^
u^
^i^cruyiy^^^^
it I
Town
ST
11
Y
of Plainfield,
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY,
From
its
MASS.,
Settlement to 1891,
INCLUDING A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF TWENTY-THREE (W
THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS,
WITH ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES.
BY CHARLES
N.
DYER.
NORTHAMrTON, MASS.
:
PRESS OF GAZETTE PRINTING
1891,
CO.
PREFACE
No
history of
tlie
town having heen pnhlished
by Dr. Jacob Porter
in
18;>-l-,
it
seemed to
proper that another shonhl be written.
being
m my care made
it
me
since that
desirable and
The
ohl
an easy matter to refer
constantly in compiling this work.
records
them
to
believed that
It is
all
dates given can be relied on as accurate, being taken from
The
the original records, with very few exceptions.
tory by Dr. Porter has been of great assistance.
also
obtained some facts from the
I
his-
have
Hampshire County
Gazetteer, and also from an article in the " Magazine of
American History,"
Lamb.
I
am
of
March,
1887,
by Mrs. Martha
J.
also indebted to Mr. Levi Clark. Mr. Levi N.
Campbell, Mr. Chas.
mation furnished.
Lyman Shaw, and
others, for infor-
The genealogical record
of
some
of
the original settlers has been omitted because their de-
scendants have
all
long since removed or deceased,
—and
others l^ecause their records are very imperfect.
The
]ilates
birthplace,
of portrait of
Charles Dudley Warner, his
and the present church and town
kindly loaned by Messrs. Wade,
Warner
tors of " Picturesque Hampshire," for
&
hall
were
Co., pro])rie-
us(^ in tliis
work.
-^
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
I.
Extent. — Boundaries, Angles and Mea.surements.— HuRFAfE.—
Streams and Ponds.— Pish.— Minerals.— Soil.— Productions.— Timueh.
Situation and
CHAPTER
Early
Civil
FiR.ST
Historv.--''
II.
Hatfield
Town Meeting. —
Ei^uivalent."
Subsecjuent Meetings.
Clerks.— Representatives
in
— Grants. — First Settlers. —
— List of Selectmen. — Town
General Court.
CHAPTER
III.
Church History.- Early Ministers. — Organization of Fir.st Church.— List of
Original Members.— First Meeting-House.— Price of Materials.— Plan of
Interior.— Dedication.— Belfry and Bell.— Sundry Items.— Call and Settlement OF Rev. Moses Hallock. — Installation.— Entertain.ment.
CHAPTER
IV.
Sketch op Rev. Moses Hallock. — His School.— Anecdotes.— Colleague Called.
-Rev. Dana Goodsell.— " Stop that Preparation." — His Succe.s.sors.— Deacons. — Present Meeting-House. — Daniels Fund.— Organization of First Parish. — Baptist Society. — Advent Chapel.
CHAPTER
V.
— First
Location op Houses. — Number Increased. — Reduced in Number
AND Re-located.— " Moving Committee."— I.xcidents of Removing. — District
System. — List of School Committee.— Statistics. — Names of Present Pupils
IN the Public Schools.
Schools.
CHAPTER
VI.
Town Hall.— Roads.— Early Modes
of Travel.— Lost in the Woods. — Early
Bridge Building. — Present System of Repairing Roads.— Road Commissioners. — Names op Streets. — Post Offices. — Postmasters. — First Mail Supply.
— Present Mail Facilities.— Early Rates op Po.stage.
CHAPTER
VII.
Cemeteries. — Bill of Mortality. — List of Aged Deceased. — suicides. — Sudden
Deaths.
CHAPTER
VIII.
Stores and Manufactures. — John Mack. — I. K. LiNcor.N and Others. — Jacob
AND Levi Clark. — Leonard Campbell. — Stores at Present Time. — Robinson's
Corn Mill. — Warner, Whiting & Co.— Streeter's Factory.— Tannery.— Other Manufactures.
CHAPTER
IX.
Physicians.— Dr. Torrey.— Dr. Porter.— Dr. Samuel Shaw.
ER."— Later Practitioners.— Justices of the Peace.
CHAPTER
Hit Him Anotii-
X.
Rkvolutionary Pensioners.— Soldiers of 1812.— Arth.lery Company —List of
Soldiers in War of the Rebellion.— Deaths Among.— G. A. R. Post.
CHAPTER XL
College Graduates and Professional Men.
CHAPTER
^
XII.
Census.— Valuation.— List op Voters.— Political Parties.— Campaign of
Bits from the Old Records.— Incidents and Reminiscences.— Fires.
CHAPTER
1840.
XIII.
Persons Now Living Here Over 75.— Foreigners.— Old Houses.— General Type
—Original Dwellings Now Standing.— Singing Schools.- " The Old Village
Choir."— Dramatic Club.— " Saddle the Dogs.'-- Contrast.
INDEX OF GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
Ebenezer Bisbee.
Isaac Joy.
Joseph Beals.
John Campbell.
Abram Clark.
Jacob Clark.
Jacob Nash.
Barnabas Packard.
James Richards.
Josiah Shaw.
Samuel Streeter.
Josiah Torrey.
Amos Tirrell.
EiLJAH Warner.
Caleb White.
David Whiton.
Andrew Cook.
Jesse Dyer.
Joseph Gloyd.
Moses Hallock.
John Hamlen.
Jacob Jones.
Jacob Whitmarsh.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Charles N. Dyer.
First Meeting House.
Plan of Interior.
Church and Town Hall.
Mill of Mountain Miller.
Dr. Samuel Shaw.
Charles Dudley Warner.
His Birthplace.
Levi N. Campbell.
Louis L. Campbell.
Leavitt Hallock.
Freeman Hamlen.
CHAPTER
I.
Situation and Extent.— Boundaries. Angles and Mkasurements.— Surface.—
Streams and Ponds. Pish. — Minerals.— Soil. — Production-s.— Timber.
—
situated in the extreme north-west cunnier
Plciiiilield is
of
Htunpshire
N(n-th;im|)ton.
County,
twenty mik^s north-west from
an area of about twenty S(|uare
It lias
miles, measuring- al)out live miles east
miles north and south.
It
west,
and four
b(junded on the north
is
Hawley, east by Ashfield, both
and
in
l^y
Franklin Co., south by
Cummington, and west by Windsor and Savoy, both in
Berkshire Co. According to a survey made l)y Eliphalet
Darling in IHol, by order of the General Court, the boundary lines and angles are as follows
Beginning at the
which is nearly a mile north of Edward
W. Mason's, where A. N. Remington formerly lived,
thence running E. 11)° S. four miles, ol4 rods to the N.
E. corner, this line being the boundary between Hawley
and Plainlield. The N. E. corner is about \'-io rods north
of the f(n'mer residence of L. N. Campbell, where G. W.
Billings now lives.
From this corner, the boundary beN.
W.
tween
Ashfield and
thence
S.
oiY
S.
1!»°
thence
:
corner,
E.
20'
Plainfield runs S.
12:3
W.
rods, thence E.
401
17°
1!)°
rods, thence S. oO' E.
to the S. E. corner, this being also the S.
Ashfield.
The N.
E. corner of
three-fourths of a mile east of
ment marking the
S.
W.
20' S.
W.
Cummin,gton
this corner.
E. corner of
217 rods,
85 rods,
517 rods
corner of
is
about
Tln^
monu-
Plainlield.
is
a))ont
HISTORY OF PI.AINFIELD.
8
mile N. E. of tlie house of James W.
boundary between Cummington and Plainruns from this corner, W. 17° S. 195 rods, thence
tliree-foiirtlis of a
Loud.
field
W.
20°
Tlie
N.
Hill.
line,
This corner
a mile N.
in
miles and four rods to the
five
and Windsor
W.
is
in a small
S.
W.
summit
running over the
mow
lot
corner
of
Deer
not quite half
Brown Paper Co.
The boundary between Windsor
of the mill of the L. L.
West Cummington.
and Plainfield runs from this C(jrner N. 18° W. two miles
and 287 rods to a monument which marks the N. E.
corner of Windsor. This is about fifty rods S. of Geo.
Thence running
A. Blanchard's.
W.
18° N. 160
rods to
Savoy line. This corner is ab(jut sixty rods S. of Edward W. Mason's, and not far from the South Pond in
Windsor. The line between Savoy and Plainfield runs
from this corner N. 18° E. one mile to the place of beginning. These lines are perambulated and the marks
and bounds renewed whenever necessary by the Selectmen of Plainfield in company with the Selectmen of the
adjoining town, once in five years, according
to
law.
—
The Ashfield line was last run Nov. 15, 188G Cummington and Windsor in Oct. 1888 Savoy, Nov. 0, 1800 Haw-
—
—
ley,
Nov.
any
of the adjoining towns.
17, 18!)0.
near the house of
Plainfield
Wm.
C.
was incorporated
later
than
The geographical center
is
Whiting.
SURFACE.
This township
Mountains.
lies
It is
on the eastern side
of
the Green
divided into two nearly equal portions
by Mill Brook, the largest stream in town, which risingHawley line, flows S. W. and S. and empties into
the north branch of the Westfield in Cummington, a few
near
SURFACE.
rods east of the "Otis"
bridge.
traverse the town from north to
9
Two
ranges
of
liills
south on each side of
Mill brot)k, the highest points of these ranges being about
equi-distant fr(nn the brook and the eastern and western
The west range
boundaries of the town.
higher than the
follows, beginning at the north.
from the
the
its
of
which
the fact that Samuel
claimed
of
runs through
their
this is
known.
who
This house we believe
si)ot.
it.
in
Hill.
2020
large
numbers
The Beals however always
so called,
of deer
made
it
see
tradition says,
because
their headquarters in the
from West and Deer
and our summer residents never
in N. H.
South
Magnificent views are to be obtained from
their summits, particularly
may
on the
life
standing; the
residence and voted in Plainfield.
feet high,
earlier times.
them
spent his
is still
Bond Hill, the origin of the name l)eing unThen West Mountain, 21 (iO ft. — the highest
Further south is Deer
Western Hampshire.
point
of
Hawley,
Beals, one
well up toward the sum-
(jn it,
mit, as well as his son Dennis,
line
as
The heights given are
across the line in
just
is
name from
of the early settlers lived
same
town
named
Beals Hill, 1980 feet high,
late ofhcial survey.
summit
derived
considerably
is
east, the highest points being
for that
purpose.
Haystack Mt.
in the
fail to visit
one or more
Standing on these
in Vt.
on the north,
north-east, Mt. Lincoln
in
Hills,
hills,
one
Monadnock
Pelliam on
the east, Chester and Blandford on the south. Saddle Mt.
in the north-west and Hoosac Mt., under which passes
the famous Hoosac Tunnel. With a good field-glass one
may
many other x)oints of interest. The east
much broader than the west, forming a gently
discover
range
is
undulating table land, which decreases in breadth toward
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
10
the soutli part, and ends abruptly near the Cuunnington
line.
The only abrupt elevation on
this slopes gently south
the range.
is
and
this range,
east, is at the
and even
north end of
proposed to name this elevation, which
It is
1900 feet high, Mt. Warner, in honor of Charles
Dud-
Warner, who was born and reared on its heights.
this east range the town undoubtedly derives its
name. It is nearly two miles in breadth at the widest
part, and falls toward the south at the rate of about 100
ley
From
The
feet to the mile.
on the western
man Hamlen,
village
The house
slope.
in the
is
built
near the top and
of the late Dea. Free-
upper part of the
village, is just
1700 feet above sea level.
STREAMS AND PONDS.
The principal streams besides Mill Brook, are Meadow
brook and " the Grant " brook. The former is made by
the union of
three small
streams which take their rise
on the old Ebenezer Nash farm, a short distance east of
and flowing south-east passing near
Russell Tirrell's,
Wm.
H. Dyer's and No.
into the Westfield at
brook, so called because
land
speak
known
later,
as
it
its rise
L.
finally
empties
Village.
The Grant
passes through
the tract of
Wain Wright's
takes
occupied by A.
2 school-house,
Cummington
grant,
of
which we
on the 'Squire Clark
shall
place,
now
Richmond, and flowing south-east
through "the Hollow" near David Packard's and Samuel Parker's, enters a corner of Ashfield, thence to
mington, where
it
becomes the north branch
of
CumSwift
River, em|)tying into the Westfield at Swift River P. O.
The town abounds
in
durable
springs and
nearly
dwelling-houses, and also barns, are supplied from
all
them
STREAMS AND PONDS.
water.
witli ruiiiiiiig
upper village
Tlie
from a never
an aqueduct
11
failing*
half a mile
north; the lower village from several springs.
pipes
made from spruce
many
ameter, are in
When
laid in
trees
instances
five or
used
Wooden
inches in di-
six
for
by
sup})lied
is
spring,
an
aqueduct.
wet or moist ground, they often
last until
worn through l)y the action of the water.
There are two natural ponds, the North and Crooked,
both in the north-west part of the town. The North
pond is about a mile long and half a mile in width in
the widest part. The outlet is in a northerly direction
and empties into the Deerfield river above Charlemont,
while the waters of the Crooked pond, which takes its
name from its form, flow south-westerly into tlie South
])on(l
Windsor,
in
which
branches of the Westfield
is
the
river.
head of one of the
Both the
first
ponds are on high land and the outlet streams
fall
very
The Crooked pond though only three-fourths
ra])idly.
from the South pond,
of a mile
higher.
named
The North pond
is
a
is
probably 200 feet
much handsomer body
water than the Crooked, the shores for the most
of
part
being hard and gravelly, while those of the Crooked are
muddy, the waters being shallow and dotted with stumps,
Both have been raised somewhat by dams. These })onds
contain pickerel and perch. The pickerel increase but
slowly, from the
fact
young.
sort of
It
almost any
is
fisli
a
that
it
fresh
smaller than
devours nearly
all of its
water shark, feeding on
itself.
One specimen caught
on being opened was found to contain another recently
The writer
believes that stocking these i)onds with pickerel was a
great mistake. The North pond was the natural home
swallowed, and this contained a third one.
HISTORY OF PLAINPIELD.
12
tlie trout, and if tlie pickerel had not been introduced,
might now under tlie protection of the hsh and game
laws, have been well filled with this most desirable fish.
Perch were introduced into these ponds about twenty
years since, and have now become plentiful. Nature has
furnished them with weapons which enable them to
successfully defend themselves and their young from the
attacks of the pickerel. They are easily taken with hook
of
it
and
line,
while the pickerel are only caught by the ex-
pert angler, and l)ut seldom
ful
mode
of capturing the pickerel
hooks being
in holes cut
set
method, however,
success-
practiced in winter,
is
through the
the ice be thick
if
The most
by him.
is
This
ice.
attended with con-
hoped that some time in the fuwholly
exterminated from these ponds.
ture they may be
siderable labor.
It is
The various streams are moderately well stocked with
trout,
and
if
they were absolutely protected throughout
the year for four or five years they would attain considerable size and numbers.
MINERALS AND
Dr. Porter, in his history of the
gives a
full treatise
the writer
is
subjects will
on
its
SOIL.
town
be omitted in this work.
wishes information on these topics,
which are
As
neither a geologist or mineralogist, these
refer to "Porter's
of
publislied in 1834,
geology and mineralogy.
still
I
Any
one
who
would respectfully
History of Plainfield," several copies
preserved in town and elsewhere.
will only say that with one exception
I
no valuable min-
have been discovered here, at least not in sufficient
quantities to be of any commercial value. The exception
erals
referred to
is
manganese or oxide
of
manganese.
This
is
Minerals and
found in the southwest part of
Wm.
soil.
tlie
1,^
town, on the farm of
H. Packard, and also on Allen Thayer's,
It was
some extent on the Packard farm years ago,
is understood that it was found in paying quantities, but for some reason the enterprise was abandoned.
Outside parties have recently leased a portion of the farm
for this purpose, and will soon commence (Operations.
mined
and it
to
Iron ore, said to be of superi<jr quality, has l)een dug on
the old Robinson place,
now owned by Allen
about one and one-half miles west of the village,
Tliayer,
has
luit
Some years
was discovered on West Hill, in the dirt thrown
out by a woodchuck in digging his hole. It was afterward ascertained, however, that the "claim" had been
not yet been developed in paying (juantities.
since gold
"salted" with small specimens of genuine California
by a young man
living in the vicinity,
create a little excitement.
varying in different
The
localities.
It
soil
is
ore,
who wished
to
a heavy loam,
has become somewhat
exhausted, and produces good crops only by the use of
which in early times were not considered essenflax was then raised without fertilizers, the
ground being sown for several years in
of
same piece
fertilizers,
tial.
Much
many instances. Flax being a very exhaustmuch of the land on which it was raised has
succession in
ing crop,
never recovered
its fertility.
PRODUCTIONS AND TIMBER.
Corn, oats, barley, rye and buckwheat are successfully
raised, as well as all kinds of
garden vegetables, with the
exception of onions and melons.
be affected l)y rot that they are
certain crop.
Potatoes are so
now
lial)le
to
C(jnsidered a very un-
Fifty or sixty years ago the price of corn
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
14
dollar per bushel, varying bnt little
was one
from that
Nearly all the corn was raised at home, very little
any being brought into town. It was nearly all used
for food, it being almost an unheard of thing to feed corn
A little was fed
or Indian meal to neat stock or horses.
price.
if
Considerable quantities of corn are
to swine.
which
used green as feed for milch cows, or cured for
is
winter use.
also used as ensilage to a limited ex-
It is
tent, a
few of the farmers having built
pose.
By using
duced on an
The western
for this
now sown,
fertilizers,
and
acre,
or
'
'
many
it is
horse tooth " variety
The exhausted condition
essary for farmers to
month
of
pur-
considered a profitable crop.
purpose, though sweet corn
after the
silos for that
tons of this can be pro-
of our
is
is
generally sown
sometimes used.
pastures makes
it
nec-
produce some green crop to be used
August
as feed for milch cows.
As
yet no fertilizers are applied to pastures, being used only
on
field
ows.
and garden crops, and as top-dressing
The native
for
mead-
trees are principally maple, beech, birch,
cherry, ash, hemlock and spruce.
Elm,
bass, poplar, pine
and balsam are occasionally met with, but are not as common as the first named. Each of the first five are found
Oak, chestnut and
in two or more distinct varieties.
hickory do not grow in the limits of the town. The writer
informed by an old resident, that so far as known, only
one chestnut tree has ever arrived at maturity here. This
is
stood about half a mile north of the meeting-house, but
was struck by lightning and destroyed many years since.
Very little of the original growth of timber is now standing, though first growth rock maples are still quite common, and a few beeches yet remain. Scarcely any first
quality spruce lumber is now produced in town. Enough
PRODUCTIONS AND TIMBER.
l5
second quality may be liad for such dimension lumber and
rough boarding as are needed by the inhabitants for
Finishing lumber, clapboards and
building purposes.
shingles are mostly obtained from lumber dealers in the
Clajiboards from native bass are occasion-
larger towns.
Hard wood lands wlien
ally used.
ing, are soon covered
cleared witliout burn-
with a growth of spruce and hemlock,
while soft wood lands cleared in the same way, are apt to
spring up to cherry, white birch or poplar.
hard body wood
first
is
$3 per cord,
delivered.
The price for
One of the
things attended to by the early settlers after being
comfortably located, was the setting out of an apple orchard.
Many
These in most cases flourished and bore fruit well.
of these produced only natural fruit, a part only
being grafted.
of cider
the
the natural fruit great (quantities
were manufactured, every farmer putting into
cellar
barrels,
From
for use during the year at least six or eight
and many a much larger quantity. Some of these
still remain and the site of some of the
ancient apple trees
old houses
is
marked by the proximity
of a
few
of these
Other orchards have taken their places, and the
town now produces of grafted fruit in an average year,
trees.
more than double enough
On
for the use of the inJiabitants.
account of the elevated situation, grapes
and peaches
do not thrive. Pears do rather better. Blackberries
grow wild in abundance. Raspberries and wild strawberries are less plenty.
"
CHAPTER
II.
Early Civil History. — "Hatfield
— First
—
Settlers.—
Selectmen.— Town
Equivalent." Grants.
First Town Meeting. Subsequent Meetings.— List of
Clerks. Eepre.sentatives in General Court.
—
—
5, whicli included both Cunimington
was sold at public vendue, June 2, 1763,
at the "Royal Exchange Tavern in King St.," Boston,
to John Cummings, for 1800 pounds, he paying twenty
pounds down and giving a bond for the remainder. At
a division of lots, Dec. 29, 1762, the names of twenty-seven
others are recorded as having become proprietors. March
16, 1785, the north part of Cummington was set off and
Plantation No.
and
Plainfield,
incorporated as the District of Plainfield.
It
appears that
the state for some public service performed had given a
certain tract of land to the
town
This land
of Hatfield.
was afterwards incorporated into the area of other towns,
and a section north and west was given to Hatfield in its
stead.
This latter was
Plantation No.
5,
known
as
'
when surveyed, was found
large part of this " Equivalent."
of this tract
Hatfield Equivalent.
'
were
I
am
What
to include a
the exact limits
unable to ascertain.
It
was prob-
ably as large as an ordinary township, and extended north
into the east part of
Hawley, lieyond the southwest corner
Buckland and possibly to Charlemont. In shai)e it
was irregular, the south part extending further west than
of
the north part.
Frequent mention
the early town records and deeds.
(16)
is
made
of the tract in
It is certain that it ex-
HATFIELD EQUIVALENT.
tended soutli within half a mile
The farm
line.
at least of Ciunniin,i;toii
John Hanilen, now
of
17
occni)ie(l
hy E. A.
Atkins, the farm of Marshall Stetson, and also that of
Ebenezer Nash, lying east of Rnssell
scribed in the several
are de-
Tirrcdl's.
deeds as consisting- of certain
designated by number,
of Hatfield
Burroughs, who lived just north of
J.
W.
lots<
Simon
Eciuivalent.
Sears,
is
nuMi-
"At
tioned as being a resident of Hatfield Eciuivalent.
a Legal
Meeting
Plainfield, at
of
Samuel
the Inhabitants of the
Streetor's l)arn, on the
District of
twenty Ninth
Voted that they would take no
Notice of the Re(iuest of No. 7 (Hawley) which was as Folfirst tliat they had Enominated Nine men, and
lows, Viz.
Day
of July, A. D. 17S8,
:
we Should choose one out
alent one and No.
of
Sd Number, and the E(iuiv-
the third, to Settle the dispute respect-
7
ing the Ec^uivalent l)eing
annexed
to Plainfield,
if
not
three Towns
we would not comply with
either of the proposals they would have us make them
some," &c. March IC, 17S!). "Voted that Cai)t. John
Cunningham, Jeremiah Robinson and Simon Burroughs
they would leave
it
to
the Selectmen of
which they Enominated, and
if
Committee to meet the Committees from No.
7, Charlemont and Hatfield Ecpiivalent, in order to Choose
an Inditt'erant Committee to Determine the Dispute that
has so long Subsisted between No. 7, Plainfield, and HatSeveral similar votes were passed durfield Equivalent."
ing the next year or two, and the matter appears to
[serve] as a
have been
held April
settled before 1794, for the record of a
7,
17!t4,
states that "
made
meeting
choice of Peter B.
Committee to Examine into the matter concerning the Vacancyes laid out in what was formally called
March 12, 1702, "Voted to
Hatfield Equivalent," &c.
Beals, as a
2
HISTORY OP PLAINPIELD.
1.S
west of
Land lying
a Tract of
accept of
Aslifield,
The only inhabitants
and
east of Plainfield
witli the Inhabitants
living thereon."
living on this tract, so far as
known,
were Joseph Clark and Jonathan Beals, and their famiThis tract was a gore not previously inclnded in the
lies.
any town, and was bounded
limits of
as follows:
Begin-
ning at a point on the present Aslifield line nearly due
east from Wm. Jones's, thence following said line to the
southwest corner of Ashfield, thence west 17° south 1!»5
rods on the present
Cummington
line,
thence a
last described line crossed the
Harris's, passing very near
east
little
of north in a direct line to the place of beginning.
This
road which leads by Geo. E.
where
his house
Josei)h Clark, before named, lived in a house
now
Jonathan Beals,
a few rods east of Harris's.
stands.
which stood
it
sup-
is
posed, lived about one-fourth of a mile south, on an old
road,
now
June
discontinued.
south side of
Hawley was
21,
1803,
one mile of the
set off to the District of Plain-
altered.
which time the town lines have remained unMay 15, 180G, it was " voted unanimously to
petition
the
field,
since
Plainfield
town."
General Court to
set
off
the
District
from Cummington and incorporate
This was accordingly done June
as appears, districts
had
all
of
it
into a
15, 1807.
So far
the privileges of towns, ex-
cept that they had no representative in General Court
and were 'joined
to
some other town
for the purpose of ob-
taining such representation.
^
" THE GRANT."
A
tract in the northeast jjart of the
granted to Mr.
Mayhew
for services
town was early
among
the Indians.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The north
to
})firt
of
tliis
Wain Wright,
one
i>;rant
wliose
l9
was soon
name
it
after transferred
siibseqnently bore.
TIh' boundaries of Wainwriglit's grant are believed to
as follows:
Beginning
at
l)e
the northwest corner, the same
being the northeast corner of the Ebenezer Nash farm,
thence rnnning easterly on the south line of
owned by A.
tJie
farm now
Richmond, and continuing on the sanu^
was the nortluM-n boundary.
The western l)oundary ran from the tirst named corner
southerly on the east line of the Ebenezer Nash farm, Stephen Parsons's and H. S. Packard's lands to the northeast
corner of the Rufus P. Bates lot, now owned by Homer
Cook. The south line ran easterly from this corner to
L.
range to Ashtield
line; this
Ashfield line, following the range of the north line of the
Bates
This grant contained about 1000 acres.
lot.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Most
came from Al>ington, Bridge-
of the early settlers
water and Weymouth, Mass.
Tlie first settler
who
resided
within the present limits of the town was a Scotchman
named
Mclntire,
who came
here with his family in 1770,
and located near where Mrs. Mary A. Dunning now
in the
north
of the town.
i)art
lives.
The following persons,
and doubtless a number of others, had settled here before
Lieut. Joshua Shaw, Andrew^ Cook, Isaac Joy,
1780, viz.
:
Caleb
White, Lieut. Ebenezer Colson,
Noyes, Ebenezer
Bisbee,
Abram
Beals,
Jonathan Monroe, and Noah Packard.
recorded
of
is
that of
Andrew Cook.
Hannah Cook,
Oct.
(;,
Lieut.
Samuel
John Streeter,
The first birth
1774,
daughter
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELl).
FIRST
TOWN MEETING.
The following is a copy of the warrant calling tliu first
town meeting, and also of the record of the proceedings
at that
meeting
:
Hampshire, ss. To Isaac Joy of Plainfield, in the
County of Hampshire, aforesaid, yeoman, Greeting:
Pursuant to an act of the Commonwealth for erecting
the Northerly part of Cnmmington, in the County of
Hampshire, into a District by the Name of Plainfield,
and investing the Inhabitants of the said District with
all the Privileges and Immunities that other Towns or
Districts within this
powering Nalium
Commonwealth Do Enjoy; Also ImEsqr. to Issue his Warrant
Eager,
Directed to Some Principle Inhabitant of sd District,
Requiring him to call a meeting of said Inhabitants in
order to Choose Town Officers, as by Law Towns or Districts are Impowered to Choose in the month of Mareh
Annually; These are therefore in the Name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Require you the sd Isaac
Joy to Notify and Warn the Inhabitants of the sd District
of Plainfield, that they assemble themselves together at
the Dwelling-house of Mr. Simon Burroughs, in said Plainfield, on Monday, the 25th Day of July, Instant, at One
of the Clock in the afternoon, then and there to Choose
all such Officers as Towns within this Commonwealth are
Impowered to Choose in the month of March Annually.
Hereof you nor they may not fail. Given under my Hand
and Seal at Worthington, this 14th Day of July. A. D.
NAHUM EAGER.
1785.
"
At
a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the District of
Plainfield, at the dwelling-house of Mr.
in said
Justice Peace.
district,
Simon Burroughs,
on Monday, the 2oth day of
Jvily,
A. D.,
1785. Lieut. Ebenezer Colson was chosen Moderator; Lieut.
Joshua Shaw, District Clerk; Lieut. Ebenezer Colson,
Lieut. John Packard and Lieut. John Cunningham,
Selectmen; Lieut. Joshua Shaw, District Treasurer; Simon
Burroughs, Constable; Isaac Joy and Lieut. John Packard, Tythingmen; Josiali Torrey, Solomon Nash, Nathan
Fay, William Daniels, Jacob Clark, Abijah Pool, Jona-
FIRST
TOWN MEETING.
