USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 44
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Dr. Brewer was a religious man, and joined the First Church in 1781, and was for many years a deacon. He was also active in civic affairs. With Dr. Moses Morse of Worthington, he was one of the twenty-one members of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774-75, and was one of the two delegates to the first Hatfield Con- vention. He declined to serve as a Representative to the General Court in 1780, and again in 1781.
Slowly but steadily medicine has progressed from the simple practice of those early days of the city to the complex scientific organization which is today serving our population. How Pynchon, Moxon, Glover, or any of these other medical pioneers would marvel if they were to visit in our Springfield of today, any of our five hospitals, approved by the American Medical Association and by the American College of Surgeons. One wonders what future progress in this field of activity the next century will bring forth.
W. Mass .- I-28
CHAPTER XXXIX Famous Folks of Western Massachusetts By L. L. Campbell
M ASSACHUSETTS people are justly proud of the record that the Bay State has made in the last three hundred years in the fields of education, literature, religion, statesmanship, invention and industry. Western Massachusetts has done her full share in establishing this enviable record.
It has been said that if a person stood on the summit of West Mountain in Plainfield and turned to all points of the compass, there would fall within his vision, towns and cities that had been the birth- place or residence at some time in their lives, of more famous men and women than any other area of equal dimensions in the United States.
In compiling this roster of famous people, little or no attention has been paid to chronology, but simply the recording of the fact of the one-time residence of the persons mentioned.
Let us imagine that we are actually standing on the summit of West Mountain. First, we look northward toward the little town of Heath in Franklin County, birthplace of Rev. Joshua Leavitt, a great anti-slavery advocate; associate of William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips. He was both a preacher and an editor. At one time he was editor of an abolitionist publication called the Liberator, and also the Emancipator and later the New York Independent. Mr. Leavitt organized the first Sunday school in Heath that was ever established in this part of the country. Heath was also the home of Col. Hugh Maxwell, an officer in the American Revolution. He took an active part in several battles that finally resulted in the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne to Gen. Gates at Saratoga.
In the same direction a little nearer at hand is the town of Hawley, the birthplace of Jonas King. He learned to read at the bedside of his invalid father. History states that he read the Bible through at the age of five. He was one of the early missionaries to go out from the United States. He labored long among the Greeks and learned the Greek language and wrote several books in the orig- inal Greek. One was a history of Greece and some things in the book offended the people. One day a mob surrounded his house and began
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to threaten him. Finally, he threw an American flag about his shoulders and stepped to the door. Seeing the flag they supposed him to be connected with the United States Government and quickly dispersed. He died in Athens in 1869, and the Greeks erected a monument to his memory.
At the very foot of this mountain stands the little town of Plain- field. One of the outstanding figures in the early days of this town was Rev. Moses Hallock, its first minister. He established the Hallock School where young men were tutored and fitted for college. Most of his students entered Williams, a few went to Yale. The influence of Mr. Hallock upon his young men was so strong that many of them became ministers or missionaries. From the fact that the first mis- sionary meeting ever held in the United States was held on the campus of Williams College, near a haystack, now often referred to as "The Haystack Meeting" attended by five Williams students, some of whom are known to have been students from the Hallock School, would seem to establish the fact that the spirit of American missions was born in Plainfield, Massachusetts.
William Richards, formerly a student at the Hallock School in Plainfield and later one of the Williams College students that partici- pated in the Haystack Meeting, became famous in after years. After his theological course at Andover, he was ordained at New Haven, Connecticut. He married Clarissa Lyman and they sailed as mission- aries for the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaiian Islands) on November 19, 1822. He became influential advisor to the king of the islands and after fifteen' years of civilizing and Christianizing the people, he aided in translating the Bible into their language. He entered the service of the country's government, gave shape and direction to their politics, and prepared a constitution and code of statutes for the nation. This remains a lasting monument to his memory. He was appointed minister plenipotentiary of the King to Europe and the United States. Mr. Richards was accompanied to this country by Prince Haalilio, heir apparent to the throne of Hawaii, and together they visited Plainfield, an event of course of great interest to the townspeople. Among the notable men who attended the Hallock School we find the name of Marcus Whitman, who rode horseback across the country to save Oregon. Also that of Jonas King above mentioned, William Cullen Bryant, one of America's best loved poets. Another notable character of Plainfield was Joseph Beals, immortal- ized by The American Tract Society in a pamphlet called The Moun- tain Miller. He conducted a gristmill in the south part of the town. He was an exceedingly religious man and while the stones were grinding the corn, it was not unusual for him to kneel on the floor of his mill and pray for the soul of his customer in case he was an unconverted man.
