth Fish, Benjamin F. Smith, Edward Hitch- cock, Edward Hitchcock, Jr., D. B. N. Fish.
The Knox Branch of the Washington Benevolent society was in existence in Amherst in IS15 and 1816. Ithamar Conkey, Lucius Bolt- wood and Austin Dickinson served as secretaries of the society in these years. Meetings were held at Boltwood's tavern. This society, while professedly instituted for benevolent objects, was in reality a secret political organization, designed to further the interests of the Federal party. There were county organizations to which the branches in the towns were auxiliary. The organization was a popular one in the New England states.
Pacific Lodge F. and A. M. was chartered June S, ISO1, by the grand lodge of Massachusetts. The petition for a charter was signed by Phineas Hubbard, Roswell Field, Edward Ruggles, Samuel Church, Joseph Willard, Caleb Hubbard, Friend Smith, Rufus Field, David Stockbridge, Cornelius Wells, John Prentiss, William Mather and Elijah Allis. Some of these parties resided in Amherst, others in Leverett, Hadley and Sunderland. The charter gave the lodge permission to hold its meetings in Sunderland, and the first place of meeting was at the hotel of Major Caleb Hubbard at the " Plum Trees." The first officers installed were: W. M., Phineas Hub- bard; S. W., Roswell Field ; J. W., Samuel Church, Jr .; treasurer, Caleb Hubbard ; secretary, David D. Gray; S. D., Rufus Field ; J. D., Beal Crocker ; S. S., Joseph Watson ; J. S., Friend Smith : tyler. Ezra Winslow. Dec. 13, 1802, leave was granted for the lodge to remove from Sunderland to Amherst ; the first meeting-place in Amherst was at the house of Calvin Merrill. Although chartered in ISO1, and working regularly from that time, the lodge was not regularly con'stituted until 1804; Sept. 5 of that year, its officers were installed in public by Solomon Vose, D. D. G. M. Upon the return made to the grand lodge in 1805 is this endorsement :
." The Lodge meets at Bro. Calvin Merrill's hall. Fifty members : 3 Physicians, 2 Gentlemen of Public Education, 2 Merchants, 4 Inn Keepers. 3 Majors, 4 Cap- tains, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Selectmen, 2 Joiners, 2 Hatters. 2 Saddlers, I Goldsmith, 2 Shoemakers, I Clothier, I Cooper, 1 Papermaker, 20 Farmers, I Coroner."
DR RUFUS BELDEN.
NA DR. B. F.SMITH.
DR TIMOTHY J. GRIDLEY.
FISH. DR D. B. N
1.3
DR SETH
FISH.
.
*
471
PACIFIC LODGE.
June 8, 1807, leave was granted for the lodge to remove from Amherst to Leverett, where meetings were held at Lucius Field's hotel ; the lodge remained in Leverett but three months, returning to Amherst in the fall of 1807. On its return, meetings were first held at Baggs' tavern at East Amherst, then at Rufus Kellogg's tavern at the "City," and, later, at Boltwood's tavern at the center village. The lodge prospered until IS27, when, like nearly all lodges in Massachusetts, it succumbed to the Morgan excitement and suspended work, its charter being returned to the grand lodge.
In 1860, a few Masons desirous of reopening the lodge applied to the grand lodge for a dispensation, two of their number, Dr. Seth Fish and Riley Jilson, had been members of the original lodge. The dispensation being granted, the lodge was opened. Some of the furniture of the old lodge, that had been carefully stored away by Elijah Boltwood, was found by Calvin Merrill, secretary of the organization when the charter was sur- rendered in 1827, and by him presented to the new lodge. These relics were repaired and placed in the new hall, where they were used in the work for which they were originally designed. The lodge having worked for one year under a dispensation, the grand lodge was pleased to grant them the old charter, and Sept. 24, 1861, Pacific Lodge was again consti- tuted, its hall dedicated and officers installed. Since that date the lodge has occupied quarters in the upper story of Phoenix Row, the lodge-rooms having been seriously damaged by fire on two occasions.