21
than Miinroe. David Wliite and Daniel Streetor. Surveyors of Higliways; Lieut. Sanuiel Noyes. Surveyor of
ber; Daniel Streetor.
Sealer of Leather;
John
Lum-
Streetor.
Fence Viewer; Asa Joy and Azariah Beals. Hogreeves;
David White. Field Driver; John Streetor, Deer-rieflf; the
Simon Burroughs, at whose house this
meeting dissolved.
'*
meeting was held, lived about twelve rods north of
Sears's house (formerly occupied by Newell Dyer.)
site of
the Burroughs house can
still
J.
W.
The
be distinctly traced.
was torn down oiu* night by sonu' citi/ens to ])revent its
occupancy by a negro family who were about to move
into it.
The next eight meetings were held " at the dwelling-house of Mr. Jonathan Munroe," whose house stood
where that of the late Lewis Shaw now stci.nds; then at
" Capt. John Cunninghanrs new barn." This was on what
It
is
now known
as the " Strong place." about a mile north
During the summer and winter of 17SS,
town meetings, which were frequent in those days, were
held at Samuel Streetor's barn.
Then a meeting '" to
choose one Governor, one Lt. G(»vernor, and four Sena17S!), in "Capt. C'Unningham's
tors," was held April
again.
new barn;"
May 11. 17Si>, a- meeting " to vote for a
Representative for the Great and General Court" (with
Cummington) was held at Lieut. David White's. By
"
this time the voters had evidently had enough of '" barn
meetings, and until August, 179'^, meetings were held "at
the dwelling-house of Mr. Samuel Streetor." This house
stood where S. H. Sears's house now stands, just north of
the meeting-house, or ])ossibly it might have been the
present structure, whi(di was erected about that time.
Aug. 20, 17!)2, the tir.st meeting-house was sufficiently
copipleted for a town-meeting to be held in it. and it was
of
the village.
(i,
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
22
ever afterwards used for sucli meetings, as well as for
Only those persons having a freehold estate of the annual income of three pounds, or any
other estate to the value of sixty pounds, were allowed to
service on the Sabbath.
vote for State
officers.
LIST OF SELECTMEN.
The following
is
a
])resent time (1S!)1,)
list
of Selectmen
with the year of their
and number of years
service:
t
Ebenezer Colson.
John Packard.
John Cunningham,
Caleb White,
David White,
Isaac Joy,
Ebenezer Bisbee,
James Porter,
James Richards,
Jeremiah Robinson,
Joseph Reals,
Thomas Shaw,
James Hay ward,
Ebenezer Colson,
John Hamlen,
Peter B. Reals,
Amos
Crittenden,
Elijah Warner,
Nehemiah Joy,
Jacob Joy,
Robert Reals,
from 1785
Jr.
Elected.
first
to the
election,
LIST OF SELECTMEN.
23
24
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
REPRESENTATIVES
IN
GENERAL COURT.
^Irst Elected.
HISTORY OF PLAINPIELD.
26
Mr. Campbell was the
last elected
under the old system.
The present district system went into o])eration in 1857,
and the following named were elected from Plainiield to
serve in the years named:
'
1860,
Samuel W. Lincoln.
1864:,
Levi N. Campbell.
1871,
Stephen
1877,
Merritt Torrey.
1884,
James A. Winslow.
Edwin A. Atkins.
1891,
Hay ward.
Jr.
towns of Cummington, Goshen, Middlefield, Plainfieid and Worthington.
In 1866 Chesterfield was added, in 1876 Huntington, and
The
district at first comi)rised the
in 1886
Westhampton.
CHAPTER
III.
Church History.— Early Ministers.— Organization of First Church.— List of
Original Members.— First Meeting-House.— Price of Materials. — Plan of
Interior.— Dedication.— Belfry and Bell.— Sundry Items.— Call and Settlement OF Rev. Moses Hallock. — Installation. — Entertainment.
Previous to the incorporation of
formed part
of the ministerial
Plaiiifield as a district,
Cummington, and
charge of the Rev. James
the inhabitants attended church
at
One of tlie first acts of the settlers after heing set
off from Cummington, was to take measures to j)rovide
stated preaching.
Aug. 11. 1785, "Voted to raise 14
pound to hire preaching the present year," also, "Voted
that Isaac Joy, Lieut. John Packard and Lieut. John
Cunningham be a committee to liire a Gospel Minister to
preach with us." Sept. 5, 17So, "Voted that the west
Briggs.
brook inhabitants should have their proportionable part of the preaching on that side said brook," July
side the
24,
17<S(j,
"
Voted
to agree
with Mr. James Thomi)Son to
preach with us four Sabbaths on probation."
May
14,
"Voted unanimously to give Mr. James Thompson
work of the ministry among us."
This for some reason was not accepted. It seems that Mr.
Thompson was not the first who i)reaclied here, for March
12, 1787: "Voted to allow Andrew Cook's account for
boarding Mr. Hatch while he was preaching with us, l!>s,
and what he paid Mr. Hatch for preaching, pounds."
1787,
a call to settle in the
(i
(27)
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
2S
ORGANIZATION OF FIRST CHURCH.
Plainfield. Aug. 31, 17S(i.
At the desire of a ninnber of
the inhabitants of Plainfield, a district of Cuniniington.
convened the Rev. Timothy Allen, James Briggs and
Elisha Fish, to lead them in forming into a church state.
The Rev.
Timothy Allen was chosen Moderator, and
Mr. James Thompson, preacher of
was invited to sit and assist in this business.
Elisha Fish, Scribe.
the gospel,
Accordingly the aforesaid inhabitants of Plainfield presented themselves and exhibited such satisfactory evidence by letters from the churches to which they belonged, and by answering to questions propounded to them, of
tlie propriety of proceeding to incorporate them into a
church state, that the Rev'd gentlemen aforesaid thought
said persons into a
fit, and accordingly did incorporate
visiV)le church of Christ.
Timothy Ali.en, Moderator.
Attest,
Elisha Fish.
Scrihe.
a true copy of the proceedings of the council who
formed the persons aforesaid into a visible church of Christ
This
is
in Plainfield.
Attest,
Moses Hallock, now pastor
The following
Andrew
is
a
list
Ford,
of said church.
members:
Martha Nash,
of the original
Elijah Ford,
Sarah Ford,
John Packard,
Solomon Ford,
Hannah Packard,
Andrew Ford, Jr..
Amy
Sarah Ford,
White,
Martha Town,
Martha Robinson,
Molly Packard.
Solomon Nash,
This church celeln-ated the lOOth anniversary of its incorporation, Aug. 31, 1<S8(J. An address of welcome was
given by the acting i)astor. Rev. F. G. Webster, and Rev.
Solomon Clark, a former pastor, delivered a most interesting discourse.
Homan
Hallock, son of Rev. Moses, Rev.
LeavittH. Hallock of Portland. Me., Rev.
Wm.
Hallock
FIRST MEETIN(4
of
Now
Jersey,
find
same, were present
a,]i(l
ways added greatly
exercises occupied
Cliarles
made
HOUSE.
29
Hallock, grandson of the
sliort addresses,
and
in otlu-r
to the interest of tlie occasion.
nearly the whole day,
residents being present and taking
The church now has
7S resident
i)a-rt
Tlic
many former
in the exercises.
memhers. and
\'2
non-
resident.
Tjff,'
FIRST MEETING
HOUSE
— LOOKING
NORTHWEST.
was appointed ;' to measure
and find the center of Plaintield, and likewise to agree
u])on a place which they shall think most proper for erect17!'l,
Voted that
ing a meeting-house upon." May
the spot of ground west of the road leading from Samuel
Streetor's to Robinson's corn-mill, and south of the road
leading from Samuel Streetor's to his saw-mill, and joining
upon said roads, be the spot of ground to build a meetinghouse upon; 07 yeas and 4 nays." Oct. :i7, 17!'l, it was
Aug.
Ki, 17S7,
a committee
''
'l'-\.
HISTORY OF PLAINPIELD.
80
voted to build the meeting--house on the spot fixed
ui)()n,
Nov.
shoukl he
and that the dimensions
55ix4-ii.
"Voted that Caleb White. Capt. John Cnnniui^hani, Capt.
James Richards, Andrew Cook, and John Hamlen be a
committee
to receive notes of those persons
.'5,
who purchase
Pews, likewise that they procure material and carry on
the l)uilding said meeting-house in such a manner as shall
The following
be most advantageous to the district."
prices were established for materials, delivered on the spot:
Good Hemlock boards,
*'
Ash
"
l-<i
Clapboards,
Slitwork,
per M.
£l-(is.
"
Spruce
l-d
1-10
3-4,
Pine boards, inch thick, 3-0
Nails were estimated
by count instead
per M.
Voted that the
nails, 9s.
;
8d nails,
6s. 8d.
of
per M.
;
by the
lb.
4d nails,
3s.
lOd
per
joints in the roof before shingling be
covered with birch bark. April 23, 1792, " Voted that the
owners of pews in the meeting-house provide rum to raise
M.
The meeting-house was
said building."
raised soon after,
but owing to the limited resources of the district it was
not completed until 1797, five years afterwards. It was
dedicated June
15,
1797.
the occasion, one by Rev.
Two sermons were
Aaron Bascom
preached on
of Chester,
and
the other by Rev. John Leland of Partridgefield, (now
Peru.) The meeting-house contained 44 pews below and
19 in the gallery,
The
gallery
ranged on the outside against the wall.
was on three
sides, the singers' seats
front of the gallery pews.
Two were
being in
afterwards added
below and two above. The plan of the interior was copied
from the town records. The original was the work of
Joshua Shaw and James Richards. The figures in each
\
32
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELi).
pew indicate the number of dollars originally ])aid for it.
Above the high pulpit was hung the old-fashioned sounding board, considered an indispensable feature in those
March 7, 1796, " Voted that the district provide
days.
wands for the tytliingmen." A belfry with a steeple
was erected in 1800, a bell being procured at the same
time.
It was cast at New Haven, Ct., by Fenton & Cochrane, and weighs (ioO lbs.
It is the same bell now in use.
Its key was D, but is now nearly D flat, the pitch of instruments having been raised nearly half a tone since the
date of its manufacture. There was no means of heating
the meeting-house until 1822, when two stoves were procured and placed near the pulpit, not however without
considerable opposition. Before this time at the noon intermission during cold weather the people visited Samuel
Streetor's and one or two other liouses neai" by to eat the
lunch they had brought with them, and absorb heat
enough if possible to last them through the long sermon
three
in the afternoon.
Most
of the elderly ladies carried " foot
which they placed a dish of glowing coals
raked out of "Uncle Sam's " fire place, and carried with
them back to meeting. The men meanwhile had taken a
little good old rum internally to prevent the cold from
piercing their vitals. It was customary for the congregastoves," in
tion to stand during the
'
'
long prayer. "
The
seats in the
pews were hinged and movable. When the occupants of
a pew arose, these seats, which ran quite around the pew
except the doorway, were lifted, in order to give them
more standing room. When the " Amen " was pronounced these seats all came down into place with a bang and
clatter which would be astonishing to the present generaIn March, 1791, the church and district voted to
tion.
INSTALLATION
— ENTERTAINMENT.
33
give Rev. Moses Hallock a call to settle with them in the
work
of the gospel ministry.
offers should
he
and maintenance,
made
viz:
to
"'
A^oted that the following
Mr. Hallock for his settlement
Ninety pounds for his settlement
and forty-five ponnds a year for the
first
to increase
it
five ])()nnds a
year until
pounds, there to remain.
at this time
on account of
two years, then
amounts
to sixty
Mr. Hallock declined the
ill
March
health.
8,
was renewed with the same offers as before,
tlement and salary to l)e ])aid, one quarter in
three quarters in farm produce at cash prices."
call
call
1702, this
''
his set-
cash, and
The
fol-
lowing are the prices named for produce:
Rye at
3s. 4d.
Indian Corn at
per bush.
Grown, grass-fed
2s. 8d.
per bush.
beef, at 20s. per hundred.
pork at 3^d. per lb.
Good, well dressed flax, at
0-score
This
July
7d.
per
lb.
being accepted, he was ordained and installed
call
11, 1702.
The sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel
Goshen, the text being from Ezekiel 44-23:
Whitman of
" And they shall
teach
my
people the difference l^etween
them
June 14,
the holy and the ])rofane, and cause
to discern be-
tween the unclean and the clean."
1702,
"'
Voted
that an invitation be given to Ministers of the Gospel,
Candidates for the Ministry, Students of Colleges, together
with the Parents, Brethren and Sisters of Mr. Moses
Hallock, and such others as he shall see
Entertainment with the Council,
hereafter be api)ointed.
ham make
at
fit
to invite, to
an
such place as shall
Voted that Capt. John Cunning-
the above Entertainment, in a decent and hand-
some manner, and lay his account before the district for
Aug. 20, " Voted to allow Capt. John Cunningham ten shillings and three pence for Entertaining
the Council at the Ordination of Mr. Moses Hallock."
allowance."
3
CHAPTER
IV.
Sketch of Rev. Moses Hallock.— His School.— Anecdotes.— Colleague Callb!!).
— liEV. Dana Goodsell. — "Stop that Preparation."— His Successor.s.— Deacons.— Present Meeting-House. — Daniels Fund. — Organization of First Parish. — Baptist Society. — Advent Chapel.
Rev. Moses Hallock was born on Long Island, Feb.
Before devoting
1700.
liiniself
to
study,
lie
Ki,
served some
Graduated at Yale in
His divinity studies were pursued under the in1788.
struction of Rev. Samuel Whitman of Goshen, Mass.,
where his parents resided. The house which he built and
time in
tlio
Revolutionary army.
which he lived and
Spearman. Except as
died,
in
it
it
is
now occupied by James
has gradually fallen into decay,
remains in nearly the same form in which he
It is
hoped that
in the near future
preserved, on account of the
which
cluster
around
it.
it
may
left
it.
be repaired and
many hallowed
associations
His labors during the long pe-
riod of his ministry were acceptable and useful in a re-
markable degree and w5re greatly blessed. He was respected and beloved by all. Mr. Hallock for thirty years
taught a private school, in which he fitted young men for
More than 300
college, they boarding in his house.
availed themselves of the privileges of this school.
them were
Wm.
Among
Cullen Bryant, the poet, James Richards,
Jonas King, Pliny Fisk, Levi Parsons and William Richards, foreign missionaries, Dr. Samuel Shaw and Prof.
James Havward.
At
that time families were
(:u)
more
eco-
Sketch of rev. moses hallock.
36
nomical and lived on niiich coarser and plainer food than
now.
Pies, cakes
of food
and sweetmeats
were not nsed.
son to Mr. Hallock to
as every
One gentleman who
Iw schooled, told him
day
articles
l>rouglit his
that at
home
the boy had been in the habit of having gingerbread, and
wished that
it
might be fnrnished him
at Mr. Hallock's.
" Yes," said Mr. Hallock, "'he shall have gingerln'ead."
Soon after he said to Mrs. Hallock, in his dry way,
" When yon make your next batch of brown bread will
you please put some ginger in it/' In illustration of his
simple honesty it is related, that owning a farm, he had
at one time a pair of young oxen which he wished to sell.
One of his neighbors learning the fact, called, and after
looking the cattle over said. " I will give you sixty dollars for
so
them."
much; you
spring of
office
years,
182!)^
with
Said Mr. Hallock, "
shall
after
have them for
They
fiff
ij
are not worth
dollav^."
In the
having discharged the duties of
uncommon
fidelity
for
his
nearly thirty-seven
he made the following communication to his be-
loved people:
" To the Inhalnfanf.s of the Town of Pkiinfield:—My
Brethren and Friends: The time approaches when I shall
no longer be your minister. This awfully responsible,
though pleasant work, must soon be committed to the
hands of some other man, I Imve entered my seventieth
year 'and know not the day of my death.' When a parent is about to die he endeavors to set his house in order,
that it may be well with his family after his decease.
With equal ardor I desire that you as a religious community, may have a good minister of Jesus Christ when my
lips shall be unable to teach knowledge.
Before I die, I
wish to see my pulpit occupied by such a minister; and
may he be far more useful to old and young than his predecessor, and as mucdi respected.
As soon as you are ready
to settle another minister, which will probably be in a year
or two, I will consent, the church and congregation requesting it, that the ordaining council should dismiss me
HISTORY OP PLAINFiELb,
3G
It is not uncommon in cases
(lay of the ordination.
like this, that the town make some provision for the support of the worn out pastor. If you should please by legal
disposal as
own property, the
vote, to commit to
family occupy, or some other as valuable,
pew which
and also to exempt me and the little property I may poslife, it will be
sess from all kinds of taxation durino-
on the
my
my
my
thankfully accepted."
(Signed)
my
MOSES HALLOCK.
Rev. David Kimball was installed colleague pastor with
Hev. Mr. Hallock, March
home
in Plainfield,
July
1831.
2,
17, 1(S37,
Mr. Hallock died at his
aged 77 years.
interred in the cemetery north of the church.
He was
His tomb-
stone bears the following inscription:
The Reverend Moses Hallock.
Born at Brookhaven, L. I., Feb. 16, 1760.
Reaied by Godly parents, Goshen, Mass.
Giaduated at Yale College, 178S.
Ordained and installed first pastor of the
Church in Plainfleld, July 11, 1792.
Ministered to a confiding and united people
45 years.
Died July 17, 1837, aged 77 years.
At 70 he requested a colleague, having
Received to the churoh 358 members.
Instructed 304 pupils— 50 became ministers,
7 missionaries.
A man
of patriarchal simplicity, integrity,
Sincerity, kindness.
He
Without an enemy.
loved, studied, preached, exemplified the
Bible,
and gloried
in the Cross.
Rev. David Kimball was dismissed and his successor,
Dana
Rev.
sell
Goodsell, installed Sept. 27, 1837.
was inclined
to be overbearing in his
not very popular.
little
The following story
Mr. Good-
manner, and was
is related.
Some
time previous to his settlement, violins and one or
had been introduced into the meeting-house
It was necessary of course that
these instruments should harmonize, and the players were
two
bass-viols
gallery to assist the choir.
in the habit of
gathering in the gallery a short time pre-
HIS SUCCESSORS.
37
and tuning their various
instruments. Mr. Goodsell had not much knowledge of,
and no ear for music. One Sabbath morning wlien they
vioiis to tlie oponiiig- of service,
were tuning
tlieir
instruments, as usual, Mr. Goodsell rose
prepinrifioii
and raising his voice said, '' I insist on that
1)eing stopped." At noon when he started to-
ward home
for his dinner,
in the pulpit
players, fell
David Shaw, one
of the violin
in a few rods l)ehind him with his violin in
hand, and following him tlirougli the street to his liouse,
twanged out the lively notes of a march. Mr. Goodsell
was dismissed
Rev.
Wm.
Sept. 2o,
ls;5'.».
and dismissed Oct.
5,
Gay lord,
dismissed Oct.
1851.
1852,
10,
settled pastor
<!,
'il,
He was immediately
1847.
ed by Rev. H. J.
June
The next
A. Hawley, wIk^ was installed July,
succeed-
wIk^ served four years and
Rev. D. B. Bradford
and dismissed
May
17,
was
1^54.
time until January, 1858. the church had
was
1841,
was
installed
From
this
no permanent
this time the Rev. Solomon Clark c(3mmenced
and continued acting pastor until April. ISSO,
His ministry was greatly
a period of over 28 years.
blessed, he having received into the church during his
pastor.
At
his laliors
pastorate here upwards of
150
members.
Mr. Clark was
settled, but was hired frcjni year to year.
having
had some tr(ju])le with previous pastors
The church
thought it a better policy not to settle another. Frcnn
April, 1880, to April, 188S, the ])ulpit was supplied Ijy
Rev. F. G. Webster, who alscj preached at the same time
never formally
at
Cummington, where he
March,
1889, Rev. Geo.
E.
resided.
From May,
Spaulding supplied.
1888, to
At
the
he was obliged to resign on account of ill health.
In June, 188!), Rev. John A. Woodhull, by invitation,
assumed the duties of acting ])astor, and has continued in
latter date
38
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
DEACONS
— PRESENT
that ])osition until the
tion of
and
(•liui'ch
ticcepted
a,
i)i'esent
and parish.
call to
MEETING HOUSE.
30
time, to the general satisfac-
He
has
cjuite
recently received
l)ecome our settled pastor.
DEACONS.
The
first
deacons chosen were J(jhn Packai'd and James
17!)2.
Joseph Beals, April 20, ISo;}.
15.
Mountain Miller," the subject of a tract written l)y Rev. Wni. A. Hallock, which has had a worldwide circulation. Robert Beals, Sept. 2."), IS 13; Erastus
Bates. June 27, 182.S; John Carr, Sept. O, 1S34; Wm. N.
Ford, Nov. 11, IS-tl; Freeman Hamlen, Aug. 30, 1844; Je-
Richards, Nov.
He was the
"
rijah Barber,
Seth
W.
The
last
May
1855;
5,
Wm.
A. Bates, Nov.
Clark and James A. Winslow, March
two named
still
hold the
10, 1807;
3,
1877.
office.
PRESENT MEETING-HOUSE.
The
first
meeting-house was torn down and the present
was
It is believed that this was a great mistake, and
$2,450.
that it would have been much less expensive to have remodeled the old meeting-house. The old frame was much
heavier and stronger, and of more permanent character
than that of the present building. This plan was favored
structure erected in
1840.
The
cost of the biiilding
by some at the time, but the majority favored anew building, and using the language of a local poetic genius:
"So down they
The house
tare
of prayer."
Early in 1800, the large pulpit was remcjved from the
present edifice, and a handsome modern desk, the gift
Mrs. Woodhidl, wife of the pastor, was placed
<,)n
(jf
the plat-
,
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
40
form.
A
low gallery for the choir was constructed at the
rear of the platform where the old
})iilpit
formerly stood.
The present building originally had a very tall spire, wliich
was blown off by a hard wind in the fall of 185!), and was
replaced by one much lower.
DANIELS FUND.
In February.
181)0,
the parish
was the recipient
of over
$loOO as a permanent fund, the income to be used to assist
in sustaining preaching.
The donor was Mr.
Horace
Daniels of Ashfield, a former resident.
ORGANIZATION OF FIRST PARISH.
Previous to 1838, no parish organization existed,
all
pru-
by the town in their
corporate capacity, the minister's salary and incidental
expenses being voted in town meeting and assessed like
other town charges. In that year the
First Parish and
Religious Society " was organized and assumed these
duties.
It now numbers thirty members.
The last original member deceased January 1, 1891, Mr. Roswell
Davison. A Sunday School was first established here in
The school is still in a flourishing condition, num1819.
bering about 100 members.
dential matters being attended to
'
'
BAPTIST SOCIETY.
A
Baptist Society was formed in the east
town, Feb.
35, 1833,
the
first
x>art of
the
meeting being called by Asa
Thayer, under a warrant from Nehemiah Richards, Esq.
of
Cummington. The church was organized June 18,
and consisted of 22 members. Their services were
1833,
ADVENT CHAPEL.
hold at
iir.st
was erected
in tliu Ijrick scliool-liouse,
at the fork of
Among those who
have
41
but later a cliaptd
the roads east of A. B. Cole's.
jji-eached for the society
were El-
ders McCullock, Eg'gleston, Kingsley, Newton, Pease, A.
H. Sweet, and James Clark.
Their
first
deacons were
Asa Thayer and Jeremiah Stockwell. Jacob Jones, Jr.
was afterwards chosen. The society finally became so
weakened by deaths and removals, that services were discontinued and the organization was given uj). The chapel
was torn down and remcjved about IfSTO.
ADVENT CHAPEL.
The Adventists erected a chapel in the west part of the
town near the North Pond and Henry S. Barton's, aljout
ISS-^, where occasional services are held.
There is no organized society.
—
CHAPTER
V.
—
Schools. — First Location of Houses. — Number Increased. Reduced in Number
AND Re-located.— " Moving Committee."— Incidents op Removing. District
System. — List op School Committee.— Statistics. Names of Present Pupils
IN the Public Schools.
—
—
April, 1788, the district "
Ill
Voted
to raise thirty
pounds
to be laid out in schooling the ensuing year;" also " Voted
that the Selectmen be a Committee to divide the District
April
into proper divisions for schooling."
5, 17!»0,
"Voted
The
to build school-houses in each district for schooling.
town at first was divided into three districts, North, South,
and West side of the brook. One school-house stood just
south of the
Shaw grove about midway between
store
and the cemetery.
stood
midway between
The
Wm.
site
West
still
be traced.
One
H. Dyer's house and the brook
on the north side of the road.
present one on
can
the brick
The
Hill stands.
third stood
where the
This number was grad-
town had nine schools,
Their locations
besides one union school with Hawley.
the Town Hall
between
The
center
house
follows:
were as
ually increased until in 18o7 the
and
C. N. Dyer's store, neither being
one opposite
J.
then in existence
O. Gloyd's— one at the corner east of David
—one a few rods west of Amos
— one at the corner near where Thaddeus Rood
formerly lived — one on the West Cummington road, half
a mile southwest of H. W. Beals' — one about midway bePackard's, on the north side
K. Griggs'
tween the Roswell Davison place and Edwin
(42)
T. Torrey's,
FIRST LOCATION OF HOUSES.
on the west side
— one
near
tlie
43
intersection below Daniel
—
Harris' in the extreme southwest part of the town one
where the Advent Chapel stands, near Henry S. Barton's.
The union school-house was in Hawley, at the corner east
This number was sustained until
of Mark E. Howes's.
when
town voted to abolish the school districts,
or they were abolished by statute, and a Committee was appointed to reduce the number of schools and re-locate the
school-houses. This reduction seemed necessary, as the
numl)er of legal scholars was only about loo. The Committee recommended five schools. The town finally voted
The matter was only adjusted after much
six schools.
wrangling and numerous town meetings, and much ill
feeling was engendered by the proposed changes.
The
1868,
the
following persons were chosen to superintend the removal
and repair
the several
of
Sears, Francis
W.
school-houses,
Joy, Merritt Torrey,
Austin Cowing, and
Homer
viz.
Joseph
:
Russell Tirrell,
This undertaking was
Cook.
an arduous one, but was successfully accomplished. The
houses were placed on "runners" made of the trunks of
drawn by oxen.
large trees, and were
These teams,
to-
gether with such help as was needed, were furnished by
the citizens gratuitously.
A
few teams
in one or
two
in-
stances were procured from out of town, which were paid
for.
tion a
The house near
J.
O. Gloyd's was removed to a loca-
few rods north of where
site side of the
road.
This
it
site
now
stands, on the oppo-
proving too wet, after a
few years the frame was removed to the present location
and newly covered, making practically anew house. This
stands on the site of the Major David Wliiton house, and
is
known
removed
as No,
2.
The house west
to its present
site,
was
John F.
of A. K. Griggs'
about 25 rods north of
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
44
During
Cook's.
tlie niglit
previous to the day set for
its
removal, the chains by which the oxen were to be attached
to the buihiing,
were
stolen,
and no trace of them was ever
discovered. This was quite a serious loss as the chains
were extra heavy ones made especially for the purpose.
Others were procured from
oxit of
town within
hours, and the building was removed to
before
It
3.
sundown
a
This house
it
new one
was used
for school purposes until J8S0,
is
known
was
as No.
built near
4.
location north of H. Clark Packard's.
5.
No
years, the
S.
when
Eugene ThatchThe house which stood
Daniel Harris' was removed to its present
to take its place,
This
southeast of
No.
is
being impracticable to remove the house near H.
Barton's,
er's.
of that day.
tw(j or three
new location
known as No.
its
school
lias
This
is
known
as
been kept here for two or three
two or three scholars
in this locality being pro-
vided by the town with school privileges at West
Cum-
mington and Windsor. The *house which stood on the
West Cumniington road, southwest of the Wm. Rol)inson
place, was removed to the ancient site east of C. W. Packard's, and is known as No.
Previous to the last named
removal an attempt was made to remove the school-house
(>.
which stood north
being
much
of
E.
T.
Torrey's to this location,
the better building.
It
it
was actually removed
some 40 rods, but the number of teams being insufficient,
was decided to leave it until the next day. That night
the building was iired and burned to the ground. All the
houses, except No. 5, are provided with modern furniture,
and are in good repair. Under the old system, each district was a corporation.
School meetings were called in
the same manner as town meetings.
One person was
it
chosen annually as Prudential Committee, with authority
LIftT
to contract
OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
with teachers,
Previous to
etc.
+5
],S4()
from
tliree
to six persons were chosen annually hy the town to serve
with the minister as Examining School Committee.
that year
sist of
it
was
In
Examining Committee con-
A'oted that the
three persons, and that they be paid for their ser-
vices.