Mrs. Martha Lamb, the historian, was born in Plainfield. She wrote several historical books and was editor at one time of The Magazine of American History. She was a member of twenty-seven historical societies.
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Another famous man from this town was Charles Dudley Warner, who was the author of many juvenile books. He was at one time editor of Scribner's Magazine and later the Hartford Courant. Plain- field has sent out a number of missionaries of prominence, David Rood, Stephen Pixley, William Richards and Dr. Lora G. Dyer who is at present in charge of a large hospital in Foochow, China.
Looking now in a northwesterly direction we see the little .town of Savoy the birthplace of Rabbit Maranville the noted baseball player formerly of the National League.
Capt. Jared Hunt House, Westhampton
Turning in a southerly direction, we observe the town of Cum- mington and at once think of the poet Bryant who was born in the Cummington hills. Bryant would have been famous if he had com- posed no other poem than Thanatopsis which was his work when a lad of but seventeen. Many people doubted it could be the work of a boy or even any American poet until the fact was proven. Bryant later became one of our best loved poets.
Cummington was the birthplace of Senator Henry L. Dawes, one of the most influential figures in Washington politics for some thirty years.
This town was also the birthplace of Worcester R. Warner, born in 1846. He spent his boyhood on the farm but was always interested in spy glasses and telescopes and finally became a telescope manu-
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facturer. His company built a thirty-six-inch telescope for the Lick Observatory in California, a sixty-inch for the National Observatory of Argentine and a seventy-two-inch for the government of Canada. Mr. Warner became wealthy and did much for his native town.
Prof. Eugene Lyman a noted educator was a native of Cumming- ton. He is now connected with the Union Theological Seminary in New York.
A little farther in the same general direction our eyes rest on the hills of Worthington, the birthplace of Dr. Russell Conwell- Soldier, Lawyer, Minister, Lecturer, College President, Philanthropist. A captain in the Civil War, he practiced law for a limited time : entered the ministry and for many years was pastor of Grace Baptist Temple, one of the largest churches in Philadelphia. He was one of the most popular lecturers that ever stood on a platform. One of his lectures Acres of Diamonds he gave more than 6,000 times. All money received from his lectures he devoted to the education of poor young men. He established and was president of Temple College in Phila- delphia and he also established Samaritan Hospital in the same city which is a wonderful boon to the poor.
Worthington was the summer home of Judge Elisha H. Brewster of the United States District Court of Massachusetts.
Slightly to the southeast is the town of Chesterfield. W. L. Hig- gins was born in this town. He later removed to Connecticut and there entered upon a political career. For fourteen years he repre- sented his town in the legislature, two years in the state senate, he was Secretary of State for four years and served four years as congressman.
Elijah H. Mills was born in Chesterfield. He was educated at Williams College, studied law and moved to Northampton where he opened his law office. He was later elected to many political offices and was finally elected United States Senator for Northampton.
Toward the west we see the town of Dalton, home of Winthrop Murray Crane, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, United States Sena- tor: Silent, deep thinking, far seeing statesman; seldom if ever making a public speech, yet a statesman of profound influence. Very close friend and advisor of Calvin Coolidge when the latter was climbing the ladder of fame. The paper on which our paper money is printed has for years been made in Dalton in the mill of the Crane family.
Byron Weston was a very widely known manufacturer of this town.
Just beyond Dalton is the town of Hinsdale, birthplace of R. H. White, the Boston merchant. This was also the birthplace of Jessie Snow, the girl who at age fifteen had developed into a wonderful painter without aid of a teacher.
Slightly to the north we see the town of Cheshire. For many years Rev. John Leland a Baptist minister preached here. Leland is the man who went to Virginia to help the Baptists of that state
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in organizing their churches when there was an effort being made to make Episcopal the State Church of Virginia. History states that it was through his influence that a bill was introduced into the Vir- ginia legislature which finally culminated in Congress adopting the amendment to the Constitution known as The Bill of Rights. The Sons of the American Revolution have erected a monument to Leland in Cheshire.
A little to the north lies the town of Adams, one time home of Susan B. Anthony, one of the pioneer advocates of women's suffrage, or Woman's Rights as it was called in her day. Miss Anthony did not live to see her dream come true but she has been immortalized in literature as a book has been published of her life entitled The Woman Who Changed the Mind of a Nation.