. Among the earlier members of the lodge the following names are found : Major Melzar Hunt, Capt. Roswell Field, Dr. Samuel Gamwell, John Dickinson, William Delano, David Stockbridge, Zebina Dickinson, Ebenezer Mattoon, Jr., Calvin Merrill, Chester Dickinson, Dr. William F. Sellon, Dr. Silas Ball, Noah D. Mattoon, Rufus Dickinson, Capt. Roswell Dickinson, Capt. Eli Parker, Ithamar Conkey, Justus Williams, Rufus Kellogg, Cummings Fish, Elijah Boltwood.
Wells Lodge No. 140, I. O. O. F. was instituted at Amherst, March 27, IS51, continuing in existence until 1858, when its charter was surren- dered. The officers elected and installed for the term beginning July 1, IS51, were : Noble Grand, Joseph Colton ; Vice Grand, Josiah Ayres ; secretary, Newton Fitch ; treasurer, Samuel Harrington. At the meeting of the grand lodge held in Boston, Aug. 7, 1851, Ithamar F. Conkey was present as the representative of Wells Lodge.
Amherst Grange No. 16, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized Nov. 26, 1873, at Grand Army hall in Amherst. It was chartered by both the State Grange and the National Grange. The number of charter members was 20. The following officers were elected Jan. 1, 1874: Master, J. A. Baker; secretary, C. S. Smith ; treasurer, G. S. Hawley; overseer, E. N.
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472
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Dickinson ; lecturer, Levi Stockbridge ; steward, E. B. Fitts, Jr .; chaplain, P. D. Spaulding; gate-keeper, W. S. Hawley; Ceres, Mrs. A. J. Spear ; Pomona, Mrs. H. D. Dana; Flora, Mrs. C. S. Smith ; stewardess, Miss Anna Stockbridge. After the burning of Grand Army hall in 1879. the Grange met at Harvey White's hall for two years, then at homes of the members until 1886, since which time the meetings have been held in Grange hall. The local Grange became connected with the Connecticut Valley District Grange about 1886, with the Hampshire County Pomona Grange in 1894. The present number of members is 126. For the first year after organization meetings were held weekly; they are how held on the first and third Friday evenings of each month.
The Amherst Club was organized at a meeting held in the district court-room, Jan. 13, 1891, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The club is a social organization, a majority of its membership being made up of young men engaged in business in the village. The club had 51 members on organization. The following officers were the first to serve : President, H. T. Cowles ; vice-presidents, E. M. Spear and L. W. Cornish ; secretary, C. F. Morehouse ; treasurer, E. D. Marsh; executive committee, . E. W. Smith, B. H. Williams. E. B. Dickinson, F. E. Paige, George Cutler, Jr .; finance committee, G. S. Kendrick. W. A. Hunt, W. G. Towne; mem- bership committee, J. B. Paige, Edward Dickinson, E. W. Carpenter. Rooms were engaged in Williams' block and fitted up at an expense of some $2,000. The club now occupies five rooms, handsomely furnished. It is a regularly chartered institution and its present membership is 74.
At a meeting of some 200 women held in the district court-room, Oct. 4, 1893, it was decided to organize a woman's club and a form of associ- ation was agreed upon. The organization was completed at a meeting held Oct. 11, when it was voted to call the new club the " Ramona." The officers elected were : President, Mrs. J. E. Tuttle ; vice-presidents, Mrs. M. L. Todd, Mrs. S. T. Maynard ; secretary, Mrs. E. C. Field ; treasurer, Mrs. W. W. Hunt ; auditor, Mrs. Levi Stockbridge. Each member joined one or more of the several committees into which the club is divided, each meeting of the club being in charge of some one committee. A short time after organization, it was voted to change the name from the "Ramona " to the " Amherst Woman's Club." Meetings were held for a time in the Baptist church vestry, but now in the 'district court-room the first and third Monday afternoons in each month. The present membership of the club is about 165.