The following
held that
offi.ce,
is
the year
a
list
first
of persons
cliosen
who have
since
and nnmher of years
service.
LIST OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
46
ttlStORY
OF*
PLAINF^IELD.
LIST OP PUPILS.
47
LIST OF PUPILS.
School No.
1.
AGE.
AGE.
Arthur H. Atkins,
17
Belle S. Barton,
17
Mary E. Win slow,
Hermie S. Butler,
Alice L. Billings,
1()
Clara D. C. Butler,
9
14
Richard D. Butler,
G
Bessie B. Denio,
11
Helen R. Dunham,
5
Grace E. Dyer,
14
C. Frederick Dyer.
7
10
Anna M.
5
Estella
L.
M. Cleveland.
Genevieve Dyer,
Dunham,
Clara A.
F. Hallie Holden,
P.
W.
Hitchcock, Ha
King,
11
Charles R. King,
5
Bell Morse,
5
wley IS
Ensign Morse,
Jr.,
18
Minnie B. Packard,
Anna
11
Hattie G. Parker,
Alvah E.
Stetson,
20
Julia Smith,
Albert E. Stetson,
17
Florence Stetson,
Mary
15
Harry
Robert L. Streeter.
10
Hilda Swanson,
Rosa M.
14
Nina
E. Shaw,
Streeter,
13
12
Robert M. Sears,
G. Sears,
k;
School No.
J. Stetson,
L. Vel)er,
Helen B. Fenton,
11
9
10
S
13
9
8
10
2.
AGE.
Agnes M. Fenton,
4
AGE.
Herbert T. Kinney,
13
Albert N. Lincoln,
10
Lucy A. Gloyd,
14
Fred Lincoln,
Joseph A. Gloyd,
12
12
10
Mary A. Gloyd,
10
Jane A, Loud,
Mary E. Loud,
Enos R. Hawks,
Arthur J. Hawks,
Alden C. Holden,
15
Angus
C.
12
Bertie
S.
11
Edith G. Shaw,
Herbert
H
Willcutt,
Loud,
Longley,
11.
8
15
11
10
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELb.
48
School
Bertie L. Billings.
Lucy
Ezra
E. Billings,
P. Billings,
Frank W. Dyer,
Willie H. Dyer,
Sadie A. Dyer,
Carrie E. Gardner,
Florence M. Gardner,
—
CHAPTER
VI.
Modk.s of Travel.— Lost in the Woods. — Early
Bridge Building. — Present System op Repairing Roads.— Road Commissio.sERS. Names of Streets. — Post Offices.— Postmasters. — First Mail Supply.
— Present Mail Facilities.— Early Rates of Postage.
Town Hall.— Roads.— Early
The Town Hall was erecte^d in IS-IT. It was hnilt by the
late Capt. James Cook, by contract, for -fOOO, five-ninths
of it being paid by the town, and four-ninths by the center
school district. The first floor, with the exception of a
small room used for keeping the town weights and measures and for the storage of books, was occuj^ied for school
purposes. The school at that time was graded, and two
teachers were employed at least a ])ortion of the year. The
larger school room occupied the entire north end, the
smaller one being in the southeast corner, with a room
between for storing wood. In lH7-.>, two rooms being no
longer necessary, the small room was doubled in size by
removing partitions, and has since been used as the only
The old room at the north end was divided
school room.
by a partition, the east i)art being used for a wood room,
and the west part was given to the church and parish to
be used for prayer meetings and other gatherings, it being
The hall was
fitted up by the ladies for that purpose.
])ainted last year (ISOO)
terior papered in an
floor
4
both inside and out, and the
artistic
was carpeted with
manner.
oil cloth.
(49)
A
in-
portion of the
History
50
oiP"
pLaijJe'ielD;
ROADS.
It is
very probable that
(jiiite
number
a
i
of roads S^'i'"^
t"
been laid out in the district while it was a part of Cummington. These were most of them mere bridle paths, as
wheel vehicles with the exception of ox carts were'i'are.
The ordinary mode of travel was on foot or horsel^ack.
If a grist
was
to be taken to the mill,
was slung
it
the horse's back and given in charge of a boy
placed on top.
On Sundays,
the saddle which
standing
pillion,
on
the "
the
a " pillion "
goodman
''
supross
who was
was jdaced behind
bestrode, while his wife
"horse block" nimbly
mounted the
perchance with a baby in her arms, and clinging to
her husband they wended their
way
to the meeting-house,
the larger children following on foot.
If
nate enough to possess a half-broken
they were fortucolt,
this
would
probably be proudly ridden by one of the older boys. It
must be remembered that the first roads laid out were not
where the principal roads are now. Some of them are
now unimportant, and many were long since discontinued.
It is related that about the year 1800, Mrs. Polly White,
mother of the late (). S. White, then a young married woman of about 18, and who was settled with her husband on
the homestead so long occupied by
them
in the south part
Samuel
where S. H. Sears now lives, something
over a mile distant. At that time the town was mostly covered with woods, and for a portion of the way the path was
She missed the way and wanindicated by marked trees.
of the town,
Streeter,
who
started to visit a neighbor, Mrs.
lived
dered in the woods for an hour or
less,
when
she heard at
some distance the cheerful notes of a dinner horn blown
by Mrs. Streeter to call the men to dinner, and directing
her steps toward the welcome sound, she soon reached the
BRIDGES.
house,
we may presume
in
51
Tlie roads
time for dinner.
were rapidly improved, and new ones were every year constructed.
Soon after
tliis
the
**
thorough
l)race "
wagon
was introduced, which was thought to be the height of
perfection.
If a journey of any length was to be taken
with it, a small kettle of tar was hung from the hind axle
to be used for lubricating jiurposes,
essary to apply
it
it
being thought nec-
as often as once in ten miles.
BRIDGES.
March 23, 1790. " Voted that Simon Burroughs, Caleb
White and Jeremiah Robinson be a committee to view the
ground near Streeter's Saw-mill and Determine whether
it be necessary to build a bridge over the Brook just above
said mill or not." Later at the same meeting it was voted
to build the bridge, which was probably one of the first in
town. After the meeting-house was built, several new
roads were very soon laid to accommodate the inhabitants
in attending church.
The town is fortunate in having no
long bridges to support. Mill Brook is spanned by four.
The most expensive liridge is the one known as " High
Bridge," near Wm. H. Packard's. The stream at this
place is narrow but 25 or 30 feet below the road bed. This
bridge
is
of stone with culvert
for the passage of the
water, with a superstriu'ture of wood.
It
has been neces-
sary to rebuild this several times within the
memory
of
the writer.
METHODS OF REPAIR OF ROADS.
There are 42^ miles of road in town, now used.
In 1885
the town purchased a "Victor" Road machine, which
successfully used in repairing most of the roads.
If
is
prop-
—
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELi),
52
erly nsed an excellent road
water
is
the result.
The mounds or
formerly so numerous and annoying to the
bars,
have mostly disappeared since the machine has
The roads are kept in repair by an annual
traveler,
])een used.
appropriation averaging about $800, while $300
is
appro-
The roads
districts,
into
]9
or
20
highway
formerly divided
under the supervision of a highway surveyor. The
islature of 1889 abolished this office, and all towns
were
priated for breaking roads in winter.
each
Leg-
were
required to have a Superintendent of Streets, appointed by
Road Commissioners.
alternative and chose Warren
the Selectmen, or a board of three
The town accepted the latter
N. Gurney and
I. Dunham, A.
J.
O. Gloyd.
It is*the
general opinion that for farming communities the old
system was preferable.
1891, this
At
the annual meeting in March,
board was abolished, and
W.
I.
Dunham was
appointed Superintendent of Streets by the Selectmen.
NAMES OF STREETS.
By an
act of the Legislature of 1877, the Selectmen
required to
specify the
name
name
all
of the street
on which each voter
both on the Register of Voters, and on posted
same.
They
were
roads on which any person lived, and
lists
lives,
of the
are as follows:
Bow, from Main to Grant, by S. Burt's.
Broome, from Central to Pleasant, by O. C. Burt's.
Bluff, from Prospect to Summit, by H. W. Beals'.
Central, from Hawley line past M. C. Butler's. J. W.
Sears' and W. E. Shaw's, to Cummington line.
East, from Main to Grant, by J. A. Winslow's.
Governor, from Prospect to Summit, by C. W. Packard's.
Grant, from Hawley line to Ashfield line, by Z. F. Cook's.
NAMES OF STREETS.
53
Hawley. from Main to Hawley line. l)y N. Barton's.
Higli, from Kiver to Cumming-ton, l)y A. N. Gnrney's.
from Main
Hill,
to River,
by
C. F. Dnnliam's.
Liberty, fr(mi Prospect to terminns. by M. Stetson's.
Lincoln, from River to High, by N.
W.
Cook's.
Main, from Savoy line by Onslow Taylor's and the Center
of the town, past L. E. Parker's, to Ashtield line.
Maple, from Snnimit by O.
terminus.
Tirrell's. to
Mountain, from Prosx)ect by M. Torrey's, to terminus.
North, from Central
l)y
A. L. Richmond's, to Ashlield
Parsons Avenue, from Central east to
line.
terminus.
its
by L. K. Thayer's, to Ashlield line.
Prospect, from Main by S. Stetson's, and W. M. ClevePleasant, from Central
Cummington line.
River, from Main l)y G. W. King's and
er's, to Cummington line.
land's, to
South, from Pleasant by L.
W.
Lester E. Street-
Cummington
Gloyd's, to
line.
Stets<jn
Avenue,
Hawley
fr(nn
Main north by H.
S.
Barton's, to
line.
Summit, from Prospect to High, by Alden E. Streeter's.
Union, from Central, near the cemetery, by S. H. Sears'
and J. F. Gurney's, to River.
West, from Main by H. Clark Packard's, to Cummington
line.
Windsor Av., from West by D.
Harris', to
Windsor
line.
»
POST OFFICES AND POST MASTERS.
A
Post Otfice was established here in
Mack
as Post
lifetime
Master.
He
and was succeeded
Whitney Hitchcock.
held the
l)y
John
After him the
181(),
office
with John
during his
Mack,
office
Jr.,
and
was held by
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
54
Abner Gurney, who kept
the Moses Hallock house.
Hallock.
He
now occupied
kept
it
it
in his store in the
He was
L
part of
succeeded by Leavitt
for a time in his house, the
by Mrs. Hamlen.
same
Jacb Clark, Leonard
Campbell and Levi Clark each afterward held the office.
In 185G Leonard Campbell was again appointed, and held
the office over 30 years until 188G, when he resigned and
Foster
W.
Gilbert was appointed and assumed the
office,
March 5, 1889,
He
Oct. 1, 188G.
and Charles N. Dyer, the present incumbent, was commissioned June 18. 1889. The first mail supply was from
Cummington, and was carried on foot by Kingman
Thayer, who made the trip once a week, bringing the mail
bag on his back. This route was afterward extended to
Shelburne Falls through Hawley and Buckland, and two
Later a route was established
trips per week were made.
from South Deerfield to South Adams, through this town,
on which four-horse coaches were run, going out one day
tendered his resignation
and returning the next. When first established, the present county road had not been laid. The stage when
coming from Ashfield ascended the hill just east of Samuel
and Lot Bassett's in Ashfield, passing the house, then on
by William Ford's and where Dea. Winslow lives, thence
to the village, and down the hill by S. C. Streeter's,
up
—
now discontinued, then
now discontinued road by
the stream over a section of road
by Marshall
Stetson's over the
the Allis" place, which intersected the present county road
near Henry
S.
Barton's.
In 1885 a route was established
between Plainfield and Charlemont on the Fitchburg R.
R., through East Hawley, to run daily and return, by
which route the larger j^art of the mail is sent and received.
We are also supplied
by a route running every other day
EARLY RATES OF POSTAGE.
55
Adams, returning tlie next day. The
early postal rates were as follows: For distances not over
80 miles, Gic— 80 to 150, 12^0—150 to 400, 18|c— over 400,
Prepayment optional. The method of conducting
25c.
the business of the post office 50 years ago, made it much
more complicated and vexatious than under the present
from
Aslifield to
system.
—
CHAPTER
VII.
Cemeteries.— Bill of Mortality.— List of Aged Deceased.— suicides.— Sudden
Deaths.
The place earliest used in town for a cemetery, so far as
known, was the lot on the west side of the road, just north
of Mrs. Rachel Shaw's, now occupied by C. W. Streeter as
a pasture. Scarcely any trace of these early burials, of
which there were only a few, now remains. No headstones
were erected. Another ancient cemetery lies on the east
side of the road just south of the meeting-house.
This was
was long
since abandoned.
The last interment here was that of
Daniel Streeter, who suicided in 1S55. Here were interred
Jeremiah Robinson, who owned and operated the first corn
in general
use for perhaps twenty years, but
mill in town, and his successor, Joseph Beals, the
tain Miller,"
and their
been re-interred
meeting-house.
ment
1824.
of the
in
In
families.
These
last
"Mounnamed have
the fjrincipal cemetery north of the
1881),
the writer witnessed the disinter-
remains of Jeremiah Robinson,
who
died in
Portions of the coffin
bore his
still remained.
One fragment
formed by brass-headed nails driven
was the custom in those days. Some
initials, J. R.,
into the wood, as
20 headstones bearing inscriptions
still
remain.
— About
twenty persons were buried in the pasture about half a
mile north of Amos K. Griggs'.
No headstones were
erected, but the graves can
still
(50)
be distinctly traced.
CEMETERIES.
There
is aiiotlier
old l)urial
of Marshall Stetson's,
ground about a mile
Among
standing.
Lemuel
Allis, a
iiortliwest
on the old stage road now discon-
Here quite a nuniher
tinued.
57
headstones are
of
those interred
here,
Revolutionary pensioner.
is
still
the wife of
— On the farm of
the late Dexter Dyer, in the extreme southwest jjart of the
town,
is
a small yard where one or two families are buried.
— Near Dea.
Wiiislow's, in the east part of the town,
is
Here are
a few graves, most of them marked by headstones. A few
persons were buried in what is now a pasture, south of P.
H. Cudworth's, their graves being marked by headstones
with inscriptions. A cemetery was early opened in the
another, formerly used by the Stockwell family.
—
—
southeast part of the town, near
yard
is
nearly
tilled,
Wm.
most of the graves
H. Dyer's.
l)eing
This
marked with
Here are buried Capt. James
Hay ward, Al)ram and Jacob Clark, Elijah Warner, Sr.,
and Maj. David Whiton, who were among the first settlers.
It is enclosed l)y a stone wall, and is neatly kept and cared
for by Mr. Dyer. — In the southwest jjart of the town is
headstones or monuments.
another yard which has been cared for by Orrin Tirrell.
This
is
well enclosed, and contains the
erected to the
as
numy
memory of
other
tlie late
respectal)le
cemetery of the town, which
handsome monument
Orrin Tirrell,
headstones.
Sr.
The
,
as well
i)rincipal
about i of a mile north
The first person
of the meeting-honse, was opened in 1808.
lies
Solomon Shaw. This yard was
eidarged in 185(), and enclosed by a handsome stone wall.
This is now used almost exclusively by persons from all
parts of the town as a burial-place. Here are interred the
Rev. Moses Hallock, Dr. Jacob Porter, Dea. James Richards, John Mack, Dr. Samuel Shaw, Samuel Streeter,
buried there was Lieut.
—
—
;
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
58
many otlier.s prominent
Leavitt Hallock, and
of the town.
A
receiving tonil) was built in the northwest
corner of the yard in 1884, by the town, and
We
the winter months.
for as
it
in the history
should be.
It is
is
regret that the yard
used during
is
not cared
proposed to organize a Cemetery
Association, composed of a
number
of our citizens,
who
would be authorized to control it, and by whom it might
be enlarged and properly laid out. A small fee would be
charged for burial lots, which have heretofore been free,
the income from which would l)e used in caring for and
beautifying the grounds. It is hoped that the project will
be promptly carried out, as it is necessary that the grounds
be enlarged within a year or two, and every citizen should
be interested in
it.
In that village on the hill
Never is sound of smithy or mill
The houses are thatched with grass and
Never a clock to tell the hours;
The marble doors are always shut;
You may
flowers,
not enter at hall or hut.
All the village
lie asleep,
Never a grain to sow or reap;
Never in dreams to moan or sigh
Silent, and idle, and low, they lie.
In that village under the hill,
the night is stai-ry and still,
Many a weary soul in prayer
Looks to the other village there,
And weeping and sighing, longs to go
Up to that home from this below;
When
'
Longs to sleep by the forest wild.
Whither have vanished wife and child.
And heareth, praying, the answer fall,
Patience; That village shall hold you all!
"
Rose Terry Cooke.
BILL OF MORTALITY.
59
So live that when thy sunimoiis comes to join
The iiniunierable caravan that moves
To that mysterious reahn where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon; but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy gi-ave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
B7-yatit.
BILL OF MORTALITY.
This town
is
regarded as a very healthy locality, and 58
per cent, of the deaths in the last 25 years, have been of
pers(jns over 70 years of age.
The
furnish by far the most complete
period which they cover.
I
of deaths for the
Unfortunately in the church
records the ages are not given
"The
early chnrch records
list
till
1802.
Dr. Porter says,
following table exhibits the most complete
have been able
to (d)tain of the deaths
sive, to the present time,
oldest i)erson
who
]
833,
that
1785, inclu-
with the name and age of the
died in each year from 1802."
ends with the year
His list
and has been continued by the
writer up to the present year:
1785
from
list
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
00
1805
,
BILL OF MORTALITY.
61
James Dyer.
Benjamin Carr.
1837
Widow
Calel)
Silence Clark,
White.
Mary Ann Noyes,
34
85
83
90
Sally Warner,
85
Vincent Curtis,
91
John Hamlen,
89
94
Hay ward,
87
Alice Gloyd,
HC>
Lois Nash.
92
Sally Beals,
88
Whitcomb
84
Stetson,
77
Sr.
90
Samuel Davison,
88
Polly Holdridge,
85
Esther Baldwin,
98
Consider Stockwell,
74
for comparison, the
is
94
85
Jacob Jones,
each year
80
Olive Torrey,
Jacob Beals,
ill
85
90
Sarah Beals,
Elizabeth
ring
s;}
Dea. James Richards,
Jacob Snow,
ISdC),
92
96
Paul McCoy,
Samuel Streeter,
Daniel Gurney,
Ebenezer Dickinson,
Barnabas Packard,
From
95
number
of hirfhs occur-
placed at the left of date.
7
ISOO
9
Sally Dyer,
73
11
1S67
10
Polly Shaw,
93
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
62
14
Levi Cook,
85
Nancy
Pease,
90
Polly Tirrell,
95
Samuel White,
Jacob Whitmarsh,
94
Julia Butler,
85
Levi Campbell,
88
Sally Bradley,
72
James Joy,
Samuel Thayer,
83
82
Jr.,
88
'
82
Abigail Torrey,
John Bisbee,
93
Hannah Cook,
87
Stephen Hayward,
94
Jerusha King,
93
Samuel Loud,
David Shaw,
88
Sally Packard,
91
W.
Ezra
90
Haskins,
85
Delia Warner,
87
Mary
91
Seth
Joy,
S.
Williams,
87
James Warner,
Total births in last 25 years,
greatest
age
Baldwin
in 1864.
attained
vailed; in 1806, the
deaths.
5
187.
91
Deaths, 214.
by any person was
98,
The
Esther
In 1794 and 1803 the scarlet fever pre-
typhus
fever.
In 1798 there were no
In 1834, 11 of the 15 deaths were children under
years of age, and
prevalent
disease.
it
does not appear that there was any
In 1850, dysentery prevailed, there
being 15 deaths from that cause.
On Aug.
three children lay dead, and also on Sept.
29 of that year,
15.
— Oct.
7,
1857,
SUDDEN DEATHS.
three adults died, viz.
63
Reed and
Pliebe Hitchcock, Beza
:
Their funerals were attended on the same
Sarah Jones.
9.— May 7, 1855, Daniel Streeter suicided by
hanging himself to a tree in the woods near the southeast
corner of Stephen Parsons' farm. April 5, 1873, Dr. G. H.
Taylor took his own life by hanging himself in his barn.
day. Oct.
—
The following deaths seem worthy of particular notice:
Jan. 0. 1S()4, Lucinda Packard was found dead in her bed.
May 1!), ls()4, James Thayer was drowned at Cummington,
aged 21. June 23, 1812, Levi Stetson. Jr., aged 35, was
killed almost instantly by the fall of a tree. Aug. 1], 1812,
the wife of Gideon
stantly, as
nap
Hammond died in her chair at
Her husband awoke from a short
and found her sitting at her quill-wheel,
Her age was
Oct. 22,
51.
4, 1820, Daniel
aged
Brown was
May
10,
1828,
dead in
by a log rollingthe wife of Benjamin Towne,
a long search by many persons,
killed instantly
several days before, while insane.
Oct. 28, 1831, Clarissa
died in consequence of burns received
aged 8,
from her clothes taking fire. July
aged about 50, was killed instantly
Stetson,
March
a tree.
old, died in
pipe.
May
5.
was found after
the woods in Hawley, having wandered from home
39,
fall of
Jetson
1817, a son of
Stetson died from a Ijean in the windpij^e, aged
over him.
in-
supposed.
is
after dinner,
dead.
work,
Jan.
8,
1831,
11, 1833,
at
Samuel Swift,
Cummington by
Charles Bela Dyer,
2
the
years
consequence of a piece of apple in the wind30,
1842,
Matthias Crittenden, aged
OO,
fell
dead while returning from attending church.
Lincoln, aged
15, 1845,
7,
Marcus M.
son of Isaac K. Lincoln, was drowned July
while bathing with other boys in a small i)ond,
west of Joseph Gloyd's.
aged
74,
Dec.
died very suddenly.
19, 1,S80,
He
Joseph Gloyd,
rose in the
Jr.,
morning as
HISTORY OF PLAlNFIELb.
64
usual and had partially dressed,
feeling
when he complained
and expired in a few moments. Dec.
GO, died suddenly of heart disease.
Ifi,
ill,
Joseph Sears, aged
had
just
returned from a neighbors, ai)parently
usual health.
He
sat
down on
of
1886,
He
in his
entering the house, being
somewhat out of breath, and soon after expired. John
Joy fell, or was thrown from his horse, on the hill al:>ove
Nelson
W.
Cook's, breaking his neck,
on his way to church.
His age was
died suddenly while at
work near
as:ed 71.
Aug. 21, 1848, while
Jacob Jones, Jr.
09.
his barn, Dec. 15, 1873,
—
CHAPTER
VIII.
Stores and Manufactures.— John Mack.— I. K. Lincoln and Others.—Jacob
AND Levi Clark. — Leonard Campbell. — Stores at Present Time. — Robinson's
Corn Mill. — Warner, Whiting & Co. Streeter's Factory. — Tannery. — Other Manufactures.
Tradition says
tliat
town, but his given
known.
one Perkins kept the
name and
first
store in
place of business are not
His lousiness was probably unimportant,
else
would have been handed down. With
the above exception, the first store established was that of
John Mack, some time previous to ISlC). The building
used stood a rod or two south of Clark Smith's house.
About 1820 he erected the brick store on the common, now
occupied by H. S. Packard. This was considered a very
some account
of
it
elegant structure at that time, and
is
really a fine, sub-
Here he did business until his death in
1833.
He was for some ten years or more the only merchant in town and did a thriving business. The goods
kept 75 years ago were very few in number and variety.
stantial building.
Liquors of various kinds, molasses,
brown and
loaf sugar, chintz cloth,
two other kinds, thread,
etc.
salt,
codfish, a little
and possibly one or
Isaac K.
store in the southeast part of the town,
Lincoln built a
and carried on the
mercantile business for some 20 years. Much of the trade
was an exchange business. Eggs, cheese, tow and linen
These commodicloth were taken in exchange for goods.
ties were taken by teams to Boston, which returned loaded
5
(05)
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
66
witli
goods for the
the round trip.
store.
Irani
It
took about eight days to
make
Packard built the house now occu-
pied by Levi Chirk as early as 1S25, a portion of which he
This was afterwards kept by Aaron Saw-
used as a store.
yer,
and about 1830 by Shaw
and Levi Clark.
1855.
&
Stowell; then
by Jacob
Mr. Clark discontinued the business in
G. G. Keyes afterwards leased the rooms and kept
a store there from about 1859 to 1862 or
Lyman Dawes
3.
had a store there for a short time. Leonard Campbell
opened a store here in 1855 in the l)uilding formerly occupied by Ira Hamlen, as a hatter's shop. In a few years he
enlarged tlie building, and has continued in business until
the present time. For nearly 20 years this was the only
also
Keyes and Dawes were here,
which was only a short time. For some 25 years up to
about 1875, and even later, the palm-leaf hat industry was
a profitable part of the merchant's business. This was
carried on mostly by the Messrs. Clark and later l)y Mr.
The prepared leaf was furnished by the merCami)bell.
chants, and by them given out to the different families.
The hats were braided by the women and girls, and
although the pay was small, it amounted in the aggregate
store in town, except while
to cpiite a large
sum.
of the families in
Campbell
At one time probably
town were engaged
for about 25 years
made a
three-fourths
in the business.
Mr.
specialty of the milli-
nery business, in which he had a heavy trade from this
and adjoining towns. He was in trade here a few years
previous to 1855, but discontinued the business for awhile,
Abner Gurney kept a
and re-opened that year.
for a short time
in the
L
part of the house
occupied by Rev. Mr. Hallock, the post
there at the same time.
The business
office
of
store
formerly
being kept
John Mack was
STORES AT PRESENT TIME.
(j7
l)y Jolni Mack, Jr. for a year or two when it
was bought l)y Whitney J. Hitchcock. He was not here
long, and was snccceeded hy Shaw <& Stowell.
Afterward
W. C. Gilbert bought and carried on the store for some
carried on
years,
or until about bS52,
when he
Then Charles Mack, who had been
bought the stock
three years.
after
him
E.
arid carried
Then
S.
W.
left it for a
clerk for Gilbert,
on the business for
Streeter took
A. Clark and Eugene
farm.
tw<j or
business,
tlie
Shaw were
in
it
and
for a
was closed up in 185G. No
was kept here from this time until about lS7o,
wdien the store was purchased by Chas. R. Burt, who
stocked it with goods and carried on the business for some
short time; Imt the business
store
when he
four years,
who kept
sold out to Mrs. Eliza A. Packard,
the store with the assistance of her sons for
about seven years, when the business was transferred to
her oldest son, H.
conducted.
He
S.
Packard, by
whom
it
has since been
has lately enlarged the main store room
(which had been divided by C. P. Burt) and
a large and complete stock of goods.
C. N.
a small grocery store in his house in 1880.
filled it
with
Dyer opened
The business
increasing, other lines of goods were added, and interior
changes in the building were made to accommodate
When
it.
W.
Gilbert was ap]>ointed postmaster in 188(1, the
was removed to this store and placed in charge
of Mr. Dyer, who was Asst. P. M.
In 1887 Mr. Dyer sold
the place, including the farm, and bought of D. H. Gould
the corner lot east of the Town Hall, on which he at once
erected a building to be used for a store and tenement, to
which he removed his business, including the post office,
about Sept. 1, 1887, and where he still carries it on. There
F.
post office
are several dealers in farmers' produce.
L.
W.
Joy,
who
HIBTORY OF PLAINFIELi).
C)S
has been in the business
many
and disposes of his
years,
produce in Northampton; A. N. Gurney,
who
carries
liis
produce to Adams, his specialty being pork in the wliole
carcass, which he sells to retail dealers; he also sells flour,
meal, etc., and some heavy groceries. J. N. Benjamin
does a produce business, disposing of his stock at
also
Adams.
His specialties
whole pork, and
butter,
are
apples.
MANUFACTURES.
[The author
by
F.
W.
It is
was
is
laro^ely indebted to
an
article in the
Hampshire
Co. Gazetteer,
Gilbert, for the substance of this article.]
believed that the grist mill, or " corn mill," as
called, of
lished in 1789,
and the saw mill
on Mill brook, were the
first
it
have been estabSamuel Streeter, both
Jeremiah Robinson, said
of
mills of
to
any kind established
here, being mentioned in the records as early as 1791.
In
1798 the grist mill was purchased by Joseph Beals, "the
Mountain Miller," who managed the business until his
His son, Dea. Robert, then conducted
death in 1813.
for a
number
of years,
it
and about 1827 or 1828 built the
present mill, which stands several rods further
down
the
Jared Bisbee, Hcjratio
stream than the original structure.
Lyon, Dexter White and Edwin Torrey succeeded in turn
to the
management.
the property.