Still farther north we see the city of North Adams, birthplace of Hiram Sibley, the first president of the Western Union Telegraph Company. This city was for a time the home of George W. Mowbray who invented nitroglycerin and who superintended its use in the construction of Hoosac Tunnel. Allen B. Wilson inventor of the Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine lived for a time here and built the hotel known as the Wilson House.
A little to the west lies Williamstown, home of Ephraim Williams a colonel in the French and Indian wars. He was in charge of all the forts west of the Connecticut River. Colonel Williams was a very forceful and dominant personality. He founded Williams College in 1793.
Looking due west from our hilltop we see the town of Lanesboro which was the birthplace of Henry W. Shaw, better known as "Josh Billings", who was at once a philosopher and humorist. His books are like a medicine to the despondent. Governor Briggs who at one time was a member of Congress was a native of Lanesboro.
In the same general direction is the city of Pittsfield. In the early days of the town the minister was Rev. Thomas Allen "The Fighting Parson" of the Battle of Bennington. Reverend Allen loved politics, and history tells that the congregation said he preached more politics than gospel. Finally the church was divided. Maj. Gen. Wm. T. Bartlett a very prominent citizen of Pittsfield was several times elected lieutenant governor : a Civil War officer and an able lawyer. Hon. Thomas Plunkett another resident of Pittsfield was a leading cotton manufacturer. He was an intimate friend of President McKin- ley and after the death of the president he caused a Mckinley monu- ment to be erected in his native town of Adams.
A little to the south and closer at hand is the city of Westfield, home of General Shepherd of Revolutionary fame. After the close of that war it was General Shepherd who was in charge of the troops that prevented Shay's Rebellion from capturing the United States Arsenal at Springfield. Westfield was the home of Hon. Frederick H. Gillett who for many years represented the Second Massachusetts District in Congress, was later elected Speaker of the House and
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finally was chosen United States Senator. Westfield was also the home of Gov. Joseph B. Ely. Another prominent citizen of Westfield is Charles M. Gardner. As a young man he was engaged in news- paper work. Later in life for many years he filled the exalted position of High Priest of Demeter, a very high office connected with the National Grange.
Just this side of Westfield is the town of Southampton. This town was for several years, during his boyhood, the home of Rev.
Recorder of Deeds Building, Lanesborough
Washington Gladden, the eminent Congregational clergyman. He has written a number of the favorite hymns in our church hymn books. While a student at Williams College he wrote what was later adopted as the Alma Mater song of the college, The Mountains.
In the same general direction a little nearer is Easthampton, the birthplace of Samuel Williston founder of Williston Academy. He was the son of a minister and grew to be a fine type of a Christian gentleman, of the old school. He became wealthy as a manufacturer and did much good with his money. History tells us that he saved Amherst College when that institution badly needed funds. He also gave generously to Mount Holyoke Seminary in its early days. Another prominent citizen of Easthampton was Lt. Gov. Horatio G. Knight. John Payson Williston the inventor of the well known Paysons Indelible Ink was born in Easthampton in 1803. He was the son of the Rev. Payson Williston, Easthampton's first minister.
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Still nearer in the same direction is the town of Westhampton the birthplace of Sylvester Judd, the historian. Col. Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Boys fame spent some time in this town. Sylvester Judd was at one time part owner of the Hampshire Gazette. Upon the death of his brother he became editor. He was a very exemplary man and his paper reflected his character. No space was given to scandal or idle gossip or even stories. He felt that a newspaper should educate and give moral uplift to the people. At one time the Gazette had the largest circulation in the state with the exception of the Worcester Spy. Sylvester Judd wrote an excellent history of Hadley, Massachusetts, but died before it was published. The manuscripts are the property of the Forbes Library.
Westhampton was the birthplace of Nathan Hale, 2d, nephew of Nathan Hale the Revolutionary martyr. He removed to Boston and became a journalist. Among other papers he published the Daily Advertiser, the first and for many years the only daily newspaper in New England. He was the father of Rev. Edward Everett Hale, the noted Unitarian preacher. Rev. Enoch Hale, a brother of the martyr, was pastor of the Westhampton Church for more than fifty years.
Slightly to the south we see Williamsburg and Haydenville. Collins Graves the hero of the Mill River flood was a resident of this town and his prompt and daring action saved many lives from the rushing waters. William Skinner the silk manufacturer, whose goods are known the world over, was a resident of Haydenville, at the time his factory was destroyed by the abovementioned flood. Another prominent resident of Haydenville was Lt. Gov. Joel Hayden.