At a meeting held Feb. 19, 1890, Eagle Lodge of the New England Order of Protection was organized in Amherst. The officers chosen were : Warden, Charles E. Wilson ; past-warden, F. D. Cook ; vice-warden, H. L. Ufford; secretary, Howard Merritt; treasurer, Quartus Leach ; chap-
473
BOARD OF TRADE.
lain, H. L. Macomber ; guide, J. E Bement ; financial secretary, M. A. Dickinson ; trustees, F. D. Cook, J. F. Gilbert, Charles Parents. The organization has prospered from the beginning ; its meetings are held in Grange hall the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month.
The Amherst Board of Trade was organized at a meeting held at the district court-room, Jan. 29, 1891. Fifty-nine persons signed the articles of association and a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The officers elected were : President. F. E. Whitman : vice-president. George Cutler, Jr .; secretary, C. F. Morehouse : treasurer, Henry Adams ; auditor. H. T. Cowles ; directors, C. S. Smith, John Mullen, E. D. Marsh, E. M. Spear, H. M. McCloud. In the spring of 1892, the Board had printed and dis- tributed a large edition of a finely-illustrated pamphlet, calling attention to the many attractions of Amherst as a place either for summer resort or for permanent residence. An unsuccessful attempt was made to secure the establishment in the town of some new manufacturing enterprises. Since 1892, money has been spent by the organization in advertising the town's attractions in the newspapers, and, during the past year, in determining the numbers of houses in the free postal delivery district and in carrying on the work preliminary to the organization of the Amherst & Sunderland street railway company. The Board of Trade has, however, ceased to be an active factor in the town's affairs.
The Rod and Gun club was organized March 13, ISSS, with 42 mem- bers. The officers first elected were : President, H. E. Wheeler ; secre- tary and treasurer, Henry Adams; executive committee, John C. White, J. W. Howland, C. M. Osgood.
The Nonotuck Cycle club was organized May 16, 1895. Its officers first elected were: President, M. E. Hurley ; vice-president. A. F. Mitten : secretary and treasurer, G. O. Pierce ; executive committee, H. D. Hol- land, A. F. Mitten, G. O. Pierce, M. E. Hurley ; captain. Edward Fisher. The club occupies neatly furnished rooms in Kellogg's block.
The Amherst Indian Association was organized Dec. 1, 1890.
474
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
CHAPTER LIV.
AMHERST IN THE CIVIL WAR .- ACTION TAKEN BY THE STATE GOVERN- MENT .- THE RAISING OF TROOPS. - REGIMENTS IN WHICH AMHERST MEN SERVED .-- MASS MEETINGS AND FLAG-RAISINGS IN AMHERST .- RAISING MEN AND MONEY .- DEATH OF ADJU- TANT STEARNS .- AMHERST MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE EARLY BATTLES OF THE WAR.
Every citizen of Amherst may take just pride in the part borne by the town in the war for the preservation of the Union. From that day of national sorrow when the first rebel gun was fired upon Fort Sumter until that greater day of national rejoicing which gave to the name Apo- mattox a proud place in history, the town of Amherst responded loyally, willingly, gladfully to every demand upon its resources of men and money and supplies, to aid in crushing out the great rebellion. The descendants of men who had fought in the old French and Indian wars, and of others who had served under Putnam and Greene and Gates and Schuyler, shouldered their muskets and did valiant service in preserving the nation which their ancestors had founded. As between the war of the Revolution and the civil war there was this important point of difference: In the earlier contest, the patriots were assailed by enemies at home as well as in hostile armies ; in the later, the loyalty and devotion of those who marched and bivouacked and fought in the Union armies was but the fruitage of a patriotism that pervaded the community; Amherst had no " Tories " in 1861 and the years that followed. In the succeeding pages an attempt is made to record the doings of those men who served for Amherst in the Union armies, and of the town they represented. To make this record complete and intelligible, it is necessary to refer in a general way to action taken by the state at various times during the war.