He
Samuel
on the business.
above the
by
In 1801
site of Streeter's
his sons
and grandson,
continued on the same
in the northeast
James A. Nash purchased
has greatly improved
for
still
carries
saw-mill stood just
factory.
A
also
site until
his
saw-mill operated
great-grandson, was
about 1870.
corner of the town
many years
and
Streeter's
original mill on this site w^as built
was
it
is
On
the brook
a saw-mill.
The
by Levi Campbell, and
operated by his son, Levi N. Campbell.
MANUFACTUKES.
69
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
70
About
W.
1884 or 1885
Billings.
He
it
came
into the possession of
George
substituted a circular mill for the old
and carried on the business until the mill was burned in April, 1890. Mr. Billings has rebiiilt it, and purchased new machinery. His specialty is the manufacture
style,
of cloth boards.
Wm.
H.
many
at-
The stream which runs near
Dyer's has been from early times the scene of
tempts at manufacture, most of them being for the time
Probably the
successful.
the grist mill of
distance north of
first
W.
1800.
tain,
was aljandoned about
Who first
remains.
1830,
its
erection before
and no trace of
opened the brickyard near
it is
it
uncer-
but brick were made there early in the present cen-
tury, probably
brothers
of 1840
S.
situated
H. Dyer's, near the old brickyard.
Evidence exists that places the date of
It
was
some
enterprise of this sort
Thomas Shaw, which was
W.
by Joshua
made brick
and
Clark
later.
or
Thomas Shaw.
The Warner
there for several years in the vicinity
About
re-fitted the
1871 or 1872 O. S.
White and
yard and made brick for two or
three seasons; since then none have been
made
there.
On
the stream just below this in the earlier part of the cen-
tury was the cloth dressing shop of Jacob Clark.
About
1830, on, nearly the same site, Randall Whiting, James
and Cushing Warner, under the firm name of Warner,
Whiting & Co., built a factory for the manufacture of
satinets,
and for general custom work.
A boarding-house
About a dozen hands were employed in
the factory.
After some years the firm failed and the
business was suspended.
Subsequently, Wm. Gurney
made an attempt to revive the business, but without much
success.
The buildings were removed about 1857. The
site of the factory was about six rods south of the road on
was
also erected.
MANUFACTURES.
west side of the stream, near
tlie
dam and raceway
nants of the
on the stream, John White
ture of
are
l)uilt
broom handles abont
71
W.
Rem-
H. Dyer's.
still visible.
Still
lower
a mill for the manufac-
This was in operation
is:5(i.
eight or ten years, and the buildings were then re-
for
A
moved.
saw-mill on the same
site
was continued a few
years longer.
Further down was the ancient saw-mill of
Ziba White.
This mill was probably erected soon after
1800,
and was
in
use about 40 years.
A
mill privilege
was improved by Warner & Gloyd about 1S45.
They erected a saw-mill, and afterwards a cider mill. The
saw-mill was not used after l(S5(i, and l)oth were soon afterwards torn down. The small stream by the side of the
road just below Cam]) hell's store seems hardly sufficient
below
this
to turn a boy's water-wheel, yet on
this rivulet,
years ago, a pretentious tannery was erected
Remington.
about 05
l)y
Dorn
&
Their water-wheel was an overshot, of unu-
and their buildings were
The preparations proved unavailaljle,
([uite capacious.
and they went down the valley, and settled on Mill Brook.
sual size,
On
18
feet in diameter,
this brooklet at
works
removed
of
about the same time were the potash
Iram Packard.
At
the time
Dorn
&
Remington
to the valley, in LSoO, they built a large tannery
100x30, covering 80 vats, nearly opposite the present resi-
dence of Lester Streeter, where they did a large business.
Mr. Dorn sold his share to a Mr. Parsons, and later the
new
firm disposed of the property to Giddings
& Latham.
After a time Giddings disposed of his share to Latham,
who
carried on the business until his death in 1851.
The
The beam house was
fitted up for the manufacture of broom handles a number
of years later by Nelson C. Clapp, but not much was done
business was not afterward revived.
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
72
at
On
the business.
small brooklet referred to near
tlie
Dorn & Remington began their prepCyrus Joy had a small tannery for tanningupper leather. There was also about that time, a small
tannery a few rods east of Homer Cook's. There were but
a few vats, and no water power, the bark being ground at
Samuel Streeter's saw-mill and drawn up the hill to the
tannery. At the upper water privilege on Mill Brook,
Isaiah Stetson, in 1817, built a saw-mill and managed it
for several years.
Afterwards David and Wm. Stowell
purchased it, and continued the business until 1854, at
which date it passed into the hands of W. C. Gilbert. In
village, before
tlie
arations
tliere,
George W. King bought, and still owns the property.
He manufactures broom and brush handles, besides custom
sawing and planing. Adjoining Samuel Streeter's saw1855,
—
mill, before referred to, in the early part of the
century
was a cloth-dressing shop conducted successively by Daniel
On
Richards, Mr. Gleason and others.
Arnold and
1830,
Nahum
Streeter built a factory for the
and other woolen goods.
was rebuilt and managed by
187<), when it was again destroyed
manufacture of
satinet, flannel,
This was burned
in 1825.
the Streeter family until
by
fire,
and has not been
the site of this, in
It
rebuilt.
— On the other side of the
road from Willcutt's saw-mill, in 1810 was a flax-dressing
owned and run by Noah and Iram Packard. About
Reuben Hamlen and Otis Pratt built on the same site
mill,
181G,
a factory for the manufacture of
goods.
mill
In 1820 the building which
satinets
and woolen
now
the Willcutt
is
was removed across the road where
it
Mr. Pratt sold his share to Erastus Bates,
West
in 1834 left Mr.
Hamlen
to
manage
now stands.
who moving
the mill alone.
After a few years the business was given up.
Later, Jason
MANUFACTURES.
Noyes used
it
it
for
and
it
chair factory.
Ell^ridge
King rented
Capt. James Cook finally houglit the prop-
for awhile.
erty,
a,
73
was used
He
for a saw-mill.
Ingraham, who made
baskets there.
In
sold
l.S(i7
Daniel
to
William
Willcutt bought the plant from Ingraham, rei)aired
thoroughly and
i)ut in
a circular saw-mill.
entirely
He now
it
new machinery, including
uses annually from
.')()
to 50
liard wood lumber in the manufacture of
whip butts, which are sold in Westfield, Mass. He also
makes some broom and brush handles, besides doing custom
sawing and planing. Several men are employed. His
son, George L. has an interest in the business.
A few
rods below the present grist-mill of J. A. Nash, was once
thousand feet of
—
,
a saw-mill, long since abandoned.
dation walls are
still
visible.
built a saw-mill on the west
supply of water
proving
Portions of the foun-
In 1852
Wm.
J.
Shattuck
branch of Mill brook.
insufficient, the mill
was
The
after
several years practically abandoned, and the building was
removed in 1884. The saw-mill at the outlet of the crooked
pond in the extreme northwest part of the town, now
owned by Onslow Taylor, was built by Lyman Morton,
more than fifty years ago. A circular mill was put in by
the present owner a few years since.
Mr. Morton also
built a dam on the " Grant " brook near David Packard's,
and erected a small shop thereabout 1825. The power was
used for operating a trip-hammer for forging heavy iron
work. Isaac Saddler, m<jre than 00 years ago, had a cloth-
—
dressing shop on Mill Brook, near the residence of the late
Philander Packard.
Later
Homan
Hallock had a shop
near by, where he manufactured Arabic type, using the
same water power. In 1840 there was a tack shop near
where Shepard Dyer lives, conducted by Roland Shaw,
74
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
wliere six or eight
men were employed.
No power was
Tacks were also made in a shop at the upper village not far from the same time. Early in the present
century, Ira Hamlen operated a hatter's shop, which toused.
gether with his house was burnt in 1834.
It
was
rebuilt,
and business carried on for some time. The building used
is now the south wing of Campbell's store.
CHAPTER
IX.
Physicians.— Dr. Tobrey.— Dr. Porter.— Dr. Samuel Shaw.— " Hit Him Another."— Later Practitioners.— Justices (jp the Peace.
The
physician practising in town was Dr. Sohmion
first
Bond, his name occurring in
town records as early as
1780.
He was succeeded hy Dr. Barney Torrey and Dr.
Jacob Porter. The hitter, although a highly educated
man, gave his attention mostly to literary pursuits, l^eiiig
tlie
well versed in botany and mineralogy.
His medical prac-
He was
the autlior of a his-
tice
was very inconsiderable.
He
tory of Phiin field, published in 1834.
184:(),
aged
He was
03.
cipal cemetery
he had
set
15,
six
tamerack trees which
out there some years previous.
They have
All the young trees of that variety
cemetery and vicinity sprung from seed from these
six trees, as
it
was scattered by the winds.
DR.
who
Nov.
interred near the front of the prin-
under the shade of
since been removed.
in the
died
spent his
life here,
deserves more than a passing no-
Anna Shaw, who came
from Abington, Mass., and settled here in 1792, on the
homestead occupied by the late Freeman Shaw. Dr. Shaw
tice.
He was
SAMUEL SHAW,
a son of Josiah and
was born in Abington, Mass., May G, 1700, being less than
two years old when his parents settled here. After attending for some time the school of Rev. Moses Hallock, he
(75)
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
76
studied medicine with Dr. Peter Bryant of
father of
Wm.
Cullen Bryant.
In
Cummington,
and 1830 he attend-
ISl'j
He became
ed medical lectures in Boston.
Dr. Bryant's
partner in practice, the partnership being continued until
In 1821 he married Dr. Bryant's
the death of the latter.
He was
daughter, Sarah Snell Bryant.
cal practitioner the
same
year.
licensed as a medi-
The following
is
a copy
of his certificate:
]
t
^'
s.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
r
)
We
the subscribers. Censors of the Massachusetts Med-
ical Society,
duly appointed and authorized, have examined
Samuel Shaw
County of Hamj)sliire, a candidate for the Practice of Physick and Surgery;
and having found him qualified, do appoint and license
him as a Practitioner in Medicine, agreeable to the law in
Dated at Northampton,
that case made and provided.
one
thousand eight hundred
of
May,
A.
D.
this 3rd day
Cummington,
of
in the
and twenty-one.
Elihu Dwight,
William Hooker,
Jos. H. Flint.
By
virtue of the power in
affixed the seal
<jf
me
vested, I
)
>
\
have hereunto
the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Jos. Fisher, M. D., President.
John Dixwell, M.
Attest,
After Dr. Bryant's death. Dr.
Plainfield
Dec.
and commenced
12, 1824,
the beautiful
Bryant, entitled
Dr.
practice.
of consumption.
poem
Shaw
D., Ree. Secretary.
in 1824
removed
His wife deceased
This sad event inspired
of her distinguished brother,
"The Death
to
of the
Flowers."
Shaw married Elizabeth Owen Clarke
of
Wm.
In
C.
1830
Northamp-
.^$iC:^^^'7^2.^<,.<^^
DR.
ton.
SAMUEL SHAW.
7t
daughter of Joseph Clarke, a lawyer descended from
the Cooks, Lynians, Pomeroys, and other early settlers of
that town, and the adopted son of Major Joseph Hawley.
Elizabeth's beanty, grace and lovely character, were the
theme of many a letter written by old Dr. Flint of Northampton to Dr. Shaw, before the engagement. She died
Sept. 37, 1X08.
Dr.
re-modeled by
Wm.
Shaw
at first lived in the
Winslow.
house lately
In 1833 he built the house
which he occupied during the remainder of his life, and
which is still owned by his daughters, who occupy it dur-
summer and fall months.
now in an excellent state of
ing the
and
is
It
was thoroughly
preservation.
Dr.
built
Shaw
was in active practice until 1X54. In the fall of that year
he was called one evening to attend his married daughter
then living in West Cummington. While descending the
hill in the southwest part of the town, some portion of the
carriage suddenly gave way, and he was thrown' violently
to the ground. Being a large, heavy man, the shock was
a very severe one, from which he never fully recovered.
He was able however to occasionally visit patients for
some years after, but always with some one to drive his
horse.
The writer remembers him as one who always had
a good story to tell and liked a joke.
His jolly " Haw,
haw, haw," rings in my ears yet. One little episode I will
relate.
A near neighbor had several large boys who were
inclined to be unruly. The neighbor was a rather ({uick
tempered man, and one morning, one of his boys having
provoked him in some way, he gave him a sounding box
on the ear, the doctor being an unseen witness. The boy
moaned greatly, and carried his head to one side, in-etending that he could not lift it to its normal i)osition. The
doctor watching the boy occasionally through the day
HISTORY OK PLAINFIELD.
78
from
window, noticed that when his father was
liis head resumed its natnral position.
If liis
his otfice
out of sight,
father appeared, his neck was at once bent as before.
Toward evening, the father becoming somewhat alarmed,
visited the doctor in company with his son, whose head still
hung on one side. " Doctor," said lie, " I am a little hasty,
and when I gave the boy a cuff this morning, I suppose I
gave him a harder blow than I intended, and he don't seem
Now what treatment would you advise?" "Well," said the doctor, deliberately, drawing down the corners of his eyebrows, ''In
my opinion, the best thing you can do, would be to hit
him a iliinidering crack on the other ear." The boy did
to be able to straighten his
neck
since.
not wait to have his father follow this advice, but at once
made
off
with head
— The
doctor was tenderly cared
by his daughters. He deceased
He was for many years prominent
erect.
for in his declining years
Sept. 24, 1870, aged 80.
in
town
affairs,
being for eight years one of the selectmen.
has been preserved in very much the same conwhich he left it. The case of books and the iron
mortar and pestle used in compounding medicines, once
belonged to Dr. Peter Bryant, and were used by him, previous to their coming into Dr. Shaw's possession. He was
His
office
dition in
for forty years a
member
of the Mass. Medical Society.
His quick intuitions and great
skill, combined with a keen
knowledge of human nature and a cheerful disposition,
made him a successful and popular physician.
LATER PRACTITIONERS.
Dr. Chas.
Bowker came here about
only a year or two.
1858,
1855,
but remained
Dr. J. M. Eaton settled here about
and remained two or three
years.
Dr. G. H. Taylor
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
carne here al)Out
lS7o, except
Dr. O. H.
ISiio,
and practiced until
one year, wlien
Lamb
Dr. Daniel E.
his deatli
practiced liere
Thayer commenced practice here
den came here in
in
was absent in the avniy.
a few months al)<)nt 1S74.
lie
and remained here two or three years.
in 1S75,
Dr. G. R. Fessen-
ye;ir, when
now often callc(l to visit
removal we have had no resident
and remained abont a
1S70,
he removed to Ashiield.
patients here.
79
Since his
He
is
physician.
-JUSTICES
So far as known, the
Richards,
OF THE PEACE.
first
Justice in town
who was commissioned June
were commissioned
in the order
Cyrus Joy,
Packard,
Mack,
ards,
Sr.,
was James
1802.
Others
named.
Elijah
Ebenezer Colson,
Warner, Sr., John
Erastus Bates, Leavitt Hallock, Jason Rich-
Isaac K. Lincoln, George Vining,
Gurney, Albert Dyer, Fred E. CampJames A. Winslow, Charles N. Dyer. L. Cani])bell
Elijah Clark,
David Shaw,
hell,
Irani
s,
Wm.
was appointed a Notary Public
in 1S87.
CHAPTER
RffiVOLUTIONARY
Soldiers
in
X.
PENSIONERS. — SOLDIERS OP 1812. — ARTILLERY COMPANY. — LiST OF
of the Rebellion.— Deaths Among.— G. A. R. Post.
War
The following list of Revolutionary Pensioners, we copy
from Dr. Porter's history of Plain field. It contains the
names of those still living in 1833, with the amount drawn
annually by each. The amount is believed to have been
based on their length of service.
Lemuel
Rev. Moses Hallock, $ 23yW
Allis,
Jacob Nash,
100
Phillip Packard,
96
Whitcomb
80
Pratt,
James Richards,
^ofVV
Josiah Shaw,
80
Samuel
96
Streeter,
lOeyW
Josiah Torrey,
Caleb White, 32^^
At
least
two
of our citizens served in the
war
of 1812.
These were Orrin Tirrell and Samuel Thayer, Jr. It is
believed that they were not called out of the state, but did
military duty in the vicinity of Boston for a few weeks.
There was another
who though
at the time of the war, settled
—
not a citizen of the town
here immediately after-
Lieut. Brackley Shaw, who lived on the farm after-
wards
wards occupied by the late Jared Dyer. During the war
of 1812 Lieut. Shaw had command of a battery on an
(80)
ARTILLERY COMPANY.
island in Boston
and ten years
in 1<S87
is--25lie
removed
later to Mieliii^'an. being
that state.
settlers of
In
hai'1)oi'.
Horatio Watson
(diarge of
tlie
to Ira, N. Y..
one of the pioneer
His son, Bracklev Shaw.
been for 14 years a nieml)er of
latnre, serving six
SI
years as senator.
Shaw, went
to
tlie
Jr.,
Michigan
Another
India in
had
legis-
son, Rrv.
lsr)0,
to take
Mission C(dlege at Allahal)ad, retnrning after
six years service.
THE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
This coni})any was
first
organized in Williamsburg, and
it drew many of its recruits from the hill
company armory and guns were successively
from thence, as
towns, the
removed
Goshen, and in the early part of the present
to
century to Plainticld.
Company after
Noah Joy
of
its
One
of the early Captains of the
liead(iuarters
were
estal)lished here,
Hawley, who was afterward Colonel of the
3rd Artillery Regiment, of which perha])s this
may have
the
was
been the nucleus. About
company were Levi Campbell and
is-^o
company
the musicians of
Wm.
Wilcutt, Sr.,
and Oliver Pool, drummer. In those days the State
Militia was not fostered and petted l)y Government as at
fifers,
present, but
each soldier must arm,
and uniform
e({ui})
himself, lose his time while on duty and ])ay his
penses.
So few there were
that recruits were
Plaintield,
who
drawn from eight
dift'erent
own
ex-
the sacrilice
towns,
viz.
:
Goshen, Chesterfield, Savoy, Windsor, Cum-
mington, Hawley and Ashtield.
of the
felt e(|ual to
Among
the
first
captains
company were Capt. Eldridge, Levi Cook,
Wm.
Joy, Harry Torrey,* David R. Whiting,* Randall Dyer,
John Mack,* Charles W. Parker and James Cook;
Leonard Cam})bell
*
and Ltni N. Campbell,
later,
all citizens
of
HlSToilY OF PLAiNFIELi).
82
Those
Plainfield.
(^f
the above
marked with a
star after
name, were honored later by being elected field officers
Levi N. Campbell was by
in the 3rd Artillery Regiment.
elected Major, but
vote
Regiment
of the
the unanimous
While he was
declined.
ities, at
captain, in 1847, the state author-
an order for building a new
his request, granted
armory, the old one which stood near the present
site of J.
N. Benjamin's house, having become unfit for use.
contract was given to the late David Shaw,
who
building a few rods east of where Jeremiah Tyrrell
and
It was used
finished
it
as
to the acceptance of the
The
erected the
lives,
Adjutant General.
an armory until the company and regiment
As late
was
removed to the upper
village, re-modeled into a dwelling, and is now owned and
occupied by Mrs. Frances P. Clark (since deceased).
About the time the new armory was built, the state supplied the regiment with the old Springfield musket and
required the rank and file to drill with them, and to practice the manual of arms; but the project was only a partial success, the soldiers not taking kindly to the clumsy
arm, and they were soon called in. About this time the
old four pounder brass cannon were exchanged for new
L. N. Campbell having resigned, he was
six pounders.
succeeded as captain by Edward Bridgman of Goshen,
and he by Levi Gardner of Ashfield. Among the Lieutenants of the comi)any were Madison Knowlton of Ashfield, Henry Joy of Hawley, Abishur Nash, Daniel Stockwell, Philander Packard, Thomas Packard and Ansel K.
Bradford of Plainfield. Bradford was afterwards chosen
disbanded.
as
1
8<)0 it
captain, and held that office
Among
bell,
those
who
served as
sold,
when
company disbanded.
musicians, were L. N. Campthe
William and Abner Gurney, Orson
S.
White,
Lyman
C
WAR
SOLDIERS IN
K. TliJiyer, Leonai'cl and
Collnini. Sylvaniis
J.
Rice.
OF THE REBELLION.
Lyman
S,")
Canij)l)('ll, Millt'ou S.
Orrin Stetson,
Isaiah Stetson,
Shaw and Horace Hamlen. The
Gardner belonged to this company, and will
be well remembered by those members still living. He
nsed to "thumb the i)iece." The cannon liy continuous
firing- soon became heated and I suppose the merest spark
sometimes remained in the breech. It was his duty to hold
Nash, Calvin
Isaac S.
hite Apollos
thumb over the touch-hole while the gun was being
re-loaded.
As soon as he removed it, the draft of air thus
his
admitted fanned the latent spark within, and a discharge
A
immediately followed.
was usually
was sometimes
without this. He never iiinched, though Ids thuml) was
sometimes badly burned, and never permitted a premature
worn on the thumb
Among
cot of deerskin
for protection, but he
members of the company Capt.
Ansel K. Bradford, Isaac S. Nash and Chas. S. Stetson
served in the civil war, and probably a number of otliers.
discharge.
the
SOLDIERS IN
Plainfield
WAR
furnished during
an excess of seven over
the
OF THE REBELLION.
names occurring
all calls.
in the order of their enlistment, to-
gether with the regiment and
served, also date of
death.
Mass.
war sixty-one men.
The fcdlowing is a list,
this
company
in
whicli they
mustering in and of discharge or
Infantry
is
understood, and their rank as
private, unless otherwise stated.
Co.
Chauncey C. Shaw,
H
Wesley Woodard, Corp.
Newell Dyer,
2d.,
do. 2d enlistment,
C
C
and
Reg't.
27
'^
ol
12
Mustered
Sept. 20,
Oct.
•'
1,
12,
Sept. 12,
In.
Discharged.
'dl.
Mar.
31,
'o:}.
"
Oct.
—
'02.
"
Apr.
11,
Dec.
12,
'(io.
"
'(;:}.
HISTORY OP PLAINFlfeLD.
84
and Reg't.
Co.
Henry Y. Town. C
4
Mustered
N.Y.Ind. Bat. Oct.
Sherlock H. Lincoln,
E
Hosea L. Thayer,
E
"
H. Dwig-ht Gloyd,
C
:51
Feb.
Wm.
K
2:5
Aug.
"
"
A. Hallock,
do. 2d enlistment,
W.
Cook,
Almon M. Warner,
Cav.
H
Lorenzo Streeter. Corp.
Nelson
1
Lt.,
'-u
do. 2denlist'nt. 1st
Dec. 9.
" 10.
"
••
''
"
'"
"
Sept. 20,
"
"
"
F
Wesley Gurney.
40
—2 H.Art.
Hay ward. Jr. Corp. F
F
Samuel W. Jones,
Stephen
Robert P. Loud,
do. 2d enlistment,
Stetson,
W.King,
Clifford Packard. Corp..
W. Shaw,
Allen Smith,
do. 2d enlistment,
Wm.
40
40
"
"
'•
••
June
Oct.20,'04.
July
29,
"
Sept.
3, '0)5.
2(5, '02.
July
29,
"
''
"
"
"
"
"
**
"
'03.
Sept.
3, '05.
Sept. 20, '02. July 29,
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
10.
"
"
'•
29,
"
"
"
"
H.Art. June
d.
5, '03.
Sept.
'03.
*'
"
'•
"
"
'(i5.
30, '03.
"
40
28.
Dec.
•"
Edwards Warner, F
Alden H.Dyer,
Ira W. Hamlen, Corp., "
"
5, "03.
"
2
14,
Sept. 20, '02.
'"
—
21, '03.
"
"
Sept.
"
*'
Nov.
Aug.
Aug.
"
''
A 2 H.Art. May 28,
40
20, '05.
Sept.26,02. d. June20,'63.
'
F
July
•"
A 2 H.Art. May 27, '03.
do. 2d enlistment,
31,
'03. d.
Chas. C. Gloyd,
Theodore
"<I3.
'^
46
"
Jan.
"
15.*t)2.
"
Josiah Rood,
21, "Oo.
"
"
Geo.
July
Aug.
"
S.
'f)2.
"
'"
Dyer,
Chas.
14,
1,
40
do. 2d enlistment,
'(54.
Nov.
Dec.
F
J.
17,
"
'(12.
4.
F2H.Art.
'•
Franklin Cook,
Newcomb
1,
Oct.
"
Fordyce A. Dyer, 2d Lt. F
Discharged.
In.
18. '01.
^•
"
3. '05.
Sept.20, 02. d. June 28,63.
^'
"
"d. Jan.19, "
"
"
July
29.
"
WAR
SOT>DIERS IN
OF THE REBELTJOX.
Co. and Reg't.
Justus
do.
W.
2(1
Oiirney.
F
enlistment.
—
Oliver C. Burr.
E
Wm. W. Vanalstine,
Wm. J. Nash,
—
D
F
John C. Dean.
Arthur W. Robinson,
Winthrop B. Robinson, "'
H. Art. June
W
2
"
5. "C'^.
Deserted.
)c't.
In.'C^.
July
H. Art. Dec.
7. 'r,:^
Di(Ml
1. 'r.4.
Juup
(
Meh.
:U
2
Discharged.
in.
Sept. •<!(;. '('.2.
-to
•>
Mustered
8o
H. Art. Aug.
25.
"
"
"
'•
"
2'.),"ii3.
l!)."<i5.
2i;,
•'
'''
m. L. Lucas,
"
John Stewart.
*'
G. H.Taylor, Hos. Stew.
Sept.
May 2:5.
'•
1.
•
The following persons were drafted and obtained subGloyd. Xahum
1S(J3. Nathan Barton. Joseph
stitutes.
bsii-t,
S. Packard, Horatio A. Shaw. James A. Winslow.
<
W.
Stillman F. Dyer, Levi
).
Gloyd.
The following persons were drafted in l.sc.:!. and rejected.
Henry W. Beals, Clias. C. Clark, Ansel B. Cole. Newell
Dyer, 2d. Jeremiali T. Gardner, Geo. Richards. Thaddeus
Rood. Sylvester Stetson.
The following
names
are the
of substitutes furuislied
:
Alfred Videtto.
Tliaddeus Connors. Si)ringtield.
Morris Bishop.
Thos. Figges, Boston.
Danford Glazier.
Arthur Hitchcock. Charlemont.
Milo Lucas.
James Stanard. Guilford, Vt.
Peter Taylor.
The following
were credited
t(^
Plaintield
men were
Co. and Reg't.
Isaac
S.
in the service
but
some other town:
Nash,
D
Charles Gurney,
E
Edw.
I
F. HamIen,Sergt.
:U
:5r
52
Mustered
In.
July;n,'(i2.
Hi,
2.
"
kM. July
11.
"
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Discharged.
June
14.
•f;5.
2,'t;:).
"•
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
86
Co. and Reg't.
Latham,
Sidney H. Latham.
James Wetherbee,
Almorin
S.
HaiTison Loud.
Sept. 10, "
"
"
......
C
10
I
57
June
Mch.
other towns, as given below
W.
Edwin A. Atkins,
Wm.
Monson,
Billings,
Sergt.
1
Discharged.
In.
4!»
The following now residing
Geo.
Mustered
D
Sept.
..
21, '61,
1,
63.
..
..
"
Dec. 21,
Aug.
10.'64. d.
1,'64.
served to credit of
here,
:
E
10;
June
Conn. Cav.
H. Packard, Windsor,
I 40;
;
July
21, "61;
Dec.
Nov.
0,'61
Shepard R. Dyer, Corp., Conway, C
Dec— '64.
;
10, '62;
Sept. 1,'63.
Nov.
ol;
1, '64.
20,
'(il:
9. '65.
Sept.
Onslow Taylor, Corp., Hawley,
Oct.
I 52;
'62;
11,
Aug.
14, '63.
Melvin Packard, Northampton,
Leander
J.
D 34;
Jan.
Beals, Huntington, H. 37;
Jan.
20, '66.
30, '62;
April
4, '64;
Aug.
27, '63.
K
Melville C. Butler, Buckland,
James W. Loud, F
Norman W.
Sept. 26,
it
22 Iowa;
Stetson, Cheshire,
1S(52,
18
60;
Aug.
men from
I 49;
July
These were
all
June
Dec.
3, '64.
14, '65.
Sept. 19, 62; Sept. 1,'63.
Plainfield
being by far the largest number
one time.
22, '64;
14, '62;
members
were mustered
who
of
enlisted at
Co.