Slightly to the east is the city of Northampton and here we find a long list of famous folks. In the colonial period Caleb Strong was a man of great power and influence not only in Northampton but in Massachusetts. Eleven times he was elected governor. A record never excelled and equaled but once, and that by John Hancock who served the same number of terms. Governor Strong was elected a member of the Continental Congress also the Constitutional Con- vention. One of the first United States Senators from Massachusetts. Another outstanding character in those days was Gen. Joseph Hawley, after whom Hawley Street and Hawley Grammar School are named. The Town of Hawley was named for him. .
Soldier-patriot-statesman, friend of Patrick Henry. History states that Hawley was one of the first of the colonists to announce his belief that the colonies should fight for their liberty. One historian states that it was General Hawley who inspired Patrick Henry to make that immortal speech "Give me Liberty or give me Death!" Hawley had much to do with framing the constitution of Massa- chusetts and legislators often turned to him for advice.
Prominent also in those days in Northampton was Gen. Seth Pomeroy. A commanding figure in the Colonial wars. Some one said of him that his presence on a battlefield was worth a regiment of
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soldiers. Not only a great soldier but a blacksmith, a gunsmith and a farmer. General Pomeroy while working in his field, on learning that a battle with the British was imminent, although over seventy years of age, mounted his horse and set out for Boston. He rode all night changing horses of Framingham, reached Bunker Hill in time to take part in the fight. He is buried in Peekskill, New York, but his sword has been given to Seth Pomeroy Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and is kept in the vault of the Forbes Library. For many years Northampton was the home of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, an eminent divine and a profound theologian. While he preached a rather severe doctrine his influence on the people both far and near was very great and he is quoted in many pulpits even today. Parkman the historian, speaking of the eighteenth century, says there were two men already known in Europe, Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards. Historian John Fiske referring to Jonathan Edwards says "He is one of the wonders of the world, probably the greatest intelligence the Western Hemisphere has yet seen." Jonathan Edwards was the minister of Northampton from 1727 to 1750. Born in East Windsor, Connecticut, in 1703; as a child it became apparent that he had a very brilliant mind. He studied Latin at the age of six. When eleven, he wrote a reply to some one who had claimed that the soul of man was material. He entered Yale before he was thirteen and graduated at seventeen, with the highest honors. He remained as a tutor at Yale for two years. In 1727 he married Sarah Pierpont a daughter of a Yale trustee. That same year he was called to the Northampton church. Though he preached an uncompromising doctrine, he developed into a profound theologian as well as a deep student of metaphysics. During the winter of 1734-5 Jonathan Edwards preached a series of evangelistic sermons that caused a great revival of religion not only in America but it spread to Europe. It was referred to as "The Great Awakening". Prominent ministers from far and near even foreign countries came to Northampton to see and talk with Jonathan Edwards. His daughter Esther married Aaron Burr who was president of the College of New Jersey (later called Princeton College). One son was born to them, Aaron Burr 2d. Both parents died while the child was very young. Jonathan Edwards was chosen president of the College of New Jersey but lived but a short time. Death came in 1758 in his fifty-fifth year. This town was the home of Rev. Timothy Dwight a grandson of Jonathan Edwards. A lawyer, a minister who preached for a time in Greenfield Hill, Connecticut, he was finally called to be president of Yale University. He also wrote some of our popular hymns. Another grandson of Jonathan Edwards was Aaron Burr, 2d, who lived in Northampton with his aunt, Mrs. Dwight for a time after the death of his father who had been president of Princeton. In later life Burr was elected Vice President with Thomas Jefferson. Two other famous sons of Northampton were the brothers, Prof. William Dwight Whitney and Josiah Dwight Whitney. Their mother was a sister of Rev. Timothy
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Dwight, president of Yale. Prof. William Whitney became professor of Sanskrit at Yale in 1854. He was president of the American Oriental Society for ten years. He assisted Noah Webster, materially in compiling Webster's Dictionary, much of which work was done in Amherst and Northampton. Later Professor Whitney was editor-in- chief of the Century Dictionary. Professor Josiah Whitney has made valuable geological surveys of Ohio, the Lake Superior region, Missis- sippi and California. In the latter state he calculated the height of what proved to be the highest mountain in the United States, nearly 15,000 ft. and it was named, for the Northampton man, Mount Whitney. Professor Whitney received a part of his education in the Bancroft School on Round Hill. Most people in the United States use Graham flour in one form or another, yet few know or realize the product originated in Northampton, but such was the