April 15, 1861, Gov. John A. Andrew received a telegram from Wash- ington, calling upon Massachusetts to furnish 20 companies of men to serve for three months in the Union army. He at once ordered the com- manders of the 3d, 4th, 6th and Sth regiments of state militia to muster their troops and report at Boston. These regiments were made up of companies located in towns and cities in the eastern part of the state : Western Massachusetts was not called upon to play a part in the opening act of the great war drama. The first troops to reach Boston in answer to this summons were three companies of the Sth regiment from Marblehead.
475
MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTS.
which arrived on the morning of the 16th. The same day came an order from the war department at Washington for Massachusetts to furnish four regiments of infantry, to serve three months. The first to leave the state was the 3d regiment, which embarked from Central Wharf in Boston on the 17th and sailed to Fortress Monroe. The same day the 4th regiment sailed from Boston, and was the first loyal regiment in the war to land on the soil of Virginia. The 6th and 8th regiments left Boston by rail, the first on the 17th, the second on the following day. The 6th was attacked by a mob in Baltimore and had to fight its way through the city, three of its men being killed, the first lives sacrificed in defence of the national capital. The 5th regiment, three-months troops, left Boston by rail April 21, arriving at Annapolis on the 24th and taking part in the first battle of Bull Run, July 21.
Early in May the authorities at Washington reached the conclusion that the rebellion could not be suppressed in three months, and decided to enlist no more men for short terms of service. The next call for troops specified that they should serve for three years or during the war. Under date of May 15, Simon Cameron, secretary of war, addressed a letter to Gov. Andrew, notifying him that Massachusetts' quota of three-years' troops would be six regiments of infantry. Acting under these instructions, the 1st, 2d, 7th, 9th Ioth and 11th regiments were promptly recruited, mustered in and forwarded to the front. Four of these regiments contained men who served on Amherst's quota, the 2d, 9th, roth and 1 1th. The 2d regiment, recruited at West Roxbury, left Boston July 8. The 9th regiment, composed of men of Irish birth and their immediate descendants, was recruited on Long Island in Boston Harbor and left Boston June 24. The roth regiment was recruited at Springfield, the only regiment raised in Western Massachusetts under this call, and left Boston by boat, July 25. The 11th regiment was recruited at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor and left for Washington June 24.
June 17, a letter was addressed to Gov. Andrew, under direction of the war department, giving him authority to forward ten more regiments of three-years' men. In accordance with these instructions, eighteen regiments of infantry, numbered consecutively from 12 to 29 inclusive, together with one regiment of cavalry, were organized and forwarded to Washington in 1861 and the opening months of 1862. Of these regiments the following contained men who served on Amherst's quota : 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22d, 27th, 28th and the ist cavalry. The 14th regiment was recruited at Fort Warren and left Boston for Washington Aug. 7. It was afterwards changed to an artillery regiment, being known during the war as the ist regiment Massachusetts heavy artillery. The 15th regiment was recruited in Worcester county and left for Washington Aug. 8. It bore a
476
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
prominent part in the battle of Ball's Bluff. The 18th regiment was recruited at Camp Readville, near Boston, and left for Washington Aug. 24. The 19th regiment was recruited in Essex county, leaving for Washington Aug. 28. The 20th regiment, recruited at Camp Readville, left for Washington Sept. 4 and took part in the battle of Ball's Bluff. The 21st regiment was recruited at Camp Lincoln in Worcester, being one of five regiments recruited for special service ; it left the state Aug. 22. The 22d regiment, recruited at Lynnfield, left the state Oct. S. The 27th regiment, composed of troops from the four western counties, was recruited at Springfield and left the state Nov. 2d. The 28th regiment was recruited at Cambridge and did not leave the state until January, 1862. Its officers and men were chiefly of Irish birth and descent. The Ist cavalry was recruited at Readville and left for Annapolis, in December, 1861. Of the upwards of 30,000 troops which Massachusetts gave to the Union armies in 1861, 85 were residents of Amherst or credited on her quota. Of these, one was enlisted in the 2d regiment, 11 in the roth, 2 in the 15th, I in the 18th, 2 in the 20th, 14 in the 21st, 49 in the 27th, I in the 2Sth, 3 in the 31st and I in the ist cavalary.