F
in,
any
46 Mass.
Only one man was killed while in service, Charles Gurney,
son of Wm. Gurney, at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Six died,
from disease, viz. Alden H. Dyer, son of Samuel Dyer, at
Newbern, N. C, of typhoid fever, Jan. 19, 1863. His remains were brought to Plainfield for interment. Franklin Cook, son of James Cook, died at Beaufort, N. C,
June 20, 1863. Wm. Edwards Warner, son of Wm.
:
—
—
Warner, died
fever.
Newbern, N. C, June 28,
Rood died on shipboard,
at
—Josiah
1863, of
typhoid
24 hours out of
—
PENSIONERS.
Boston harl)or, July
tion caused
by
isi;;).
1(>,
<^7
He was
sea-sickness.
in poor health
army and was unable
of the time while in the
and oxliaus-
of coiisuinption,
to
most
do regular
His courage was good, however, and he embark-
duty.
ed at Newbern, feeling that
when he
home
reatdied
his
health would improve, but his strength gave out and he
His body was brought home for
died as above stated.
terment.
— Lieut.
died
Newbern. N. C.
at
He was
Fordyce A. Dyer, son
yellow fever, Oct.
of
in-
of Albert Dyer,
2(i,
LSlil.
detailed as City Inspector during the prevalence
of the yellow fever
and
fell
a victim of this terrible disease.
His remains were subsequently brought home for interH. Harrison Loud, son of James Loud, died
ment.
—
Aug.
1.
])ital,
Philadel})hia,
1S(;4.
Wm. W.
Chestnut Hill hos-
of ty})hoid dysentery, at
and was l)rought home for burial.
Vanalstine (colored)
service, but the
is
reported as dying in the
Adjutant General's
rolls
give no particu-
lars.
PENSIONERS.
The following named
veterans,
now
residing here, are
in receii)t of i)ensions:
Edwin A. Atkins,
84
])er
mo.
$cS
"
"
Cook, $8 "
'^
Leander J. Beals,
Nelson
W.
Norman W.
Mrs.
Wm.
H. Packard,
"
$U
''
Onslow Taylor,
"
Stetson, 8S per mo.
pensi(jn of
$l"-i
i)er
Susan E. Taylor, widow of Dr. G.
nionth,
per mo.
Melvin Packard, $10
Mary A. Dunning, widowed mother
Dunning, draws a
-SO
Samuel J.
month, and Mrs.
of
H. Taylor, ^S per
HISTORY OF PLAIXFIELD.
88
G.
Mountain
here in
KS<S!».
A.
It
POST.
R.
Miller Post No.
198,
consists of 22
1891 are as follows
G. A. R.. was organized
The
members.
officers for
:
Commander,
E. A. Atkins.
Senior Vice Com.. Onslow Taylor.
"
Geo, W. King.
Junior "
Adjutant, Nelson
Quartermaster,
J.
W. Cook.
W. Loud.
Chaplain, A. N. Hubbard, Windsor,
Officer of the
"
Day, Shepard R. Dyer.
Guard, L.
Sergeant Mcijor, Geo.
J. Beals.
W.
Billings.
Q. M. Sergeant, Wells P. Taylor, Ashfield.
Surgeon, M. C. Butler.
^
-D
Bearers.
Color
T
(
^
It
any
is
John Campbell, Savoy.
n^^.,,,^,, ^^ g^etson.
^
believed that this post covers the largest area of
in the state,
it
having members from seven different
towns and three counties. Capt. Edward F. Hamlen, chief
clerk of the Executive Department (jf the State, who resides here a portion
Post.
of the
summer,
is
a
member
of this
CHAPTER
XI.
College Graduates and Professional Men.
[The writer
is
indebted to an article in the Hampshire County Gazetteer
from the pen of the Rev. Solomon Clark,
for
much
of the material for this
chapter. ]
LAWYERS.
Cyrus Joy, sou
graduated at Williams College
of Jacob,
iulSll. Studied law and practiced in Northampton, afterwards in tliis town. Removed to Phibulelphia, where
he deceased a few years since.
Hosea
forty years at the West, hav-
F. Stockwell, lived
New
ing an extensive i)ractice in
Philadelphia,
().
Elisha Bassett, son of Thomas, for half a century connected with the U.
Alden
S.
District
Vining graduated
B.
Court
at
at Boston.
Williams College
New
Died in
Located in Bridgeport, Conn.
in
Haven.
Erastus N. Bates graduated at Williams College in
studied law, but his health did not allow
practice.
Has been
twice, at least,
him
State
ISi'-).
to
185:),
pursue
its
Treasurer of
Illinois.
E. Livingstone Lincoln, son of
Willams College
in
185:5.
Died in Westfield, Mass., in
Almon M. Warner,
Isaac
Admitted
K.,
to the
graduated at
bar in
1858.
185!».
son of James,
Cincinnati, O.
(89)
is
now
in practice at
90
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
CHAS.
Mid^K^l^n
DUDLEY WARNER.
PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS.
EDITORS.
91
EDITORS AND LITERARY PERSONS.
Gerard Hallock
genealogical liistory of Hallock
(see
family.)
Charles Dudley Warner, son of Jnstus Warner,
was
on the homestead where the
late
born Sept.
Francis
IS-^!),
l"-^,
W. Joy
graduated at Hamilton College in
an author and
1851.
Is well
known
as
one of the editors of the Hartford Conr-
is
The engraving
ant.
He
a mile north of the village.
lived,
graph, and shows
it
his birth X)lace
of
as
now
it
is
from a photo-
appears.
Mrs. Fidelia Cook, daughter of Stephen Hayward. for
some time superintended the literary department
of the
Springfield Republican.
Mrs. Martha
Nash
J.
Lamb
(see genealogical history of Jacol)
family.)
PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS.
James Hayward,
Was
Jr.,
graduated at Harvard
in
isi!).
Afterwards professor of mathematics
tutor there.
and natural philoso]diy.
Published
" Elements of Ge-
ometry."
Isaac
Was
years.
Tilly
2,
Newton Lincoln graduated
at
Williams
in 18-17.
professor of Latin and French at that college for nine
Died
in
is*;-^.
Brown Hayward,
Graduated
1797.
years a teacher.
at
son of Capt. James, ])orn April
Harvard
in
182(».
Was
for
many
Later a preacher in the Swedenborgian
denomination.
Alden Porter Beals, son
Williams
years,
in
much
1849.
of
High
of
the time at
deceased a few years since.
Dea. Robert, graduated at
more than 30
Stamford, Conn., where he
.school teacher for
)
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
93
Francis Torrey. superintendent of schools in Newark.
N.
J., (see
Charles
Williams
genealogical history of Josiah Torrey family.)
Lyman Shaw,
in 1864.
Has
son of Dr. Samuel, graduated at
many
for
years taught a classical
school at Astoria, N. Y.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Samuel Shaw.
Dana Shaw.
(See Chap. IX.)
Josiah
Shaw
Settled in
Wil-
(See genealogical history of
family.
Washington Shaw, nephew
above.
of
liamsburg, Mass.
Joseph Richards, a brother of the missionaries, long a
physician in Hillsdale, N. Y.
Chilion Packard, in early
Seth H. Pratt, went
Newell White,
still
life
went South.
West many years
ago.
living in Pennsylvania.
Royal Joy, studied with Dr. Samuel Shaw and settled in
Cummington.
Francis Pratt, a practicing |)hysician in Ohio.
Newton Robinson, also a physician in the same state.
James F. Richards, son of Jason, a physician in Andover, Mass.
Lewis Whiting, deceased a few years since
in Saratoga,
N. Y.
J.
Emerson Warner, son
of
James, now practicing in
Sterling, Va.
Daniel E. Thayer, a physician at Adams, Mass.
Dr. Shepard L.
Hamlen was a
dentist in Cincinnati, O.
Dr. Joseph Beals, a long time dentist in Greenfield, Mass.
Geo.
Biirt,
a dentist in Springfield, Mass.
Samuel Francis Shaw, son
of Dr. Samuel,
was born
at
PHYSICIANS.
Ol)
7. 1^:V.].
He was titted for college at the
Northampton Collegiate Institute. Entered Williams College in 1852, and was graduated in 1855.
After graduation
Plaintield. Se{)t.
home four years, studying medicine with
making collections of native plants and
he remained at
his
father and
He
birds.
studied medicine at the College of Physicians
New
A
and Surgeons
in
months
During
he entered the navy as assistant surgeon.
later
York, graduating
his service of nineteen years he
voyages, visiting the
West
China, Japan and Siberia.
laide Roberts,
in
ISi;-^.
made many
few
long-
Indies, the Azores, Peru, Sitka,
He married
Oct.
daughter of Edward Rol)erts,
'^7,
1S77,
Esc}.. of
Ade-
Phila-
delphia, and sister of the well-knowm artist. How^ard Rob-
whose statue
erts,
of Fulton
is
in the Capitol at
After spending a year with his wife
ton.
in
Washingtraveling
through Europe, he resigned his surgeon's commission and
settled in Philadel])hia.
St.,
Dec.
presence.
7, 1HS4:.
His
Dr.
tall
He
Shaw
home 1IK)!» Walnut
man of connnanding
died at his
w^as a
and well j)roportioned
feet in height, together witli a
handsome
figure, over six
face
which was
lighted up by a pair of blue eyes of unusual softness and
beauty, attracted universal attention.
While
his great
dignity of character inspired respect, his unselfishness
who knew him.
Marcus Whitman, noted as
the aflfection of
Dr.
won
all
a missionary, pliysician
and surgeon for more than ten years in Oregon, also for
the long, tedious journey which he made across the Rocky
Mountains in mid-winter to Washington, D. C, when
Daniel Webster was Secretary of State, spent many of his
boyhood days in Plaintield, living until early manhood
with Col. John Packard, whose home w^as the same now
occupied by Albert N. Gurney. He attended the school
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELb.
94
of Rev.
Moses Hallock,
wliicli
perhaps had inueh to do
Having graduated
at the Pittsfiekl medical schocjl, he became in 1835 a missionary of tlie American Boar(L The next year in company with Rev. H. H. Spauhling, they with their wives crossed the Rocky Mcnintains and h)cated in Oregon. Visiting
as surgeon the various forts of the Hudson Bay Co., Dr.
Whitman became convinced that the plan of that company
was to secure that vast territory with all its wealth and
resources for Great Britain. To make the story brief, he
with shaping his sul)seqiient career.
started to cross the continent in mid-winter, reaching Mis-
Here
he engaged to pilot a colony in the spring to the Columbia
River, contradicting the reports that wagons could not
cross the mountains.
Hurrying on to Washington he
called on Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State, and
also on President Tyler, affirming that wagons and emigrants could cross the mountains, which they were loth to
souri in February, 1843, frost bitten
and exhausted.
Webster said, " I am about trading that ivorfhless territory for some valuable concessions in relation to
the Newfoundland cod-fisheries." Dr. Whitman replied
with earnestness, " I hope you will not do it, sir. We want
that valuable territory ourselves." The president finally
" Dr. Whitman, since you are a missionary, I will
said
believe you, and if you take your emigrants over there on
your return, as you propose, the treaty will not be ratified"
In March he was back in Missouri and led a thousand emigrants to Fort Hall. Here the commander of the fort, in
the service of the Hudson Bay Co., offered to give them
believe.
:
pack horses in exchange for their wagons, declaring that
they could not cross the mountains with them.
was
This offer
refused, and after a long but successful journey, he
MINISTEKS.
and
his soo cmigraiits, witli tlieir
])lai?is
wagons, cnievgcd on the
of the Columl)ia River Sept.
was not
Tlie treaty
4, 1S4.').
Oregon and the Nortliern PaeiHc coast
sig"ne(L
were saved
and
1)5
to tlie
United States
zeal of this noble
l)y
the heroism, energy
man.
MINISTERS.
Jephthah Pool, many years ago a
Windsor,
in
i)astor
Mass.
James and William Richards, foreign missionaries.
James Richards family.)
(See
genealogical history of
Wm.
(See Hallock family.)
A. Hallock.
Erastns Dickinson, son of Ebenezer, horn April
Graduated
at
Amherst,
1.
1S()7.
1832.
Austin Richards, D. D., V)rother of the missionaries.
David Rood, horn
Removed with
in
Buckland, Mass., April
his parents to
Plaintield in 1824.
ated at Williams College in 1844, and at
ford theological seminary in 1847.
what
is
25, 1818.
Gradu-
now Hart-
Married Miss A. V.
was ordained,
and they sailed for Natal, So. Africa, the same month, as
missionaries of the American Board to the Zulus. In 18(;0
they visited the old home, and in 1888, after 40 years of
faitliful service, they returned to the United States and
Pixley, sister of Stephen Pixley,
settled at Covert,
Micdi.,
(
)ct.
'].
near Mr. Rood's
deceased from a paralytic shock, April
will stand
ingstone.
1847,
8,
l)rotliers.
18!)1.
He
His name
and endure with the names of Moffat and Liv" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,
from henceforth.
Yea,
saitii
the Spirit, that they
may
works do follow them."
rest from their labors; and
Stephen C. Pixley, born June 23, 182!). Educated for
the ministry. Graduated at Williams in 1852, and at East
their
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
96
Windsor
Hill (Conn.) Theological
Seminary
in 1S55.
Was
Mar-
ordained
Healy
same year, ami entered the service of the
American Board as a missionary. His field of lahor was
among the Zulus with David Rood, with which mission he
He visited the United States and his old
is still connected.
ried Louisa
of Chesterfield in 1S55.
at Plainfield the
home
a few years since.
Isaac
Newton
Lincoln, before mentioned, professor in
Williams College.
Spencer O. Dyer, minister in the Methodist denomination.
James Clark and Thomas Thayer,
Ixjth ministers in the
Baptist denomination.
William A. Hallock,
-^d,
and Leavitt H. Hallock.
(See
Hallock family.)
Rev. Solomon Clark, a native of Northampton, born
March 2, IMl 1. Pastor of the Plainfield church and closely
identitied with the interests of the peoi)le for over 38 years.
He came
here from Canton, Mass., in Jan. ISoS.
Married
Lucy E. Gilbert, widow of W. C.
They have one daughter, Elizabeth
for his second wife, Mrs.
Gilbert, Oct.
5,
1858.
Richards, born Oct.
July
2ti,
1880.
Now
1850.
5,
Married
reside in Chicago.
Wm.
H. Gardiner,
Mr. Clark in ad-
dition to his pastoral duties, has written and published a
which
history of Northam])ton and
its
he particularly excels.
considered a valuable work.
He
is
now engaged
It is
in
old families, in
line
preparing a history of the First
Churcli in Northampton, and
its
members.
DAVID SHAW.
Although he was not a professional man, the author
feels that this work would be incomplete without at least
a brief mention. He was the son of Nehemiah Shaw,
DAVID SHAW.
Was boni
Juiu! 15, 1704, being
tJio
!)t
oldest of a family of six-
His parents lived in a house which stood
opposite the north cemetery on lot now owned by J, N.
teen children.
Benjamin.
His opportunities for obtaining an education
He
were exceedingly limited.
if
any, but nevertheless
attended school very
managed
Was
than ordinary education.
to obtain a
much
little,
better
well versed in the higher
l)ranches of arithmetic and in his calculations used no
down in the text books, but worked after rules
own devising. Was an excellent and accurate surveyor.
He was in the strictest sense a self-educated man.
rules laid
of his
Possessed of great mechanical
skill,
he invented several
useful instruments, which displayed great nicety of workmanshi}),
among them
a seed-sower and an od(jmeter, an
instrument to be attatched to a wheel for measuring
tances.
He married
Elizal)eth Randall,
and lived
dis-
for a
time in Cumniingt(jn, but returned to Plainfield, and in
1S42 built the house just west of the meeting-house, since
occupied by himself and his son Horatio.
business for
many
His principal
toward the latter
part of his life, was repairing watches and clocks, in which
business he had a great local reputation.
Until a few
months before
years, particularly
of forty.
He
form was as erect, his eye as
and his hand as steady as a man
his death, his
bright, his step as nimble,
deceased Oct.
J.
T.
(J,
1884, in his 91st year.
KIRKLAND HAYWARD.
Son of Stephen Hay ward. Left town when a younoman. Became interested in railroads. At the time of the
late civil war was president of the Hannibal & St. Joseph
Mo. railroad. The ])eople of Missouri were quite evenly
divided in sentinu^nt ])etween the Union and
7
rel)el cause.
HISTOiiY
!»H
Mr.
Hayward was
stantial aid
OP^
a strong
the cause.
to
PLAlNFidLd.
Union man, and rendered
On
siit^-
this account, as well as a
toward gaining possession of the H. &
Jo. R. R. several prominent rebels made an attempt to
|:>reparatory step
St,
,
They took him into custody one night, and
Mr. Hay ward, who had not
all entered an empty box-car.
been bound, managed in some way to slip out of the door,
which he slammed together and locked, thus completely
turning the tables on his would-be captors. They were of
course unable to escape. Mr. Hay ward at once ordered an
engine to be attached to the car, and it was with its inkidnap him.
mates taken
to the eastern
were delivered
up
to the
part of the state, where they
Federal authorities.
CHAPTER
Xli.
Census.— Valuation. — List op Votehs.— Political Parties.— CAMPAifilf of
Bits from the Old Records.— Incidents and Reminiscences. — Fires.
The
followin,^' figures sliow tlie p()})ul;iti()n of
tlie
Isio
town
for tlie last liuiulred years:
1700—4:58.
1840— !ll().
1870—521.
1800—797.
1850—814.
1875—481.
1810—977.
1855-652.
1880—457.
1820-9:30.
1800-639.
1885-45:5.
18:30—984.
1805—579.
1
Tlie deatlis in the last decade ()iitnuni])ei" tlie
:37.
l)ii'ths l)y
This shows that 10 more have moved into town than
have removed from town
in that time.
The writer
the opinion that the poi)ulatioii has reached
figures
the
s:H)— 4:30.
and that the next census
will
its
is
of
lowest
show an increase from
last.
The following
is
from the Assessors' books for
No. of residents assessed on proi)erty,
*'
" non-residents
"••'•'
"
" Polls
"
1800:
100
^i
147
Assessed value of personal estate,
"
" land,
"
"
" buildings,
"
$ :37,880
Total assessed valuation,
$152,405
Tax
rate per $1,000,
70,000
38,525
$16
(99)
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
100
Acres of
assessed.
liiiid
12.71)5
No. of (Iwelliii^-liouses,
No. of
14.S— Cows,
horses,
other tlian cows, 302
lli;
440— Sheep, 300— Neat
— Swine,
LIST OF VOTERS.
Ase.
Edwin A.
Benjamin, James N.
Barton, Henry S.
Barton, Nathan
Atkins,
Barton, Geo. N.
Burt,
Sumner
Burt,
Edmund
Burt, Chas. R.
Burt,
Orsamus
C.
Barker, Isaac T.
Beals. H. Harrison
Beals,
Henry W.
Beals,
Fred W.
Leander J.
Beals,
Blanchard, Oliver
Blanchard, Geo. A.
Bogart. Mandeville
Bogart, John
W.
Billings, Geo.
Butler, Melville C.
Campbell, Leonard
Cole, Ansel B.
Cole,
Arthur
Cole, Fred
T.
S.
Cook, John F.
12)}.
MARCH
2.
ISOl.
cattle
OTERS.
Age.
Gloyd,
Jose])li O.
Gloyd, Edwin
S.
Amos
K.
Griggs,
Gui'iiey,
James
GiiriiQy,
Albert N.
F.
Gould, Daniel H.
Gould, Clark F.
Harris, Geo. E.
Harris, Daniel
Harris,
James
P.
Holden, Chas. N.
Holden, Frank A.
Howes, Mark E.
Ingraliam, Frank C.
Jones. William
W.
W.
Joy, Lorenzo
King, Geo.
Kinney, Edwin R.
Kinney, Tlieron E.
Loud, James
W.
Mason, Ira
Mason,
Tlios.
G.
Mason, Lemuel
Mason, Ezra H.
Mason, Edward
W.
McCloud, Edward L
Nasli,
James A.
Packard, David
Packard, Sylvester
Packard,
Wm.
H.
Packard, Lutlier
W.
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
102
Thayer, Samuel B.
Tirrell,
Almou
B.
Tirrell, Russell
74
White, Liician A.
31
Whiting,
76
Wheeler, Thos. K.
Wm.
39
C.
77
78
Tirrell,
Arthur R.
37
Wheeler,
Norman
32
Tirrell,
Orren
68
Willcutt. William
55
Tyrrell,
Jeremiah
83
Willcutt, Geo. L,
33
Torrey, Merritt
65
Willcutt, Horace
63
Torrey, Alden L.
30
Winslow, William
Winslow, James A.
51
Torrey,
E Iwin
J.
69
T.
Torrey, Geo. A.
30
Whole number,
The following persons are
register as voters, but
Eugene
F.
131.
eligible,
have not done
ander, Henri H. Fenton,
coln,
78
Wm.
Parke]-,
or soon will be, to
so
Clias. L.
:
Alex-
H. Leete, Newton K. Lin-
Clark
W,
Streeter,
Lyndon
Wheeler, Rev. John A. Woodhull,
POLITICAL PARTIES.
Plainfield, like
most of the Western Hampshire towns,
ever since the formation of the present prominent political
parties, has
been strongly Republican.
At
the last Presi-
dential election, 94 Republican votes were cast, 15
cratic
and
chairman
3
Prohibition.
of the
Chas. C. Clark
is
Republican town committee and
Cleveland of the Democratic.
have no town organization.
Wm.
The Prohibitionists
Probably
history of the town or of the nation
at
Demo-
the present
M.
as yet
no time in the
has political ex-
citement run so high as in the Presidential campaign
when Martin Van Buren and Richard M,
Johnson, Wm. Henry Harrison and John Tyler were
of
1840,
the opposing candidates for President
ident.
and Vice Pres-
Several mass meetino^s were held in Painfield that
BITS
fall,
FROM THE OLD RECORDS.
10:5
which speeches were made and songs sung
at
in
the interest of the favorite candidates. Harrison and Ty-
"Tippecanoe and Tyler too," " Log cabin and hard
cider," were the war cries of the whigs.
On one of tliese
ler.
occasions, a
wagon
'.]()
feet in length, specially constructed
for the purpose, containing OO ])ersons,
teen yoke of oxen, driven
came down from
skill to
and drawn
l)y thir-
Russell Tirrell and others,
" Hallockville."
It
required no
little
engineer the cumberous and lengthy vehicle around
the numerous curves, l)ut
many
l)y
it
was
predictions to the contrary.
safely d(jne, in spite of
The writer has
in his
possession a tattered banner which did service during that
memorable campaign, bearing this iiiscription "PlainWhigs, True to Liberty and the Constitution. Nov.
:
field
On
2 Tells the Story."
the reverse
and Dick, Hang up your
ing."
The vote
fiddle.
is
inscribed " Martin
Tip and Tyler are com-
was as follows
Van Buren electc^rs, 27.
of Plainfield that fall
Harrison electors,
BITS
ITii
;
for
:
For
FROM THE OLD RECORDS.
March 10, 17S!>, "Voted that the log-house Ichabod Pool
put up on Doct. Solomon Bond's land, l)e made use of fov
a pound for the District." An article was inserted in the
warrant for annual town meeting for many years " To
see if the town will allow horses and swine to goe at large
the present year." It was usually voted that swine at
go at large, if well yoked and ringed.
was voted to build a stone pound 30 ft.
S(|uare, the height and thickness of the walls being specified, and that the contract be set up at vendue to the lowest
Struck off t(j Oliver Robinson for $o7. For some
l)idder.
reason he failed to build it. and March 12, I7'.»s, it was
least be allowed to
April
;5,
1797, it
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
104
"Voted to Ijuild a wooden pound, thirty feet square, in
same manner that Cummington jMjund is built. To
be built of hemlock timber by the first of July," This
was built and used until 1807. April G, 1807, it was voted
to rejiair the pound; then the vote was reconsidered, and
a " committy," consisting of John Hamlen, Jacob Nash
and Edward Curtis, was appointed to inspect the old pound
and report whether it was worth repairing, and voted to
adjourn " fourteen night," to await their decision. They
reported it not worth repairing, so it was set up at vendue
and struck off to Josiah Torrey for 80 cts. Then voted to
tlie
build one of stone " on the north side of the road, about
40 rods west of Joel Carr's,"
This spot
is
a
little
west of Charles Dunham's, and part of the wall
The south wall was
be seen.
and
to be
'Sw
north-
may
still
feet thick, the others
Tlie contract was
awarded to Tinn^thy Packard for $39.
Aug. -^0, 1789, " Voted that the District shall procure a
Drum and fife for the use of the foot company of militia.
Voted that Capt. John Cunningham shall purchase the
above Drum and fife."
3 feet,
June
'^7,
diers that
to
average six feet high,
1794,
may
"Voted
to
make up
the pay to the Sol-
turn out to stand Ready to march at a min-
warning for the Defence of their Country, Seven
Dollars per month with what is allowed by the Continent,
exclusive of the Dollar and GO cents per month allowed for
Cloathing and three Dollars Bounty, provided they are
called upon to march."
Sept. 9, 1800, '' Voted to make provision for the Training soldiers at the General muster at Northampton. Voted
that Lt. Jacob Allen, Mr. Elijah Warner, and Mr, Abel
Warner be a committee to procure provision for the comute's
"
FROM THE
BITS
Voted that
l)aiiy.
bread and KM)
be
tlieiv
ll)s.
()L1>
-.^5
KK(^()HI>S.
lbs. Cliecsc.
^Mutton ])r()vided
for
b5, iritS.
•'
A'oted
collect tiax siifldcient to
said
"
pnndiase the toAvn
had been concerned
cate
A
who
in
*'
Es(j[.,
c-onwy-
U)V
named
sto(d< of h il."
])elow in this certili-
Shay's Rebellion."'
persons belonging to Plainlield
List of the several
took and subsci-ibed
Sainnel ]\lather.
(•<>ni])any.
Elijah Warn<"rl)e directed to
tliat
a])pears that the persons
It
Wlieat
lbs.
r.»(i
Voted to allow Mr. Abel Warner live sliillini;s
iiig and taking care of said j)ro\'isi()ii."
Oct.
\()r>
Oath
the
January.
of Allegiance before
17S7. viz.:
Solomon Nash.
No arms were return-
Closes Curtis, Stephen Steth, Isaac Joy,
Salmon Fay.
Tol)ias Green,
ed to me.
Ai)ril
N. B.
S.
IT'.'S,
v\
'*
Voted
to
Voted that
peck measure.
Mather,
Juslicy
Peace.'"
procure a half Bushel and
a set of Brass AVeights be pro-
cured to four i)ounds.
April
r,
1704,
the present year.
in
"Voted
that Samuel Streeter be Sexton
Sd. Streeter
is
Trouble
to Rt'ceixe for his
taking care of the meeting-house, sweeping the Alleys
once
a.
montli, and the
months. Eight
Seats and
Pews once
in
three
shillings.
INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.
Not long after the erection of the nu'cting-houst^ belfry,
as some boys were })hiying arouiul the meeting-liouse, one
of them. Comfort Bea-ls by name, threw up a. stone which
struck the ctxdc whi(di was [)lac'e(l on the summit of the
spire as a weather vane and bent his tail feathers.
His
comrades told him that he would be ])ut to death, which it
is
])resunu'd
straightened
he actually believed, unless he went
them.
u]> a-iul
In this dilemma, he (dimbed up by
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
100
lightning rod as far as
tlie
and then ascended
its
tlie bell,
to the vane.
where he rested awhile,
After restoring the
tail to
proper position, he descended, without meeting with
Years afterward, his son, Levi, when the
any accident.
was about
old meeting-house
in consideration of the
sum
to be torn
down,
of fifty cents to
and
''for
him
in
hand
paid," ascended to the vane from the bell deck in the same
way, removed
and brought
it,
vane was placed on
Wm.
it
down
in safety.
Rol)inson"s barn,
where
This
it
did
service until a few years since.
In June,
1839, as
Capt.
Levi Cook was engaged in
shoeing a yoke of oxen, one of the animals being fast-
ened by a chain to a staple, in attempting to extricate
himself,
out the staple, and in doing this threw
j)ulled
the chain round the man's legs, the hook catching with
what is known as a " log hitch." The ox then took the
road, and ran for about half a mile, dragging the unfor-
tunate
man
self up,
ing,
throw
and
He was
after him.
The Captain retained
by a boy.
the chain, give .the ox a Scotch bless-
oif
invite
finally stopj)ed
his faculties sufficiently to raise him-
him
to
proceed to a locality which
we
fainted.
He was severely
body had not been somewhat protected by his leather apron which dragged under him, his
He recovinjuries would have been much more severe.
ered after a tedious confinement. The shop where he
was at work was the one that stood in the upper part of
the village, nearly opposite where J. W. Sears now lives.