case. Sylvester Graham, a dyspeptic, lived on Pleasant Street and died there in 1851. He dis- covered that wheat ground to a certain degree of fineness, was not only very nutritious but helpful in digestive trouble. He had a local mill grind wheat in that manner and it was forever called Graham Flour. Sereno Dwight, son of Timothy, born here became president of Hamilton College. Ralph Waldo Emerson was at one time minister of the Unitarian church in this city. William Allen lived at one time on King Street, later became president of Dartmouth and still later president of Bowdoin College. When Northampton celebrated her 200th anniversary in 1854, President Allen gave the principal address. Governor Hunt of Alabama lived here in his boyhood days. Admiral Cook who commanded the Battleship Brooklyn during the Spanish- American War was born on Bridge Street, lived here as a young man and spent his last days at his former home in Northampton. History states that he was a very efficient commander. Franklin Pierce the fourteenth President of the United States lived in North- ampton for a time and obtained his legal education at the law school kept by Senator Mills and Judge Howe. George Bancroft the his- torian conducted a school for young men on Round Hill, attended by several who became famous in later years. Among them, Henry Ward Beecher, Thomas Appleton, brother-in-law of the poet Longfellow, Samuel Ward, brother of Julia Ward Howe. Bancroft was a politician as well as an educator. He served at Secretary of the Navy in the cabinet of President Polk and history informs us that it was largely through Bancroft's influence that the Naval Academy at Annapolis was established. He was the author of an excellent History of The United States. John Clarke, a descendant of the early settler Lt. William Clarke, became wealthy as a merchant in early Northampton and presented Northampton with the iron fence around the Bridge Street Cemetery, the Clarke Library and Memorial Hall and finally endowed Clarke School for the Deaf. Rev. Irving Maurer, former minister at Edwards Church, became president of Beloit in Wis- consin. Rev. Lyman Powell, former rector of St. John's Church was elected president of Hobart College. Professor McCracken of Smith,
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was chosen president of Vassar College. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, was for several years president of Clarke School and spent much time in Northampton. It is said that he obtained some valuable ideas for his invention from his contact with the deaf children. Miss Caroline Yale, for many years principal of Clarke School, was widely known as the foremost teacher of lip reading for deaf mutes. Miss Ada Comstock, for many years con- nected with Smith, was chosen president of Radcliffe College. Prof. J. Seelye Bixler of Smith College was elected president of Colby College. Prof. Laurence Seelye of Smith was chosen president of St. Lawrence College. Judge Charles E. Forbes, who endowed Forbes Library for Northampton, was an honored son of this city. The Forbes Library stands fourth in the state in point of size, and fortieth among the more than seven thousand free public libraries in the United States. Conrad Thibault, the popular concert and radio singer, was born here and graduated from our high school. William Powell, the actor, was a member of the Northampton Players and spent several years here. The most outstanding citizen of Northampton is, of course, Calvin Coolidge, former President of the United States: Quiet, un- assuming, a profound thinker, a wise administrator. From a farm boy, to the highest office within the gift of the people of the most powerful, the richest and withal the most beneficent nation on the face of the earth, he makes a very interesting study. After graduating from Amherst College he began his law studies here in Northampton. His natural modesty is shown by the following: while a law student, the National Society Sons of the American Revolution offered a prize to the young man who would write the best essay on the cause of the Revolutionary War. Calvin Coolidge entered the contest and won the prize. He was so modest that he had not even told his father until the gold medal was discovered in his desk by one of the lawyers with whom he was studying. After his six years in the White House, Calvin Coolidge left the presidency with as universal respect, high regard and untarnished honor as any President in the history of our country. History states that Northampton has furnished more United States Senators than any other city outside of Boston. Caleb Strong, Isaac C. Bates, Elijah H. Mills and Eli P. Ashmun have been elected senators from this city. Northampton has long been and still is the home of many people of literary talent. In addition to historian Bancroft let us add the names of George W. Cable, historian James R. Trumbull, Gerald Stanley Lee, Jeanette Lee, Eve Owen Cochran, Elane Goodale, Grace Hazard Conklin, Earl Looker, and others. Among Northampton boys who have achieved fame in the world of music is Roger Sessions who lived at 109 Elm Street, where his mother was head of a college house. Young Sessions has devoted his life to writing music and has succeeded in producing many com- positions that have received the approval of the most severe critics. Charles Skilton, who formerly lived on King Street after his years at Yale, went to Lawrence, Kansas, and associated himself with the
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