When, on April 17, 1861, news was received in Amherst that the rebels had fired upon Fort Sumter, the students of Amherst College were the leaders in a patriotic demonstration. A meeting was held at the college chapel in the afternoon, which was opened with prayer by President Stearns. The Declaration of Independence was read by Prof. William S. Clark and the congregation united in singing the hymn "America." At the close of the exercises the stars and stripes were raised above the chapel tower. April 22, a citizens' mass meeting was held at Agricultural hall, at which I. F. Conkey, Esq. presided. A committee of five, consist- ing of George Cutler, Austin Eastman, Henry F. Hills, Capt. Simeon Clark and Harlan Pomeroy was appointed to report business for the meeting. They prepared and presented the following resolutions :
" Resolved, As the sense of this meeting, That it is the duty and privilege of the citizens of this Town in the present dangerous condition of our National affairs to make immediate suitable provisions for the organization and outfit of a Military Company for the protection of our Government.
Resolved, That it is the sense that a legal meeting of the town be immediately called to take action on this subject.
Resolved, That a committee be chosen to make immediate arrangements for the enlistment of a Company of Volunteers."
Having passed these resolutions by unanimous vote, the following were appointed members of a committee to arrange for securing volunteers : Dr. H. A. Howe, A. R. Cushman, John H. Haskins, E. B. Lovett, J. E. Merrick. The meeting was addressed by Rev. George Cooke and Hon.
477
TOWN MEETINGS.
Edward Dickinson. April 20, Porter Dickinson raised a flag above his machine-shop at East Amherst, in presence of some 75 people, and also fired a salute of 34 guns. April 22, a beautiful American flag was raised over L. M. Hills & Son's hood-shop, in presence of fully 1,000 spectators. The Declaration of Independence was read by Hon. I. F. Conkey and prayer was offered by President Stearns and Prof. W. S. Tyler. The exercises were followed by a parade of the young women employed in the shop, carrying small flags, through the village streets. April 22, Prof. W. S. Clark went to Boston, to see what arrangements could be made to equip a company of volunteers if one should be raised at the college. April 23, there was a flag-raising at Cooke's female school, the flag having been made by the pupils. College students were present and took part in the exercises, which included singing and the firing of a salute. The committee appointed to raise a volunteer company met April 23 and chose H. A. Howe chair- man. Posters calling for volunteers were printed and freely distributed. The committee made its headquarters at the Amherst house. Fourteen persons enlisted the first day.
A special town-meeting was held May I, at which the selectmen were authorized to borrow $5,000 for military purposes, as recorded on page 247 of the Town Meeting Records printed in this volume. April 27, there was a flag-raising at North Amherst, a handsome banner being raised on a new staff 100 feet in height, in presence of a large and enthu- siastic gathering. The buildings in the village were handsomely decorated in honor of the occasion, and patriotic addresses were delivered by Hon. Charles Delano, Rev. D. H. Rogan, Rev. George Cooke, Rev. J. O. Peck and others. The assessors in 1861 returned on the militia roll of the town 363 able-bodied men, between 18 and 45 years of age, and before the close of the year nearly 25 per cent. of this number had enlisted in the service. No bounties were paid by the town in 1861, but in July of that year Rev. J. L. Merrick of the South parish offered $5 to every single man and $10 to every married man who enlisted from his parish. Mr. Merrick paid out in the course of the year $145, others in the South parish $75, and subscriptions in other parts of the town brought the amount up to $566.50, out of which $5 was paid to every Amherst member of Co. D, 27th regiment. The earlier volunteers were unwilling to wait until a regiment should be formed in this section. The first Amherst man to be mustered into service was Charles F. Kellogg, who joined the 2d regiment, and was mustered in May 25. In June, eleven Amherst men were mustered into the roth regiment, the first recruited in Western Mas- sachusetts ; most of these were attached to Co. C, the Northampton company. In July, two Amherst men were mustered into the 15th regiment. In August, 15 Amherst men were mustered, one in the 18th and 14 in the
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