The ox was stopped near the site of the Bates house, midway between the village and A. B. Cole's. The writer
remembers Capt. Cook as being somewhat peculiar, quite
will not
now name, and then
bruised, and
if
his
nervous and excitable, but withal a good neighbor and
INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.
He was
a kiud-liearted man.
for
many
sexton, ringing the bell at noon and
He
years
P.
!)
107
tlie
village
M. as regular
had the care of the meeting-house
and rung the bell for Sunday services. About the time
of the dismission of Rev. D. B. Bradford, the cliurch and
as
sun.
tlie
also
parish were divided on the subject, some being in favor
of his dismissal
who was
the Captain,
One Sunday noon,
and others opposed.
warm
a
friend of Mr.
Bradford,
while in the entry ringing the bell for the afternoon ser-
became involved in a somewhat heated discussion
on the subject with some of the bystanders, in which he
claimed that Mr. Bradford had been mis-used. Just then
Mr. Bradford entered the porch, and overhearing a little
vice,
of
tlie
ed-cifed
conversation, said,
iiKul
Why,
high-keyed voice,
"'
No
who came over
scent being traced as follows
I
Al)()ut the
being
man
aint excited, \mt
Francis, Jacob, Francis,
:
as
He was born
Died Dec.
14, 17S:5.
1S5!),
of
1!),
in
18G8.
William Warner's barn was
"launched," being drawn by two lines of oxen,
assisted
placing
ing,
year
I
in the Mayflower, the de-
Robert, Nathaniel, Levi and Levi, Jr.
Abington, Mass., Feb.
the old
re|)lied
The Captain was a descendant
as the devil."
Francis Cook,
Captain, you're getting
"Excited?"
are you not?"'
in his thin,
I'm
*'
by a company of men, with the intention of
it
on a new
fell in
site,
it
suddenly, without any warn-
a promiscuous heap.
pear, none of the
men
Strange as
it
may
ap-
or oxen were injured.
FIRES.
The following
town.
Probably
is
a
all
list
have occurred in
included
Joseph Beals'
of fires that
are
house was l)urnt February,
not
17S'J.
:
Early in
1
SI
I»
the house
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
lO.S
of
Boiij.
Gardner,
February,
Streeter.
all
its
the woolen factory of Arnold
lS-^5,
Dec.
I'-i,
April
2^,
writing in
IS-'M,
tire,
the last on Dec.
in the northeast district.
3,
Two
1833.
the house of
1835,
now
stands,
Bela
of these
There have also been burnt
four mechanics' sho])S and a small distillery.
liouse
& Naliuni
the house of Stallhani Rice, with
1<S;3.'],
the family heing absent.
Dr. Porter,
"
says:
F(nir school-houses have been
contents,
destroyed by
were
and Warren Gardner.
Jr.
Ira Hamlen's liouse, including a liat mannfactory.
1<S24,
"'
March
Dyer, where John F.
was burned.
28,
Cook's
Mrs. Dyer was frying
which was
spread overhead, the house Ijeing unfinished. The liouse
and barn of Rev. A. H. Sweet, which stood where the
h(mse of the late Mrs. Frances P. Clark now stands, were
doughnuts, and the fat taking hre, ignited
burned one Sunday evening in August,
in
the barn by
with matches.
liis
est.
It
was
set
Probably a hundred people were there
five o'clock,
evening service,
1858.
son, then a small boy, while playing
within ten or fifteen minutes after the
being about
flax
it
and many
Avere
fire
broke out,
it
way
to
on their
being a time of special religious inter-
Nearly everything was saved from the buildings,
including
doors and
windows, and had any proper ap-
paratus been at hand, the liouse could ])robably have
been saved, as a large tank of water holding
many
barrels
— Geo.
Vining had a
barn burned one summer night, said to have been struck
by lightning. Later, about 1860, his house and another
was
near.
There was no insurance.
barn were l)urned at different times. Cause of fire unknown. Fully insured. Not far from this time, an unoccupied house in
the
tiie
north part of the town,
" Livermore " house,
known
as
owned by Leoiuird Joy. was
—
FIRES.
huriuMl.
Mr. Joy
making some
luul
kindled a
repairs on
l(»!t
tire in
tlie intericn-
tlie tive-])lac('
wlnlc
of tlio l)nil(liiig, the
weatlier being cold, and while absent at a neighbors on
some errand, the honse took
2'2.
bsci. the
fire
and was consumed.
$700.
ed.
Feb.
H. Lincoln was l)nrned: sni)i)osed
S.
have taken from a defective
to
of
honse of
chimney.
Insured for
Consideral)le clothing and furniture were destroy-
Mr. Lincoln owned an old house on the
the road, which he
twenty years
repaired
and
0])])Osite side
occu])ied.
— About
old house
formerly occupied by
Samuel Davison, cauglit fire from a. bui'uing
brush heap. The house was unoccupied. Loss small.
since, the
the late
Francis
W.
Joy's carpenter's shop was burned in the
was struck
— A few years later Thomas Wheeler's barn
l)y lightning and destroyed. — The woolen fac-
tory of
C.
spring of ISCo.
S.
Streeter
was burned
contents was nearly total.
No
in ISTH.
insurance.
The
— Ezra
loss of
Tyrrell's
house, occu2)ied by Levi Blanchard, was Imrned in isso.
Sui)posed to have taken
LSSG. the
fire
from a defective
flue.
— April
house of Roswell Davison was l)urned.
The
chimney took fire in the morning and Inirned out, and
being watched through the day was sui)posed to l)e all
saf(\ though still hot at evening.
During the night the
fire broke out, and the house was consumed with most of
its contents.
Mr. Davison was quite ill at the time and
unable to render much assistance. It was nearly burned
down before any helj) arrived. Mrs. Davison and her
daughter carried out some articles, but most of the clothing and bedding removed caught fire and were burned.
In.surance $400.
March 1'2, bsso. the l)arns and carriage4,
—
house of Clark Smith, occu])ied by his son. Wm. C. Smith,
took fire from a heatei- used to warm water for the cattle,
HISTORY OF PLAINPiELl).
110
situated in the extreme south end of a connecting shed,
and were 'consumed, together with six young cattle and
several hogs.
Most of the farming tools were saved. The
house was in great danger and was saved only l)y the most
persistent efforts
The contents were removed,
.
doubtful whether
it
could be saved.
packed for creamery
ice
A
it
being-
large quantity of
use, (but not covered)
between
the house and the burning building, was of great assistance
in saving the house, the
men
being able to stand under
its
shelter at the most critical time, when the fire was nearest,
and throw water on the house with small force pumps.
No insurance on buildings or contents. The roofs of Rev.
Solomon Clark's buildings on the opposite side of the road,
repeatedly took fire, but were extinguished. The saw-mill
of Geo. W, Billings, with all its contents, were burned on
—
the night of April
18,
1890.
They had been
l)lasting logs
and it is thought
might in some way have been communicated to
the sawdust in or near the mill. No insurance. The mill
has been rebuilt, Mr. Billings being aided in it somewhat
by the town's people. Sept. 18, 1890, the barns of W. E.
Shaw were consumed with some sixty or more tons of hay.
for fuel, in the mill yard, during the day,
that
fire
—
Insurance on barns, $500; on hay, $500.
fire is
unknown.
1878,
J.
&
E.
^f the
These barns were on the place formerly
occupied by the late William Warner.
shop of
The cause
Spearman took
fire
— The
blacksmith
on the roof in June,
but was barely saved from destruction by great exer-
—
on the part of the citizens. July 4, 1888, J. W.
Fortunately it was
Sears' house took fire on the roof.
about dinner time and most of the neighbors were at home,
tions
and
was extinguished before
The Insurance company awarded
rallied so quickly that the fire
great
damage was done.
WkEH.
him
fires.
$fM).
Tlio
A lar^-o
town
lias
no
1 1 1
a])])ai'atns
public cistern holding
for extini;iiishino^
many
barrels of wa-
and kept filled by a never-failing stream, was placed
near Mack's store, at least 50 years ago, and is still ke])t
A similar one was placed near the Town Hall in is'.io.
up.
ter,
—
CHAPTER
XIII.
Persons Now Living Here Over 75. Foreigners. — Old Houses. — General Type.
— Original Dwellings Now Standing. — Sinchng Schools.- -" The Old Village
Choir."— Dramatic Club.— " Saddle the Dog.s."— Contrast.
Names and
ages of per sons over
Marcli U, 1891
75, living in Plainfield
:
Mrs. Temperance Atkins, 02
Ira Mason,
Isaac T. Barker,
82
Isaac Parker, (about)
80
Sumner
75
James S]iearman,
S;}
Bnrt,
7(i
(al)out)
Leonard Campljell,
80
Hiram
Mrs. L. Campbell,
7(i
Lyman
K. Thayer,
79
Levi Clark,
88
Samuel
B. Thayer,
75
Mrs. Levi Clark,
88
Russell Tirrell,
70
Mrs. Susan Cook,
88
Jeremiah Tyrrell,
83
Millson
Mrs.
S.
Colburn.
Roxana Dunham,
Stearns.
81
8;}
Thos. K. Wheeler,
78
77
Wm.
78
C. Wliiting,
Nancy Williams.
Bethuel Gloyd,
81
Mrs.
Mrs. Martha Hamlen,*
85
William Winslow,
Emalvin Win"-,
Mrs. Margaret Knipping, 85
83
78
83
FOREIGNERS.
Very few
become permanent residents
James and Edward Spearman, Irish, and
foreigners have
of this town.
by trade blacksmiths,
settled
here about
LSo-t.
Neither
were ever naturalized and therefore did not vote.
were industrious, respectable
Mrs
Hamlen died May
17, 1891.
(112
citizens,
They
and amassed quite
Old
a competence.
still
Edw.-ird
his
here,
lives
Housfis.
died in
sister,
113
October,
18S7.
James
Margaret Knipping, keeping
— Neil
Swanson, a Swede, came here with
his family about 1888.
His father and mother followed
house for him.
in 1890.
Carl and
also arrived here
Swan
Petterson, relatives of Swanson,
about the same time as SwansDU.
are all industrious, peaceable citizens, most of
The above named
well educated.
now
them
They
fairly
are all the foreigners
living in town.
OLD HOUSES.
V
The
style
first frame houses Iniilt were nearly all of the same
and general plan; one story in height, front door in
center, opening into a small entry about 4x8.
This opened
on each side into a front room about IGxlG; each of these
into a kitchen and general living room at the back of the
At
house about 20xlG.
the gable end of the house,
was a
door oj^ening into an entry 4x0, at one side of which a
flight of
above.
narrow and steep stairs ascended to the floor
the end of this entry, a door opened into the
At
By
great kitchen.
the side of this entry door was the en-
trance to the cellar; just beyond a door opened to a bed-
room about
8x9.
At
the opx)Osite end of the
room was a
door opening to another bedroom somewhat larger, and by
the side of
it
a "buttery" of ordinary
the back of the kitchen led to a back
in a separate building.
size.
room
A door from
or woodshed,
In the center of the house was the
capacious chimney, 8 or 10 feet square at the base, by the
which were cupboards in each of the front rooms,
and a big brick oven in the kitchen. A small closet usuThe windows were
ally opened from the front entry.
side of
high above the
8
floor,
and those in the
princi})al
rooms con-
HISTORY OF PLAIKFIELD.
Il4
glass; those in the
tained 24 lights of
(ix8
buttery, 15 lights.
Two bedrooms
were usually finished
the chamber.
in
off
bedrooms and
with very low ceilings
All the nails
used were forged by hand and were quite expensive. This
description fits nine out of ten of the first frame houses,
which are still standing. Some have been retaking out the original chimney and substiby
modelled
tuting a modern one, changing the interior somewhat.
many
of
Of those now remaining
I will
name
in nearly their original condition
the following
part of the town.
Further north on
:
Thos. Mason's, in the southwest
Ashur Holdridge.
Lemuel Mason's, formerly oc-
Original occupant,
West
St.,
cupied by Samuel Thayer, Jr.
St.,
In the east
the Benj. Gloyd house, unoccupied.
j^art,
on Grant
On South
St.,
Bethuel Gloyd's, formerly occupied by his father, Joseph
Gloyd. On Central St., just south of the village, the house
occupied by the family of the late Lewis
Shaw and
L. A.
White, formerly occupied by Josiah Shaw, Jr. This is
Just
in the best preservation of any of its class in town.
is the house built by Josiah first, where
Freeman lived, but the large chimney has been
removed. One fourth of a mile east of this, on Broom
Former
St., is that of O. C. Burt, also well preserved.
occupant Jared Dyer. At the end of Parsons Av, is the
south of this
his son
house of Stephen Parsons, one of the oldest built and occupied by Jacob Nash. South of the meeting-house, on
;
James F. Gurney. This has
been modernized somewhat by the addition of a piazza,
and large windows have been substituted for the old style.
Union
The
St., is
the house of
essential features remain,
including the chimney.
This was formerly occujned by Ichabod Noyes and others.
The house of E. A. Atkins, on High St., was built and
Old houses.
occupied by John Hamleii.
ed of
tlie
It
best materials, and
than ordinary.
It
is
now
was
tlie
in
J.
Lamb
in
an
tlioroug-lily construct-
workniansliip was better
condition.
The
James Spearman.
in the Magazine of
excellent
Rev. Moses Hallock house, occupied
Mrs. Martha
1i6
l)y
article
American History, writes of this house as follows: " A
volume could be written with this picturesque old dwelling
for a text, which even now looks very comfortable in its
antiquity, surrounded by orchards and shade trees, although
shorn of the roses and flowery shrubs which formerly beauIf its walls
tified its front yard.
nent characters
its
who
frequented
could talk, a host of promiit
in the several decades of
history might be introduced to us.
After Mr. Hallock's
was sold, and became for many years the home of
Mrs. Mack, a daughter of Dea. Richards, and her family."
The house of L. K. Thayer on Pleasant St., built and occupied by Abram Clark, is still in nearly its original condition.
The house occupied by Samuel B. Thayer on South
Central St., which Elijah Warner, Sr. built, and where he
lived and died, and after him his sons Cushing and Wells.
The Dea. James Richards house, still standing and in good
condition, is occupied by A. B. Cole.
The old chimney
has been taken out and some minor alterations made in
the interior. The house of C. W. Packard on West Hill,
death
it
has been removed.
The
From
this the
chimney
old Robinson house on
Summit
original occupant, Josiah Torrey.
and N. K. Lincoln's on Pleasant
St.,
are also of this
The house of S. H. Sears just north
house, was built and occupied by Samuel
of the meeting-
St.,
type.
believed to be the oldest house
tensively re-modelled
ago.
He added
now
by Cyrus Joy, Esq. some
,
and is
was ex-
Streeter,
standing.
It
sixty years
a second story, built four chimnies, and
;
History of plainpield.
llf]
altered the interior so that scarcely
These houses were
features remain.
any
of the original
built
all
from 00
to
100 years ago, and as a rule were painted red.
•i
Charles Dudley Warner, in reply to an invitation to be
present at the centennial of the Plainfield church in 1886,
wrote as follows
:
"I was very young when
I
left Plain-
have only occasionally visited it of late years,
interest for me that no other place on earth
an
has
but it
The older I grow the more grateful I am that I was
has.
born in Massachusetts and in that particular hill-town.
I think I owe to its pure air, its noble scenery, the early
field
and
I
purity and simx)licity of
its
manners and the influence
an honorable. God-fearing ancestry, the best that
I
life.
is
in
of
my
was baptized by the splendid old Puritan pastor of
He was in the best sense the
that day, Parson Hallock.
conscience of the town.
selor,
who can measure
generation!
There
is
Scholar, minister, pastor, coun-
the influence of such a
the old red house.
I
man on
his
should advise
to be born in a red house such as that in which
with its rows of fruit trees, its maple orchard,
born,
was
I
its sunny fields and the stone walls that speak as a fence
of wood never can, of security and home."
everybody
"
From
the weather-worn house on the
brow of the
hill,
We are dwelling afar in our manhood
today;
But we see the old gables and hollyhocks still,
As they looked long ago, ere we wandered away
We can see the tall well-sweep that stands by the door
And the sunshine that gleams on the old yellow floor.
hum of the hard-working bees
our father's old orchard once more,
In the broad, trembling tops of the bright blooming
As they busily gather their sweet winter store;
We can hear
At
the low
tiieir toil in
And
And
—
trees,
the murmuring brook, the delightful old horn,
the cawing black crows that are pulling the corn.
;
OLD HOUSES.
We can
hear tbe sharp creak of the farm gate again
the loiid-t-ackling hens in the gray barn near by
With its broad sagging floor and its scaffolds of grain,
And
And
its rafters, that once seemed to reach to the sky;
behold the great beams and the bottomless bay
Where we farm boys once joyfully jumped on the hay.
We
We can seethe low
hog-pen, just over the way.
And the long, ruined shed by the side of the road.
Where the sleds in the summer were hidden away.
And the wagons and plows in the winter were stowed;
And the cider-mill down in the hollow below,
With a long, creaking sweep, the old horse used to draw,
Where we learned, by the homely old tub, long ago.
What a world of sweet rapture there was in a straw
Prom the cider casks there, loosely lying around.
More leaked from
We behold
the bung-holes than dripped on the ground.
the bleak hillsides
still
bristling
with rocks.
Where the mountain stream murmured with musical sound,
Where we hunted and fi.shed, where we chased the red fox,
With lazy old house dog or loud baying hound;
And the cold, cheerless woods we delighted to tramp
For the shy, whirring partridge, in snow to our knees,
Where, with neck-yoke and pails, in the old sugar-camp
We gathered the sap from the tall maple trees.
And
the fields where our plows danced a furious jig,
While we w^earily followed the furrow all day,
Whei'e we stumbled and bounded o'er boulders so big
That it took three yoke of oxen to draw them away;
Where we sowed, where we hoed, where we cradled and mowed,
Where we scattered the swaths that were heavy with dew,
Where we tumbled, we pitched, and behind the tall load,
Tlie broken old bull-rake reluctantly drew.
How we
grasped the old sheepskin with feelings of scorn
oi the old sorrel mare.
And rode up and down through the green rows of corn
Like a pin on a clothes-line that sways in the air;
We can hear our stern father reproving us still.
As the careless old creature " comes down on a hill."
As we straddled the back
We are far from the home of our boyhood to-day,
In the battle of life we are struggling alone;
The weather worn farmhouse has gone to decay.
The chimney has fallen, its swallows have flown.
But Fancy yet brings on her bright golden wings
Her
beautiful pictures again from the past,
And Memory
fondly and tenderly clings
To pleasures and pastimes, too lovely to last.
117
;
;
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
118
We wander again by the river today
We sit in the school-room o'erflowing with fun,
We whisper, we play, and we scamper away
When
our lessons are learned and the spelling
We see the old
is
done.
where apples were kept,
The garret, where all the old rubbish was thrown,
The little back chamber where snugly we slept.
The homely old kitchen, the broad hearth of stone.
Where apples were roasted in many a row.
Where our grandmothers nodded and knit long ago.
cellar
Our grandmothers long have reposed in the tomb;
With a strong, healthy race they have peojiled the land
They worked with the spindle, they toiled at the loom.
Nor lazily brought up their babies by hand.
The
old flint lock musket,
whose awful
recoil
Made many a Nimrod in agony cry.
Once hung on the chimney, a part of the spoil
Our gallant old grandfathers captured at "Ti."
Brave men were our gramlfathers, sturdy and strong;
The Kings of the forest they plucked from their lands;
They were stern in their virtues, they hated all wrong.
And they fought for the right with their hearts and their hands.
Oh! fresh be their memory, cherished the sod
That long has grown green o'er their sacred remains.
And grateful our hearts to a generous God
For the blood and the spirit that flows in our veins.
Our Hallocks, our Whites, and our Warners are gone
But our mountains remain with their evergreen crown,
The souls of our fathers are yet " marching on."
The structure they founded shall never go down.
From
the weather-worn house on the
brow of the
hill
We are dwelling afar in our manhood to-day;
But we see the old gables and hollyhocks still.
As they looked when we left them to wander away.
But the dear ones we loved in the sweet long ago
In the old village churchyard sleep under the snow."
Eugene
J.
Hall.
SINGING SCHOOLS.
As
early as
17!J4,
three choristers were chosen
Churcli and Congregation,"
Lieut.
it
Josepli
was voted
viz.
:
Capt.
for the
James Richards,
Joy and Ensign Thomas Shaw.
to raise $30
*'
In 1798
for the support of a singing
SINGING SCHOOLS.
school.
An
appropiation of $25 was also
be expended for
tlie
same
119
'
made
in ISO-l, to
purpose, under the direction of
Shaw, Capt. Joseph Joy and John Hamlen. James
Richards led tlie singing for many years. Later Dea.
Freeman Hamlen and Capt. Reuljen Hamlen were clioristers; afterward, Wm. J. Shattuck, Horatio A. Shaw and
Josiali
David Shaw and Orson
White were the first
to introduce the violin into the clioir.
Dexter White
brought in the l)ase-viol aliout the same time.
Orson
others.
played the violin
in the choir
S.
about
fifty
years in succes-
few years when he was living in Springfield.
Joseph L. Campbell and Seth W. Clark each x)layed the
violin with the choir for a few years,
Leonard Campbell
sion, except a
played the
flute
and
also the double bass-viol for a time.
These instruments were some years since superseded by
the cabinet organ.
This was played by Mrs. L. A. Wliite
for a time, then by Mrs. Wm. C. Smith.
After she
removed from town Mrs. A. R. Tirrell filled the place.
Mrs. L. A. White is now the regular organist.
An
active interest was taken in sustaining a good choir
and for many years Plainfield excelled in this respect.
Among those who taught singing schools here, were G.
W. Lucas, Col. Asa Barr, Wm. F. Sherwin, Marshall
Q. L. Dickinson, Mr. Harding and Mrs. Sanderson. Mr.
Dickinson has for the third time taught a class here
tlie
As long ago as the old meeting-house was
many as 100 were at one time members of
the clioir. Wm. C. Whiting and wife, both now living in
town, were for 58 and 53 years, respectively, active mempast winter.
standing, as
bers.
degree.
Both retain their voices for singing
One Ford, was the
first
in a
remarkable
who taught music
with the possible exception of Dea. Richards.
here,
—
;
;
!
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
1^0
"the old village
choir."
" I have fancied, sometimes, the Bethel-bent beam
That trembled to earth in the patriarch's dream,
Was a ladder of song in that wilderness rest,
Fioin the pillow of stone to the blue of the blest,
And the angels descending to dwell with us here,
" Old Hundred" and " Corinth" and " China" and " Mear."
"Let
us sing to God's praise," the minister said;
All the psalm-books at once fluttered open at " York,"
Sunned their long dotted wings in the words that he read.
While the leader leaped into the tune just ahead,
And politely picked up tlie key-note with a fork
And the vicious old viol went growling along
At the
heels of the girls, in the rear of the song.
All the hearts are not dead, not under the sod.
That those breaths can blow open to heaven and God
Ah, " Silver Street" flows by a bi-ight shining road,—
Oh, not to the hymns that in harmony flowed,
But the sweet human psalms of the old-fashioned choir,
To the girl that sang alto, the girl that sang air!
—
I need not a wing — bid no genii come
With a wonderful web from Arabian loom.
To bear me again up the river of Time;
When the world was in rhythm, and life was
Oh,
its
rhyme,
When
the streams of the years flowed so noiseless and narrow
That across it there floated the song of the sparrow.
For a sprig of green caraway carries me there.
To the old village church, and the old village choir.
Where, clear of the floor my feet slowly swung.
And timed the
sweet pulse of the praise that they sung,
glory aslant from the afternoon sun
Seemed the rafters of gold in God's temple begun'
Till the
You may
smile at the nasals of old Deacon
Who followed
Brown
he ran the tune down
And dear Sister Green, with more goodness than grace.
Rose and fell on the tunes as she stood in her place,
And where " Coronation " exultingly flows,
Tried to reach the high notes on the tips of her toes!
by
scent,
till
To the land
of the leal they have gone with their song.
choir and the chorus together belong;
Oh, be lifted, ye gates! Let me hear them againBlessed song, blessed singers forever. Amen
Where the
!
!
Benjamin
F.
Taylor.
DRAMATIC CLUB
— CONTRASTS.
121
DRAMATIC CLUB.
A
was organized here about
di'uniatic club
the assistance of Stephen
Hay ward,
Jr.,
Witli
LS70.
a drop curtain and
stage scenery and fixtures to the value of $300 were pur-
A number of plays were successfully rendered,
among them " Uncle Tom's Cabin," and "Paul Pry," all
the characters being local members of the club. It has
chased.
been practically disbanded for several years.
still
good condition, remains in the town
nearly twenty years
in
Jenks,
who went West
member.
excellent actor and an enthusiastic
The
scenery,
hall.
Frank
was an
since,
When "Un-
Tom's Cabin" was played, he took the part of " Phineas Fletcher," and also that of '' Legree." At one of the
rehearsals, at the point where the escape of Cassy is discovered, he, taking his cue, came on the stage hurriedly
cle
and
in
an excited manner shouted,
Saddle the dogs."
forget
it,
I
think none
''
Call out
who were
my
horse,
present will
or the bursts of unrestrained laughter that fol-
lowed, mingled with applause, from the company.
CONTRASTS.
I
can hardly close without contrasting the every day
ing of 100 years ago with that of to-day.
The food
liv-
of our
grandfathers and grandmothers was rye and Indian bread,
johnny cake, pork and beans, and potatoes, with other
garden vegetables in their season. Pies and cake were
esteemed luxuries and were only had at Thanksgiving time
or a wedding.
Wheat
flour in the earlier
days was almost
wheat being raised here. No flour
was brought into town for sale until 1812, when a few barrels were brought from New York State.
Once or twice
a week the capacious brick oven at the side of the chimney
unheard
of,
but
little
182
HISTORY OF PLAINPIELD.
was heated by building a fire in it of "oven wood," fine
and dry. After the fire had burned down, the coals and
ashes were withdrawn, the oven swept with an "oven
broom," and the bread, pork and beans and whatever articles were to be baked, placed inside.
A "bread peel,"
which was a broad, flat, long-handled wooden shovel, was
used for placing and removing articles from the back of
the oven, which was some five feet in diameter. This
oven, although it would now be considered very inconvenient, surpassed all the modern stoves and ranges in its
baking qualities. The table was set with wooden or pewter plates, the parents and older members of the family
only being seated, it being customary at that time for the
children to stand during the meal. The houses were heated and cooking, except baking, was done at open fireplaces, which consumed fabulous amounts of wood.
They
were large enough to take a " back log" 12 or 15 inches in
diameter and at least six feet in length. In front of this,
on huge andirons, was placed the "fore stick," perhaps
one-half as large, with fine wood underneath. The oldest
houses were constructed in such a way that a horse could
be used to draw the immense back log into the house. It
usually lasted two or three days. The fire when once kindled was not allowed to go out from one year's end to the
other, the coals at bedtime
and at such other times as the
was not needed, being carefully covered with ashes to
keep it. Matches were then unknown, and if by accident
fire
or oversight a family lost their
to the nearest neighbors
fire,
with a
a child
was dispatched
skillet or small iron kettle
borrow some live cloals, or if the distance from neighbors was too great, the flint and steel and a little tow were
resorted to. Matches when first introduced were only
to
123
CONTRASTS.
used in emergencies and cost 25 cents for a small box containing perhaps 50. They were called " Lncifers." Near-
made from cloth
cloth
from flax raised
tow
produced at home. Linen and
on the farm, with home-made flannel, supplied the underwear. Men and boys dressed in homespun wool cloth,
ly everything in the
way of
clothing was
either blue or butternut color.
This cloth after being wo-
home, was sent to a cloth-dressing machine, where
The ladies perhaps had a chintz
it was fulled and dressed.
gown purchased at the store for Sunday wear, and the
ven
at
" goodman,"'
if
well-to-do,
had a broadcloth
coat, the
ma-
which had been imported. The boots and shoes
whole family were made by the shoemaker, each
farmer as a rule furnishing his own leather. It was very
common for a shoemaker to travel from house to house
terial for
for the
with his kit of
repair
what
tools,
slioes
stopping long enough to
were required for perhaps
make and
six
months,
It was also common
same way. Such a thing as buying a pair of
shoes at a store was unheard of. Not until as late as 1825
or 1830 were any kept for sale, and then only a few
The loom and large and
prunell " shoes for ladies.
small spinning wheel were among the most necessary
household furnishings. The plows were made of wood,
for a tailoress to
for each family.
travel in the
'
'
covered by a blacksmith with iron plates.
when
first
Cast iron plows
introduced were treated with ridicule, few be-
lieving that they could be used in this stony land without
being broken at once.
to supply butter,
ing
little
or no outside
kejjt a flock
Each
Only a few cows were kept, enough
milk and cheese for family use, there be-
of sheep,
market
for butter.
Every farmer
the surplus wool selling readily.
registered with the
town clerk a description
of his
HISTORY OP PLAINPIELD.
124
ear-mark for
slieep,
viously registered.
which must be
Much
different
attention
from any pre-
was paid
to
raising,
mating, and "breaking" steers; ox teams being
much
more extensively used than now. They were almost the
all farm purposes.
The usual form of
salutation to a superior in social position, or when it was
desired to show respect, was "Your sarvant, sir," or
" Your sarvant, marm," with a lifting of the hat if by a
gentleman, or a courtesy if by a lady. Spirituous liquors
were at that time made use of by all, even the minister.
They were cheap and unadulterated, and the evil effects
resulting from their use were not as marked as at the present day. Not a building could be raised, nor any arduous
work undertaken without an abundant supply of rum. I
am informed by Mr. Levi Clark, who, although 88 years
—
only team used for
of age, retains his mental faculties in a
remarkable degree,
that about the year 1820 twelve hogsheads of
rum and
other liquors were brought into town and sold in a single
year,
and probably
this did not represent the
whole amount
drank, to say nothing of unlimited quantities of cider.
is
It
not perhaps worth while to present in detail the style
and customs of the present age
going.
strides.
in contrast with the fore-
We live in an age when improvement
What
is
new and wonderful
a twice told tale to-morrow.
any wonderful invention.
We
cease to be surprised at
Let us be thankful that we live
in this age, rather than in the so-called "
of our fathers
makes rapid
to-day, becomes like
good old days"
and grandfathers.
HATFIELD EQUIVALENT.
(The following matter taken from the " History of Hawley," by
Atkins, came to hand too late for insertion in the proper place.)
In
IGoi),
G.
some services rendered, the
Mr. Simon Bradstreet (afterward
in consideration of
General Court granted to
Wm.
HATFIELD EQUIVALENT.
Governor) 500 acres of land, and
Daniel Denison, with the
"at any place west
that
it
be
same anKnmt
tlie
privilei;-e
V25
to Maj.
of locating the
same
of the Connecticnt River, provided
full six miles
from the place intended
for North-
ampton meeting-honse, upon a straight line." Gov. Bradstreet had first choice and chose Hatfield north meadows,
beginning at the north end of the street and running north
and west
to the ponds.
Maj. Denison took his north of the
ponds, extending north on the river one mile, and west
from the river 350
was
settled,
rods.
Immediately after
and the inhabitants began
As they were
to
this Hatfield
murmur about
oflf from Hadley,
remove his claim and
accept 1000 acres lying north of Maj. Denison 's, and in
addition they were to pay the Governor 200 pounds. So
after the transfer had been made they had a strip tliree
miles long and 250 rods wide, taking all the meadow land
these grants.
that
not then set
town induced Gov. Bradstreet
to
on that side the river for three miles.
became a separate town she
felt
After Hatfield
uneasy about this possess-
ion of so
much
acres, as
an equivalent for the lands originally granted to
farm lands. So she petitioned
"
the
Great and General Court" for some redress for her
grievance and the legislature in 1744 gave her the lands
lying adjacent to Huntstown, now Ashfield, in all 8004
of her best
Bradstreet and Denison.
The
basis of this division of the
was the valuation of estates for taxamanner of the original division of the town
Hatfield Equivalent
tion, after the
There were 83 recipients of this bounty
which included all the tax-payers of Hatfied at that time.
Their names are given in the records, with the number of
acres and rods given to each. These proprietors met at
Hatfield May 0, 1705, and passed sundry votes in regard
of Hatfield in 1084.
HISTORY OF PLAINFiELt).
126
to laying
all to
out ways tlirougli the tract.
These ways were
be four rods wide and so laid as not to divide any
proprietor's
lot.
and the vacancies
Only a few
of these
left for that
ways were ever used,
purpose were the occasion
numerous disputes in after years among the owners of
the abutting lots. The matter was finally settled by a
committee chosen by the town for that purpose, so far as
of
concerned that portion of the tract lying in Plainfield.
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OP THE EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. WITH
ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES.
EBENEZER BISBEE,
Ebenezer Bisbee, one of the
was born
in
1754,
town,
settlers of the
first
probaljly in
He
Bridgwater, Mass.
served a sliort time in the Revolutionary
here as early as 1770, on the farm
now
army and
settled
occupied by
Wm.
He was
H. Packard, in the southwest part of the town.
chosen one of the Selectmen in 1788 and served 15 years.
Died Jan.
12, 1837.
Children
:
Isaac, born April
1781;
James, Aug.
Aug.
G,
11,
1788; Jennett,
died Sept.
3,
170*;;
1770; Barton, April
2,
1783; John,
Aug.
July
10, 1700;
Galen, Sept.
1,
3,
1785;
Arza, Aug.
3,
Nabby,
11, 1702,
1707; Mehitable,
May
25, 1800.
Martha Robinson, Nov.
1.
Isaac mar.
2.
Barton mar. Lovina Bird, Oct.
3.
4.
6,
26, 1803.
James mar. Polly Packard, Jan. 28,
John mar. Mary Lyon of Goshen,
spent most of his
life in Plainfield.
1801.
1807.
Feb., 1810.
Died Jan.
10,
He
1870 in
consequence of injuries received by falling down a flight
of stairs.
He
L. Campbell,
spent his last years with his daughter, Mrs.
his wife
having deceased Feb,
(127)
25, 1800, at
128
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELb.
the age of 72.
Children: Eliza M., born Dec.
Jared, Nov.
13,
1818;
1812
25,
John
Lovisa, April
;
Foster, April
1828, died Oct. 17, 1838;
5,
James
D.,
Cyrus
May
Eliza,
Feb.
D.,
Jan.
born Jan.
184G;
14,
15, 1850;
8,
1838;
James
Flora E., Jan.
7,
May
Oct.
1834.
5,
F.,
27, 1852.
15, 1835.
Children
:
Har-
and Carrie.
Nabby, daughter of Ebenezer, mar. Rufus
Nov. 29, 1804.
Jennett, daughter of Ebenezer, mar. Stephen
Sept. 11, 1812, died Feb.
2,
P.
Bates,
Hayward,
1838.
Galen, son of Ebenezer, mar. Penelope Patch, Jan.
Children, born in Plainfield, Lucinda, Nov.
1824.
Mehitable,
March
8,
:
1844;
John
1847;
29,
Uzal mar. Olivia Longley of Hawley.
Alice, Julia
14,
Cliildren
19, 1837.
Lovisa mar. Leonard Campbell, April
riet,
June
1829.
Martha H.,
D.,
L.,
Adams, June,
Eliza mar. Sylvester Higgins of No.
Jared mar. Hannah Fowler, April
Almon
Uzal, April
18, 1815;
1821;
1810;
Ifi,
daughter of
Ebenezer,
mar.
1,
27, 1824.
Joel Lyon,
1821.
JOSEPH BEALS.
Joseph Beals was born in Bridgwater, Mass., in
He came
still
here with his family in 1779,
a part of
Cummington.
Li
when
1789,
scarcity, he suffered the loss of his
this
1752.
town was
a year of great
house and nearly
all
by fire.
from this calamity, was the subject of the tract, "The
Mountain Miller," by Wm. A. Hallock. It has been printed in the French and German, as well as the English language, and its circulation has reached several hundred
thousand copies. The second house which he built is the
his provisions
His religious experience, dating
JOSEPH BEALS.
now
feaine
by Nelson W. Cook, though it has
His grist-mill was a few rods
occu})ied
been considerably
altered.
above the present mill of
Was
in 1795.
aged
20, 1813,
7,
1780;
Bridgwater, July
April
Lydia
May
L.,
1778
3,
13, 1789: Lovisa, Jan.
1801;
Lydia
wife)
May
L., Feb. 10,
18,
1825.
born Aug.
May
March
died June
died.
March,
— Dennis
1847.
1855; died Jan.,
Hadlock, June
so violent as to
Dennis died March
March
20, 182G.
Plainfield,
2,
June
— Dennis
1827
;
Laura
Flora E., Nov.
— Samuel,
mar.
2d,
10,
1879.
29,
They
it
1882.
many
in
Hawmar.
Nov.
E. mar.
19, 18G8.
years insane, but
necessary to confine her.
— Otis
settled
of
— Laura
— Flora
11, 18G8; died
make
Hunt
1891.— John C. mar.
1855.
mar. Roxana Lazell,
Hawley.
Children
:
Otis died in
Edmund, born
1827, died in Plainfield, Oct. 13, 18G2
1830,
13,
;
A. mar. Ruth T.
Almira, wife of Dennis, was for
was not
1831
1,
infancy.
in
Lorinda H. Fuller of Hawley, Oct.
L.
30, 1851.
Lives in North Adams.
Lewis Longley, May,
Harvey
IG,
Cheshire and removed to Michigan,
Miss Bushnell of
where he
Dec.
Their children were Sam-
John C, Jan.
30, 1831;
Their
31, 1798.
11, 1799; Otis,
Deimis A., Oct.
and two who died
1844,
ley,
1821;
Polly,
mar. Lemuel Allis (second
180G,
— Samuel
8,
Joseph, Jr.,
4, 1792.
mar. Almira Hadlock in 1821.
uel, 2d,
;
Robert, born Dec.
;
Samuel mar. Sally Chamberlain, July
1.
4,
2G, 1775
1787, died Dec. 4, 1801;
1!),
children were Dennis, born
A.,
His children were
Cl.
Samnel, born in Bridgwater, Sept.
also born in
Served as selectman
A. Nash.
J.
chosen deacon of the Plainfield clinrch in
Died Jnly
ISO;].
129
;
Dec.
Roxana, Nov.
21,
mar. James Murray, 1857, live in Iowa; H. Harri-
Nov. 5, 1838; H. Wesley, July 20, 183G, mar. Harriet
Landon, June, 1859 one son, Fred W.,b(n'n Oct. 23, 18G1,
son,
—
—
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
130
He
Cora H. Hinckley, April
born Dec. 23, 1888.
mar.
Darwin
2.
Aug.
Joseph Beals,
Dec.
6,
May
(J,
Jr.
May
mar. Betsey Reed,
Children: Harriet, born April
1847.
7,
— one
son,
13, 1802;
died
188G
11,
L.,
9,
1803;
Loren
1805; Dexter, Oct. 28, 1807; Annis, Jan. 23, 1811, died
died June 23, 1839; Lydia
Aug, 6, 1821. Harriet mar.
Lorin White, March 31, 1823. Loren mar. Sarah Davison,
Nov. 29, 1832. Dexter mar. Julia Packard of Goshen.
Joseph 3d married and settled in Greenfield, Mass., as a
1841
P., Feb.
5,
;
Betsey, Feb.
1818;
17, 1814,
Joseph
—
3d,
—
—
dentist.
3.
Nabby Vining,
Robert mar.
Jan.
10,
1805.
Was
chosen one of the Selectmen in 1819 and served four years.
Was
chosen
Died July
Town
Clerk in 1821, and served seven years.
Children
2, 1844.
Vesta, Sept.
29, 1808; Eli V.,
June
1812; Abigail,
Fordyce, born Oct.
:
Jan
181G;
24,
Robert
21, 1806;
Mary, April
25, 1810;
P.,
Aug.
12,
24, 1819;
—
Alden Porter, May 30, 1825. Fordyce mar. Mary H. Green,
died in New Haven, Ct. in 1870. Vesta mar. Samuel Snell
of Cummington, Dec. 14, 1831.
He deceased, and she mar.
—
Philo Packard of
Cummington (second wife). — Eli V. died
— Mary mar. Albert Dyer, Dec. 3, 1835.
in Pittsfield in 1854.
— Abigail mar.
1843.
— Robert
Granville B.
Hall of Ashfield, April
P. mar. for second wife
in Springfield, Oct.
7,
1885.
— Alden
11,
Margaret Burt, died
P.
mar. for second
wife Augusta Waite of Hatfield, died at Stamford, Ct.,
April
4.
12, 1889.
Polly, daughter of Joseph 1st, mar. Ebenezer Lovell,
March
5.
1814.
2,
1809, died
Lovisa, mar.
July
Wm.
30, 1810.
Reed
of
Albany, N. Y., Jan.
11,
JOHN CAMPBELL,
131
JOHN CAMPBELL.
Jolm Campboll was honi Nov, 3, 1752. Served in tlie
war of tlio Revolution, and witnessed Burgoyne's surrender
to Gates in 1777.
Mar. Lydia Kent, June 35, 1783, and
settled here as early as 1784.
They lived in a small house
on the exact
in
of the old Campljell house, torn
site
His wife Lydia died Sept.
1S!)().
mar. for a second wife, Betsey
G,
Hunt
1800,
of
aged
down
He
51.
Hawley, Jan.
18,
For a third wife
he mar. Mrs. Asenath Claghorn of Hawley, Nov. 1819,
Her daughter by her first husl)and, Mrs. Temperance At1809.
kins,
She died Sept.
Children of
born July
1788;
July
living in
still
is
John and
aged
town.
He
his wife
38.
died April 35,
1833.
Lydia were Ebenezer,
March 5, 178(J; Edmund, Feb. 19,
1789; Amasa, May 30, 1791; Betsey,
Sally, Dec.
8,
15, 1797.
not further mentioned in the records.
is
He married and had
at least
one son, Ebenezer, Jr.
Levi mar. Clarissa Joy, daughter of Joseph, June
3.
1810, died
15,
1818,
1784; Levi,
13,
Ebenezer
1.
7,
1811,;
1831;
Nov.
Children
1874.
G,
Levi N., Nov.
13,
Joseph Lyman, Dec.
died in 1818, aged
3,
1834; also a
and another
14,
Leonard, born April
1813. Clarissa M.,
19,
ard mar, Lovisa Bisbee, April
:
in 1838,
15, 1835.
Sept. 16,
daughter who
aged
11.
Held the
— Leonoffice of
Deputy Sheriff for 38 years, and Postmaster over 30 years.
Has served as moderator of town meetings more times
than any other citizen. Had one son, Fred E., born May
17, 183G.
He
had one
child,
O. Wallace.
mar.
Amanda
Kate
L.,
L. Pratt, Oct. 30, 18G0.
born Sept.
IG, 18G3;
Reside in Florence, Mass.
Florence, Mass., Oct. 39, 188G.
They
mar. Merritt
Fred E. died in
The following
resolutions
132
HISTORY OP PLAlNFIELt).
were passed by " Florence Lodge, No.
Honor," on his decease
1207,
Knights of
:
" Whereas, it has pleased the Snprenie Dictator of the
Universe, to again invade our circle, and call from the
fraternity before to that beyond. Brother Frederick E.
Campbell, and
Whereas, in his death our lodge has sustained the loss of
a valued and efficient member, the community an honest,
upright citizen, his family a kind, loving and faithful
husband and
father, therefore.
Resolved, that while we bow in humble submission to
the Divine Will, we desire to express the deep sense of
personal loss we feel, and extend to the afflicted family our
earnest and heartfelt sympathy in their great bereavement
and sorrow, and say that while we shall see his face no
more, his life and example will ever remain to stimulate
and bind us more closely together in the ties of our com-
mon
brotherhood.
Resolved, that our lodge be draped in mourning for thirty
days, and that a copy of these resolutions be placed on our
records, and a copy be sent to the family of the deceased."
Levi N. mar. Ruth
W.
Hall of Hawley, May, 1841.
chosen one of the Selectmen in 1849, and held the
Was
office
twenty-two years; longer that any other person in the
tory of the town.
He was
his-
for the greater part of the time,
Chairman of the board. Was chosen a member of the
School Committee in 1841, and held the office nineteen
Represented the town in the legislature in 1854,
years.
and the district in 18G4. Has for the last ten years resided
Children of Levi N. and Ruth were
in Florence, Mass.
born
July
28, 184G; Ruth Florence, Dec. 25,
George L.,
Ruth, wife of Levi N., deceased Feb. 3, 1851. For
1850.
a second wife, mar. Rachel Whitmarsh, Nov. 24, 1852.
Children. Herbert S., born Nov. 3, 1857; Louis L., Aug,
30, 1859; Addie C, Feb. 20, 1804.
George L. mar. Laura E. Warner, daughter of William,
Nov. 27, 1807. Reside in Northampton. Florence cares
JOHN CAMPBELL.
for her father, his wife
Herbert
side in
S,
having deceased
133
in
January,
Northampton.
1880; Cherie M., Sept.
Louis L. mar. Margie
1889.
4,
W.
Stockwell of Nortluim^jton. She
deceased in a year or two after their marriage, and in
he mar. Alice
1877,
S.
Spear, also of Northampton.
he became clerk
under Postmaster Joy.
P.
M.
18!S7.
Howes, June 10, 1S7'.). ReChildren: Harry N., Ijorn June
mar. Minnie B.
S.
the
in
18!)0
In February,
Northampton Post
Office,
He remained as clerk and Asst.
when he was a|)])ointed to a
for about five years,
and Ajjril 1, 1882,
went on duty on the route from Palmer. Mass. to Brattleboro', Vt.
In Jan., 1883, he was transferred to the line
between Boston and New York, via Springfield. Was
gradually promoted to higher grades and in May, 1889,
was appointed "clerk in charge" of a crew of twelve
position in the railway mail service,
This line
clerks.
is
considered one of the heaviest in the
country, and three postal cars are required on the night
He
trains.
resigned this position in August, 1890, to ac-
appointment of Postmaster of
Northampton,
During his service as railway
postal clerk, he was calle<l upon for twenty-four examinations, each consisting of from 500 to 1000 questions.
In
fifteen of these he |)assed 100 per cent., and in the other
nine he stood above 99 per cent. As postmaster, he is
most thorough and efficient, and has made several important improvements in the service.
Addie C. mar, Chas. Huxley of Florence, in 1888, in
which place they now reside.
cept the
which
office
he now holds.
Clarissa M., daughter of Levi, mar. Thos.
Hawley, June
D. Clark of
29, 1842.
Joseph L. mar. Adeline C. Eldridge of Hawley, May,
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
134
who
Tliey had one or two children
1851.
died in infancy.
She deceased, and he married for a second wife, Augusta
They have one daughter,
He was for several
Easthampton, a Deputy Sheriff under Maj.
Eldridge, a sister of the
Mary.
first.
Reside in Floren-ce, Mass.
years, while in
Longley.
Edmund, son
3.
of Josiah 1st,
born Oct.
May
30, 1818,
Lucy Adams
born Dec.
Feb.
of John, mar.
Nancy Shaw, daughter
Had
one son, Josiah Dwight,
23, 1817.
and two who died
1844:,
23,
died Oct.
mar,
daughter, Lizzie
1861.
24,
He
in infancy.
Had one
of Chicopee.
S.,
Dwight died
J.
17, 1849.
Sally,
4.
daughter of John, mar. William Joy, March,
1810.
Amasa
5.
Emily
B.,
mar. Sally Bester, Oct.
born Sept.
Betsey P., June 1820; Sally M.,
Betsey,
6.
May
Children:
14, 1813.
John
1815;
26,
T.,
Feb.
12, 1818;
23, 1822.
daughter of John, mar. Watson Pool of
South Hadley, Dec.
5,
1822.
ABRAM CLARK.
Abram
Clark was born in Attleboro', Mass., in 1751.
Settled in Plainfield not far
L. K.
Thayer now
Abington.
born Oct.
1786;
7,
19,
1.
Feb.
lives.
1783,
1782; Polly,
29, 1787;
May 4,
Aug.
5,
Cliildren
1791; Samuel, Nov.
22, 1796; Silence,
July
2,
:
Susanna,
1784; Betsey, April 15,
Lydia, Sept.
4,
June
Abram,
1789, died
28, 1792;
1801, died Jan. 13, 1808.
Susanna mar. Asa Thayer, Dec.
1870.
on the farm where
His wife was Silence Gloyd, from
died Nov. 24, 1834.
James, Nov.
1890; Elijah,
Jr.,
5,
He
from
2,
1804, died
March
ABRAM CLARK.
135
Polly mar. John Sliaw, Jr., Oct.
2.
24, 1802,
died
A])i-il
20, LSOS.
Betsey mar. Reuben
;i.
Kingman
of Goshen,
March
18,
1808.
James mar. Zernah Bigelow of Cnmmington, March,
1808.
Children: Mary Ann, born July 17, 1810, and probably others. He removed from town soon after his marriage and became a minister of the Baptist denomination.
-t.
His wife deceased and he returned to Plainfield when over
At
70 years old.
the age of 74 he married
Gurney and previously
ney, (widow of Joseph
Reed, maiden
name
Hanmih
of
He preached
Stockwell.)
Giir-
Beza
for the
Baptist Society for a short time, being their last regular
minister, and died July
Elijah mar.
5.
Jan.
1S(;8.
Waity Jenks
of Cheshire.
She died
and he married for a second wife, Lucretia
17, 1850,
Lyman
5,
of Hadley, July,
1851.
He
represented the town
and was for many years
in the legislature in 1835
and
a Justice of the Peace.
Died in West Cummington about
1884.
20,
183(1,
Children of Elijah and Waity were John, born Dec.
1813; Minerva,
Lewis, Dec.
D wight,
13,
July
O,
Feb.
4,
1816;
Samantha, Oct.
7,
1818;
May 12, 1827; James
John mar. Hannah Jones, Dec.
1822; Elijah Alden,
1830.
and removed from town.
Samantha mar. Alden W. Mason, Nov. 30, 1837.
Elijah A. mar. Loraine F. Warner, Oct. 30, 184!).
1834,
dren:
Willis A., born Nov.,
1850;
George W., Aug.
1854.— Loraine F., wife of Elijah A., died Oct.
He married
1856.
for a second wife,
Hannah
L.
18,
2,
1,
1854.
Lyman, Dec.
Their children were Chas. L., born Oct.
Alice L., Oct.
Chil-
3,
1857;
25, 1861.
James Dwiglit mar. Flora Stevens.
Sept. 2G, 1851, died
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
13G
Feb.
May
Tliey liad one child, Flora Ellen, born
185G.
1,
28, 1853.
Samuel mar. Lucy Sheldon, Children: Lorinda,
born Nov. 17, 181G; Parthena R., Nov. 16, 1819; Polly,
Dec. 11, 1821; Samuel Sheldon, Dec. 22, 1823; Eliza Ann,
0.
Sept. 19, 182G.
JACOB CLARK.
Jacob Clark was born in Abington, Mass.,
in
1755.
Served in the Revolutionary war and came to Plainfield
He
jnar. Susanna Jones, sister of Jacob.
They
farm since occupied by his son Chester, where
H. H. Fenton now lives. Died July IG, 1832. Children:
Hannah, born March 1, 1783; Sarah, Nov. 27, 1784 Rebekah, Jan. 17, 1787; Mary, July 9, 1789; David, March
in 1783.
lived on the
:
13, 1792,
died
Lucy, Sept.
22, 1797;
1802; Chester,
1.
2.
3.
March
Hannah
May
4,
13,
179G; Jacob, Jr., Sept. 22, 1794;
Nancy, Oct.
1799; Levi, Dec. 30,
4,
May
1805; Alanson,
14, 1807.
died Nov. 27, 1830.
Sarah died March 7, 1813.
Rebekah mar. Daniel Coe
of
Durham, N.
Y., Feb.
17, 1822.
4.
July
5.
Mary mar. Rev. James Jewell
1,
Durham, N.
Y.,
Jacob, Jr., remained in town and was engaged in
woolen manufacturing and trade.
Was
of
181G.
chosen
Died Feb.
Town
He
never married.
Clerk in 1841, and served three years.
16, 1848.
7.
Lucy died May 12, 1828.
Nancy died July 7, 1803.
8.
Levi mar. Electa Joy, daughter of Joseph, Oct.
6.
1828.
Both are
still
living in town.
He
2,
kept store for
;
JACOB CLARK.
somo yuars
in cum})ciiiy
with his brother Jacob, until
when he conducted
(luath,
charge of the
Clerk in 1848, and held the
J.,
born
1854; Charles
May
four years, and had
Was
about eight years.
ofitice
C, born Dec.
12,
chosen
Wm.
18.'3(J.
H. Dyer,
He
Town
Children:
five years.
office
mar.
1830,
0,
liis
the business ahjne for seven or
He was Postmaster some
eight years.
Mary
137
May
18,
has not married
yet.
Minerva Jones, daughter of Jacob,
Dec. 1, 1831. and remained on the old homestead, died
March 18, 1885. Children: Seth W., born Sept. 22, 1833;
Elizabeth S., Sept. 19, 1842. Seth W. mar. Nancy W.
9.
Chester mar.
Jones, Sept.
3,
1855.
They
some years
lived for
after their
marriage in Brooklyn, N. Y., but returned to Plainfield
about 18G2, where they have since resided.
He was
chosen
one of the Selectmen in 1873, and has served six years in
all,
being Chairman for several years.
Has served
13
years as one of the School Committee, being elected to that
office in 18G3.
He is
at present, president of the
Cumming-
ton Creamery Association, an office which he has held
since the formation of
the Cong.
Church, March
born in 1857; Fred D.,
Henry
D.,
rian N.,
born Oct.
June
2,
1800,
20,
1870
;
Was
company.
3,
1877.
chosen deacon of
Children
:
Nellie M.,
both born in Brooklyn, N. Y.
18G5; Alice
Frank
S.,
C, May
June
8,
27, 1873,
1808;
Ma-
died Jan.
2S, 1875.
Arthur R. Tirrell, Nov. 27, 1879.
C. Helen Gurney of Cummington, June
Children: Etha Helen, born June 23, 1880.
23, 1885.
10.
Alanson never married. Was by trade a tailor,
and lived in the family of his brother Chester. Died Oct.
Nellie M. mar.
Fred D. mar.
10, 1883.
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
138
ANDREW
Andrew Cook was born
earliest
settlers,
COOK.
Was one of the
having come here previous to 1774.
in 1737.*
very-
He
lived on the place since occupied
Dea.
of
W.
S.
Clark's; died
by Horace Daniels, east
March
ISl-t.
Children:
(3,
Hannah, born Oct. 6, 1774; John, Oct. 18, 177G. These
two were, so far as known, the first of each sex born in the
present town limits. They both died in infancy or early
childhood.
27,
He
His other children were John
1778; Joseph,
Feb.
2d,
born Oct.
Hannah 2d, Nov. 13, 1783.
Lois and Amy, whose names
1781;
1,
had daughters, Sarah,
do not appear on the town records.
also
John mar. Susanna Gurney, Sept. 15, 179(3. He was
by trade a carpenter and builder and many of the oldest
houses now standing were built by him, as well as others
of later construction.
Children: Thomas, born May 23,
1801; Edson, May 27, 1803; James, March 29, 1805; Roswell, July 9, 1811; Benjamin F., March 25, 1815; John
1.
Jackson, Sept.
in childhood.
1817, besides three
24,
— Thomas mar.
Cummington.
Jan. 1824, and settled in
185(3.
daughters
Eldridge;
died
Died April
Henry W., mar.
IG,
mar. John
Children: Elniira and Elvira, twins,
Snow and Alonzo
who
Rachel Gurney of Ashfield,
Selina Shaw;
Sarah D.; Rachel, mar. Ansel B. Cole, Feb., 185(3; Lovina
and Martin L. Martin was a member of the 52d Mass.
Reg't in the late war, and died Sept. 8, 18G3, aged 27. Edson mar. Esther Abel of Goshen, Feb., 1824. Died sud-
—
denly while crossing the
and the
village,
Feb.
hours when discovered.
15, 1825;
8,
May
between Jared Dyer's house
He had
1858.
Children:
James Edward,
1831; Alfred E.,
field
5,
Sept.
IG,
9,
1839;
been dead some
Maria
E.,
born Feb.
182G; Edson, Jr., April
Susan
E.,
May
27, 1844.
ANDREW
James
They
by Joseph
lived on the liomestead formerly occupied
Beals, the
"Mountain
Nelson W., March
31, 1837;
Miller."
Died Oct.
Harriet, born Oct. 27, 1833;
Children:
1881.
July
130
Cot)k mar. Susan Joy, daiigliter of Isaac, Jr., Jan.
183.').
24,
COOK.
Andrew
21,
S.,
Franklin, June
29, 1840;
1843.— Harriet mar. C. Wells Smith of Worthing-ton,
30,
June
1851.
18,
— Andrew
S.
mar. Addie M. Livermore of
—
They reside in Springfield, Mass. Nelson W. mar. Mary E. Davison, Nov. 2, 18G4. They live
Peru, Dec. 18G2.
(^n
the old liomestead, which he has greatly improved; his
mother, aged
88,
37th Mass. Reg't in the late war.
army and
Was
living with them.
a
member
— Franklin
of the
entered the
C, June
died in the service at Beaufort, N.
James and his son Nelson W. were both carpenwas the family trade.
Roswell mar. Elsie Thayer, Aug. 19, 1830, died March
Children: Laura A., born Feb. 10, 1831; John
27, 1881.
F., June 12, 1835; Royal, Dec. 25, 1837; and Flora.
Benj. F. mar. Abigail Bates, Oct. 11, 183G, died Aug. 31,
Children: Martha and Jared Allen.
1842.
John Jackson mar. Irene Rice of Hawley. Children:
Mary, Joseph, William and Adrian. The wife of John,
son of Andrew, died Sept. 18, 183G. For a second wife he
married Hannah Packard, daughter of Caleb Packard of
20, 18G3.
It
ters.
—
Ashfield,
May
He
30, 1838.
died July
Joseph mar. Sally Joy, Sept.
2,
9,
19,
1849.
1799.
Children:
Levi, Jason, Laura, Clarissa, Electa and Bennett.
Hannah, daughter
3.
Jr.,
Feb.
of
Andrew, mar. Jacob Gardner,
20, 180G.
JESSE DYER.
We
ington
quote the following from Hobart's History of Ab:
— " The name Dyer was doubtless
originally given
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
140
to designate
some individual by
liis
occupation.
It
occurs
English records as early as 14:36, and I know not liow
much earlier. The Dyers were of English origin; the
name occurs in the Yorkshire pedigrees. George Dyer of
Dorchester came over in the " Mary and John," May, 1G30.
William Dyer petitioned to be made a freeman, in Weymouth, in 1635 or 1636. He removed to Rhode Island in
1638.
From him the Dyers of that state are descended.
in
The Dye:^ of Connecticut sprung from John and Thomas,
who settletr'"lTr"'Windham county. They were sons of
Thomas D^er of Weymouth, who is supposed to have settled there about 1632.
The coat-of-arms of the Dyer family
was a plain shield, surmounted by a wolf's head, as appears
from a tombstone in the burying ground on Copp's Hill,
Boston.
I find
the
name very
often occurs
tradesmen and mechanics of England, and
the Post Office Directory of London.
the
name
and
also
is
among
the
abundant in
There are
many
of
Asa (brother of Jesse)
on the Cape, descended from the same original
in Maine, descendants of
stock."
Although Jesse Dyer lived just over the line in Ashfield,
was in Plainiield, he attended
there,
his
sons
all
settled
there, and he himself in
church
his last years removed there.
He was born in Abington,
Mass., in 1769.
His father and grandfather were named
Christopher. He came to Ashfield soon after 1790, and
settled on the farm where Benjamin M. Dyer now lives.
This, like the rest of the town, was heavily covered with
woods. He cleared a few acres, built a small house and a
barn, and married Sally Pool, daughter of Dea. Samuel
Children: Jared, born Nov. 1, 1796;
Pool, Oct. 4, 1795.
Oakes, Feb. 32, 1799; Bela, May 24, 1802; Albert, June 25,
quite a portion of his farm
Ul
JESSE DYER.
1807; Sarah,
about ISIO; Samuel. July
Jan.
and one who died
2o, 181S,
;23,
lSi;3;
Newell.
infancy in 1S05.
in
Jared mar. Olive Pool, daughter of Benjamin, Oct.
1.
14, 1824.
Lived where O. C. Burt now
25, 1874.
Children:
Wm.
Feb.
lives; died
H., born Sept.
13.
1825; Betsey
Ann, June 21, 1827, died Aug. 22, 1828; Edwiu J., June o,
1829; Emily G., Oct. 14, 1884; Alfred T., July 19, 1839.
Wm.
H. mar. Mary
mar. Marion Cole,
G. mar.
Clark.
J.
May
1854.— Edwin
18,
1853; died Jan.
4,
Mortoii Barber, Oct.
J.
May
2,
1882.— Emily
Have
11, 1857.
J.
many
for
years lived in Pittsfield, Mass., Mr. Barber having been
employed
—Alfred
July
3,
for
more than
She deceased Aug.
1864.
for a second wife
20, 1807.
Emily
Has been
extensive farm of
2.
by
25 years
Rice,
Robbins
&
Co.
mar. Emily M. Stowell of Hinsdale, Mass.,
T.
C.
for a
W.
21, 1800,
and he married
Wentworth of Hinsdale, March
number of years overseer of the
H. Milton at
Pittsfield,
Oakes mar. Electa Stoddard Nov.,
Mass.
They
1824.
lived
on the place originally occupied by Thomas Shaw, just
below the Jared Dyer place.
About
1855 he
bought the
Dr. Porter house, which stood on the corner south of the
" Brick store," and removed it to his place. As soon as it
was ready to occupy, the brick house in which he at first
No buildings now remain on the
lived, was torn down.
Children:
place except a barn.
1820;
geline
Spencer O., Oct.
M.,
Oct.
4,
4,
1827;
Aug.,
1855.
O.
S.,
S.,
Jan.
1831; Julia M., Feb. 19,
mar. Francis K. Cottrell, Oct.
— Spencer
Electa
Lewis
20,
born Jan.
4,
1829;
20,
An-
1842.— Electa
1852, died Oct. 11, 1802.
mar. Elizabeth A. Ely of Westfield, Mass.,
Studied for the ministry and after preaching
few years, he joined the
Methodist denomination, under which he preached until
for Congregational churches for a
142
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELt).
quite recently.
He
is
now, or
lias
quite recently heeii
teaching in the High schools near Boston.
Mary
L. Porter of Hatfield, Marcli, 1853.
Hatfield, Mass., since his marriage.
•
W.
Cottrell of
Worthington, May,
— Lewis S.
Has
— Angeline mar.
1854.
Went
Middlefield.— Julia died in Middlefield. Dec.
was unmarried.
Electa,
first
5,
mar.
resided in
Geo.
to live in
She
1883.
wife of Oakes, died March
For a second wife he married Mrs. Nabhy
V. Taylor of Hawley, widow of Zebulon Taylor, March,
1844.
She died Nov. 37, 184G, aged 48. For a third wife
he married Mary Ford of Windsor, Aug., 1850.. She died
4,
1842,
April
aged
8,
41.
1858,
aged
56.
He
died in Middlefield, Jan.
28,
1877.
Bela mar. Deborah White, daughter of
3.
in
They
1824.
Cook
lives.
Samuel,
farm where John F.
Children: Mary Ann, born Feb. 28, 1825;
settled
on
the
May 28, 1827. His wife died Nov. 10, 1828.
For a second wife he married Ruth Ranney of Ashfield,
Marantha,
Dec.
22,
March
8,
1830.
1834,
his windpipe;
Jan.
15, 1837.
Charles B., born 1832, died
Children:
being choked by a piece of apple lodged in
Newell
2d,
born Feb.
Both served
in the
war, Newell in the 31st Mass.,
Ann
27,
1835;
Union army
Newcomb in the
mar. Jonathan Brackett, Feb.
29,
Newcomb,
in the late
46th,
1850.
— Mary
They
lived
where Mr. Brackett consome
ducted a tannery. They removed to Schroon Lake, N. Y.,
where he died Feb. 2, 1884. She married Wm. Henry
Packard of this town Oct. 26, 1887, and now resides here.
Marantha mar. Sylvester S. Hall, Nov. 18, 1847. They
lived in Hawley and Conway and finally in Williamsburg,
where he died, July 5, 1808. She married Rev. Wakefield
Gale of Easthampton, Aug. 31, 1870. He deceased Oct.
in Searsburg, Vt. for
2,
1881.
years,
She now resides with her son in Iowa.
Jesse dyer.
Newell
Oct.
mar. Marion Granger Jan.
2il,
Had
the .same year.
8,
Sept.
.'50,
1863; deceased.
Ellen Joy of Peru, Oct.,
of
i;},
1877.
Hawley,
in
1,
She died
ISO.'!.
one daughter, Nettie A., born
For a second wife he married
180(i.
She died Nov. U. 1881.
Children: Frank B., horn Feb.
April
143
17,
18(58;
Adelbert N.,
For a third wife he married Rose Thayer
which town they now reside. Frank B.,
son of Newell 2d, while laboring under a
insanity, shot himself
near Amity, Mo., in
lit
of
temporary
through the head with a revolver,
188!),
which place he had
at
He
rived on a visit to relatives.
just ar-
died instantly.
Newcomb mar. Julia A. Thayer, Feb. 4, 1864. She died
Aug. 1, 1867. Children: Fordyce N., born April 28, 1865;
Alden M., July 30, 1867. He married for a second wife,.
Harriet E. Thayer, Aug.
DeKalb Co.
ed a large family and
'
30,
They removed
1868.
still reside.
"Ruth, second wife of Bela, died Sept.
He
for a third wife married
widow
of
to
(near Amity) Missouri, where they have rear-
Vinson Nash, and
Mary Nash
6,
18()3,
aged
57.
of Madison, Ohio,
sister of his first wife,
June
2.
In the spring of 1860 he removed to North Madison,
where he died, Aug. 19, 1878. While most of the Dyer
brothers were what might be called '' original characters,"
1865.
O.,
Bela was perhaps the most widely known, and will be more
generally remembered than any other.
fluent talker,
truth in
all
and a great story teller.
He was
Although a man
of
known
habit
which was highly amusing
to his
ordinary matters, he had a well
of exaggerating a story,
a very
Rev. Moses Hallock once mildly remonstrated
with him. " I know it," said Uncle Bela, with tears in his
eyes, touched by the kind reproof, " I know it, and I've
listeners.
shed hogslieads of tears over
it."
His stories must have
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
144
been heard from his
The
roll of his eye,
order to be fully appreciated.
lips in
the clip of one hand over the other, his
solemn manner at the
close, as though he was testifying
under oath, and his gestures, can not be re-pro-
in court
duced.
A
few of his
stories I will
endeavor
to write out.
A GREAT SLAUGHTER.
The house where he
age was infested with
was used
for
lived soon after his
A room
rats.
first
marri-
in the second story
The rats had effected an enmaking sad havoc with it,
storing corn.
trance at one corner, and were
mainly
their excursions being of course
at night.
Uncle
Bela determined to have their blood; so he arranged a
swinging cover to the rat hole with strings connected
which he carried through small holes in the ceiling over
room underneath, so that he
could grasp them and open or close the hole as he wished.
At night when he retired he pulled a string and left the
the head of his bed in the
About midnight he was awakened by the noise
of a small army of rats in the room overhead.
He closed
the hole by the string, rose, partially dressed, and taking
hole open.
a convenient club and a candle ascended to the chamber,
where the
rats
were holding carnival, and closing the
foes, nor stayed his hand till
door he valiantly attacked his
He
every rat had bit the dust.
then opened the hole and
returned to bed, where, wearied with his
fell asleep.
About
noise of another
corn overhead.
ascended the
2
he soon
A, M. he was again awakened by the
detachment of
He quickly
stairs,
efforts,
rats
rolling the ears of
closed the aperture, rose, again
and the
first
scene was repeated.
he closed the door and again descended to bed, he was
As
re-
"
JESSE DYER.
minded
" In the
of Samson's slangliter of the Philistines.
morning,'' said he, "I tliought
dead
145
rats, so I
Fd go and pick np
the
took a bnshel basket and went np and as
I
was a pickin' on "em \\\) I thought I'd count 'em. So I
done so, an' tlier was four liiiudred and fifty." I have
learned from Mr. Levi Clark who lived neighbor to him
at the time, that the main points in the story are trne, but
he had increased the
(original
numl)er at least ten-fold.
A SLIPPERY TIME.
He was
often called to serve on a jury and at one time
in the winter
when he was attending court
rain storm which froze as
glare
down
Said he, "
ice.
I
it fell,
came out
the steps a leetle ahead
o'
there
came a
covering everything with
o'
the court house and
the other jurymen.
taken a few steps on the sidewalk when
my
had
went
I
heels
went down. I rolled my eye 'round behind
anybody had seen me fall, and behold every
oneoi the other eleven jurymen sat flat on the sidewalk in
Zip
me
!
and
I
to see if
I
a row, one behind 'tother.
HE HAD STRONG LUNGS.
"Talkin' about light snows," said Uncle Bela, taking a
huge chew of fine cut, "one night in the winter about
twenty years ago I went to bed as usual. The stars shone
bright and a clearer night I never saw. When I got up in
the morning it was still clear as a bell, but on going to the
door I found there had four feet of snow fallen in the
night.
I
see 'twas pretty light, so I
and blew one
puff^.
It
put
blew a hole clean
my
head down
to the
ground.
The whole on't, if 'twas well squeezed down, wouldn't
made a hcdf an inch/'
10
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
146
DURABLE TIMBER.
A
neighbor was about new-silling his barn.
Bela, "
Why
hundred
don't
years.
you get a red beech?
I've fried
if
Said Uncle
It will last five
fivice.'"
A CORRECT TIMEPIECE.
He had an
store by.
old-fashioned tall clock which he set great
Said he,
"That
clock will run nine hundred
years and not vary fhe fhickness of a case
kjvife."'
TRULY DEPLORABLE.
In speaking of the deplorable condition of the heathen
in a certain country, he said, "
know whether
they've got a
They eat old shoes;
maker above or beloiv."
don't
Albert mar. Mary Beals, daughter of Dea. Robert
i.
and grand-daughter of the " Mountain Miller,'' Dec. 3,
1835.
They settled where Sumner Burt now lives in the
About the time of Dea. Robert
Beals' death they removed to his house and cared for his
widow until her death and made their permanent residence
He was chosen one of the School Committee in
there.
east part of the town.
Also chosen Selectman the
1840 and served thirteen years.
same year, and served four years. Was appointed Justice of
the Peace as early as 18()0, and held the office until his
death, which occurred July
KJ,
1883.
His widow
still re-
which was occupied by her father,
spending the summer there and the remainder of the year
with her daughter in Conway. Their children were Flora
A., born Feb. 26, 1838, died Sept. 7, 1855; Mary F. and
Fordyce A., twins, born Nov. 8, 1840. Mary was a sucMarried W. D.
cessful teacher in this and other towns.
tains the old homestead
JESSE DYER.
Sanderson of Conway, Dec.
1),
li'^
He
1S75.
died a few years
She and her children still reside in Conway.
Fordyce entered Williams college in IHCl, Init left before
since.
gradnating to enter the army, where
he died Oct.
5.
(as related
elsewhere)
2Vu 18(;4.
Sarah mar. Ebenezer Crosby of Hawley, June
They removed
1(S33.
Wisconsin where she died
to
13,
in 1S48,
leaving several children.
Samuel mar. Mrs. Martha Hamlen Cole of WortliLived where C. N. Holden now lives.
ington, June, 1S37.
Served as Selectman in 1855, and School Committee in
Children: Alden H., born June
1848; died April 9, 1883.
6.
Augusta M., May 19, 1841; Effie G., July 15,
Alden mar. Nancy L. Barber, Dec. --39, isc.l. He
entered the army in 18(;-> and died in the service at Newbern, N. C, Jan. 19, 1863.— Effie mar. Chas. N. Holden of
19, 1839;
1850.
—
Hawley, May
They reside on the old homestead
Augusta living with them.
Newell, youngest son of Jesse, mar. Mary Ann
7.
Whitmarsh, May 24, 1842. Remained with his parents
caring for them until their death; his mother dying March
of
4,
187Ji.
Samuel Dyer, her
24, 1852,
aged
73,
sister
and
his
father July
Lived on the old place until
lage.
His wife died
May
In 1850 he removed to the
2,
Oct.
17,
18(;(i.
He
Had one son, Charles N., born
Town Clerk and Treasurer in
held until the present time.
Wm.
deceased Feb.
Jan.
7,
1876,
Was
vil-
For a second wife
1800.
he married Mrs. Lydia L. Sears, widow of
of Ashfield,
85.
and removed thither, where
Dea. James Richards farm,
he remained eight years.
aged
13, 1854,
when he purchased the
1847,
H. Sears
23,
1872.
1850.
Was
chosen
which
offices
he has
chosen a
member
School Committee in 1872, served ten years and
is
of the
at pres-
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
148
memher
ent a
of
board.
tlie
A))i)ointed a Jiistice of the
and Postmaster
Married M. AnFord of Peru, Oct. 6, 1872. Children: Albert F.,
born Aug. 2. 187.'); L. Genevieve, June 7, 1880; Charles
Frederick, Aug. ID. 18S2.
Peace
in
1.SS4,
in
18.S9.
toinette
JOSEPH GLOYD.
Joseph Gloyd was born
Abington, Mass., in
in
17(J3.
Served a short time in the Revolutionary army, and
tled
here about
town, Dec.
Bethuel
170().
1792.
(i,
now
and
lives.
set-
Married Abigail Garnett of this
settled
on the place where his son
Died July
His brothers,
1842.
15,
Benjamin and Ephraim, settled here about the same time.
Benjamin, Sr. at
All were physically, large heavy men.
It is related that it was
his death weighed about 300 lbs.
found necessary to widen the doorway by removing the
casing from one side, in order to take the cofhn from the
house decently at the time of his funeral.
seph were Levi, born Aug.
Lovisa, April
May
1.
29, 1800;
2.
Bethuel, Sept.
Betsey, Nov. 27, 1797;
May
3,
1803; Joseph, Jr.,
13, 1809.
Levi mar. Wealthy Bates of Hawley, June, 181 (J,
died Aug.
Dec.
24, 1793;
1800; Albina,
29,
Children of Jo-
2(1,
29, 1819.
1819.
Had
ojlx^
sonC Charles Lewis, born
\;."-"-'
•
'
Betsey mar. Ahaz Bobbins of Cummington, June
20,
1817.
3.
Lovisa mar. James
Snow
of
Cummington, May,
1821.
4.
Albina mar. Norman White, June
5.
Joseph
Dec. 19, 1880.
dah, June
Jr.,
20, 1821.
mar. Annis Thayer, Sept.
Children: Albina, born April
24, 1834,
died Oct.
1,
1841;
17, 1829,
7,
Joseph
1831;
died
Hul-
O., Oct. 14,
MOSES HALLOCK.
Albina mar. Samuel F. Bartlett of C'ummington,
1840.
(second wife) Dec.
of
Windsor, Dec.
11. 1S«)9;
A.. Dec.
7,
1S(;5.
7,
— Josepli
S,
ISTl,
14,
Joseph A., Oct.
1875;
July
O.,
A. Gardner, Nov.
Kl.
().
Children:
ISi;;.
•^4,
AlidaL., Aug.
1870; Albert
mar. Lucy L. Allen
Edwin
-28,
Mary
1877:
S.
28,
Stowell of Hinsdale, Mass., Sept.
Sarah,
15,
Emma
Had
1831.
8,
No
ISO!).
188;).
of Bethuel, died Nov.
vv^ife
A.. July
mar.
Married Mary
is;>;{.
chosen one of the Selectmen in
years.
Nov.
Lucy
18!»().
Bethuel mar. Sarah Stock well. Dec.
(i.
S.. ])orn
died in infancy:
1887.— Edwin
Hi,
one son, Levi W., born Feb.
Was
141)
children.
and served
I'-i.
J.
five
For a
1S51.
second wife he married Mrs. Julia A. M. Joy. widow of
Charles Joy,
May
where his father
They
1S5'2.
(I,
reside on the
homestead
Josej)!! lived.
MOSES HALLOCK.
Rev. Moses Hallocdv was a grandson of Noah Hallock,
born
KJIHi,
and died
and died Oct.
2\,
His son William was born
177.'5.
IS 15.
He had two
Moses, and at least six daughters, one of
17-")(>,
Jeremiah and
sons,
whom,
Esther,
married Rev. Josiah Hayden, and was the mother of Jo-
and Hon. Joel Hayden of Williamsburg, Mass.
Moses was born in Brookliaven, L. L. Feb. IC, 17'i(). Li-
siah Jr.
stalled over the Plainiield
garet Allen,
March
church
who was born
in
179"-;;.
Married Mar-
at Chilmark, Martha's Vine-
and died Dec. 29, 18;35.
The following is an extract from a letter from Mr. Hallock to his absent sons, informing then) of the death of their mother:
yard,
22, 17(30,
" PlainfieM, Dec.
30, 1835.
My
dear sons and daughters:
Yesterday, about half-i)ast eleven, your mother died.
it
seemed more
like (^uiet
sleep than
death.
A
But
fortnight
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
150
ago to-day she suddenly became speechless and helpless.
Martha and I laid her on the bed. Dr. Shaw came very
soon, and said it was a shock of paralysis.
He visited her
daily, and Mrs. Arnold Streeter and Mrs. Salem Streeter
kindly assisted day and night in the care of her till she
died.
She had her reason almost or quite till the last."
A short time before his death he committed to the flames
all his manuscripts except a few which he might still wish
to use; and when his only daughter, who was the solace of
his declining years, seconding the desire of her brothers,
requested that he would prepare at least an outline of the
facts of his history, he replied, " No, Martha; the absent
sons might wish to see
about me."
He
it,
but there
is
nothing remarkable
died most peacefully, as befitted his peace-
on the evening of July 17, 1837. On the second
day after his death, his funeral took place, the sermon beful life,
ing preached by Rev. Dr. Theophilus Packard of Shelburne.
Of the bereaved church, only one who was a mem-
ber at the time of his installation, survived him, the venerable Deacon
James Richards.
As
the face of the aged
pastor was uncovered that the people might approach and
take their final leave until the resurrection, the aged dea-
now entirely blind, was led to the cof&n, placed his
hand gently on the forehead of him with whom he had for
forty-five years shared the burden and heat of the gospel
day, and stood, pouring out a flood of tears, till constrained
con,
to retire,
he turned away, saying, " Farewell for time."
Mention has already been made of the
classical
school
taught by Mr. Hallock in his (l,welling-house in Chap. IV
of this work.
In the records of Williams College
it
is
said that for a long time in the early struggles of that institution, the question of
how many
students were to enter
MOSES HALLOCK.
151
beginning of each college year
at the
(lei)ende(l in a
great
measure upon the number Mr. Hallock could furnish.
The
was one dollar
Half the class were not infrequently from his school.
and tuition
Mrs. Martha
cost of board
per week.
is
in this institution
Lamb, the eminent
J.
our authority for these statements.
ticated fact that
John Brown
was
member
at
one time a
It is
historian,
a well authen-
Ferry notoriety
of Harper's
Tradition says
of this school.
town of Savoy.
Moses Hallock were William A., born
that his ancestors lived in the neighboring
The children of
June 2, 17!)-!:; Martha, Feb. 2-1, ir'.Hi; Leavitt, Jan. 21, IT'JS;
Gerard, March IS, 1800, and Homan.
1.
William A. graduated at Williams in isr.). studied
divinity at Andover and while thin-e was chosen agent,
and afterwards assistant secretary of the American Tract
Society, then located at Andover.
tion of the
same society
chosen the
first
He
held the
at
Assisted in the forma-
New York
in
1825,
and was
corresponding secretary and general agent.
office of
secretary until
curred some ten years since.
liis
death, which oc-
He married Fanny Lathrop
and had two daughters, Harriet and Frances.
Martha never married. Died in Plainfield.
2.
May
22,
1852.
3.
of
Leavitt settled in town, and married Elizabeth Snell
Cummington, Aug.,
182!).
At
this time, persons intend-
ing marriage, must, according to law, be "cried;" that
is,
they must notify the town clerk of their intention at least
three weeks previous to the intended marriage.
It
was
then his duty to enter the same on the records, and each
Sabbath afterward, for three weeks in succession, when
the people were assembled at churcli, just before the open-
ing of service, he arose and gravely anncninced the same
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
152
to
The year
the congregation.
was himself town
duty
to
and
clerk,
of Leavitt's
became
it
He proved
"cry" himself.
his
marriage he
embarrassing
himself however equal
and when the Sabbath arrived and the
people were assembled, stood up and bravely announced,
to the occasion,
"Marriage intended, between Leavitt Hallock of Plainfield and Elizabeth Snell of Cummington ."
He served as
town clerk two years, was commissioned a Justice of the
Peace in 1834, and represented the town in the Legislature
in 1849.
He was also for some years Postmaster. He was
a very energetic man, of great business capacity. He
utilized the water privilege and established the settlement
just over Plainfield line in the town of Hawley, which still
bears his name. He erected several dams, commencing
about 18;36, and established a large tannery there, sawmills, &c.
He also erected and operated a store and board-
when
the
rebuilt
in
ing-house, doing a successful business until 1S40,
tannery
1848 but
went
to
was burned,
Feb.
This
11.
was
never operated and the place in a few years
He was
decay.
instrumental in obtaining the
laying out and construction of
He was
several
important new
man, not easily
daunted by obstacles, and rarely failed in what he undertook.
He erected the house and outbuildings and
made many handsome improvements on the place lately
owned by Dea. J. Barber, which he then owned and occupied.
About 1854 he removed to Amherst, Mass., where
roads.
a
very
persistent
he did quite a business in real
of his son, Leavitt H., in
1875.
27,
Eliza, twins,
1832
;
Sarah,
at the
West Winsted, Conn.,
His wife died Dec.
Fanny and
Aug.
He died
estate.
10,
born
May
3,
1877,
May
aged
74.
12, 1830;
home
Oct. 16,
Children:
William A.,
1836, died Feb.
16,
1837;
LEAVITT HALLOCK.
AT
60.
MOSES HALLOCK.
Moses, burn Nov.,
Aug.
15,
about
is;]9,
died Sept.
o,
— Fanny mar. Rev.
— Eliza mar. Thos. H.
Conn., Sept.
l.S-iH;
Leavitt H.,
Henry M. Hazeltine
l<Slt>.
1855.
153
Rouse
Windsor,
of
K!, 1.S51.
William A. entered the ministry. Was pastor of the
church in Gilead, Conn. Afterwards jn-eached in Kiantone
and other places in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. For twelve
years, from 1875 to 1887, had charge of the Cong. Church
in Bloomtield, Conn.
He married Clara M. Hall of Jamestown, N.
Y.,
graduated
at
Sept.
HI,
18(;0.
Children: Nellie E., lately
Smith College, Northampton, and William
Amherst College; at present a member
Berlin University, Berlin, Germany.
Hall, a graduate of
of
Was
Leavitt H. also entered the ministry.
for eleven
years pastor of the Cong. Church at West Winsted, Conn.
Now
Six years pastor at Portland, Maine.
First Cong.
Church
at
Waterville, Me.
B.Butler of Brooklyn, N. Y., June
Oct.
2,
187o.
She died
11, 18(;7.
and Harry Butler.
Children: Lillian H.
Lillian studied at Wellesley College
pastor of the
Married Martie
and
is
now
teaching
at
High School at Hallowell, Me. Harry is in class of
Amherst College. — Leavitt H. married for a second wife
'!);3
Nellie M. W^ebster of Portland, Oct.
4.
3,
1888.
Gerard graduated at Williams College in
1810.
En-
gaged in teaching for awhile but soon went
to Boston
and started a newspaper called the " Boston Telegraph."
This after one year was merged in the Boston Recorder.
He
continued to edit the united papers until 1826,
when he
Asa Rand, and removed to N.
where he became one of the editors and proprie-
sold out his interest to Rev.
Y.
city,
He
afterwards became editor
tors of the N. Y.
Observer.
and
the Journal of Commerce, which he con-
j)r(jprietor of
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
154
ducted ably for nearly forty years.
his residence to
New
Later, having
removed
Haven, Conn., he paid nearly
|;30,-
000 out of a total expense of $35,000 incurred in building
the South Cong.
Church and chapel
ried Eliza Allen of Chilmark.
two
sons,
March
Sept.
lo,
Wm.
Age."
Deceased Jan.
Holmes, born Aug.
18;34.—
1851.
3,
Wm.
Is at
in that city.
18, 182G,
— He mar-
4, 18()6.
Had
and Charles,
H. mar. Julia Mack of Plainfield,
present assistant editor of the "Iron
Both sons were connected with the Journal
Commerce for many years in an editorial
capacity.
of
Charles
was connected with The " Forest and Stream " as editor
from 1873 to 1880, and is the author of a number of valuable works, among which are the following: " Fishing
Tourist," published in 1873; "Camp Life in Florida,"
1870; " Sportsman's Gazetteer," 1877; " Vacation Rambles
in
Michigan," 1877; " Our
New
Alaska," a very interesting
18!)().
He married Amelia
Wardell of Newark, N. J. Visits Plainfield nearly
every summer, usually remaining several weeks. He was
work, 1886; "Salmon Fisher,"
J.
the founder of the town of Hallock, county-seat of Kittson
county, Minnesota, at present the most flourishing locality
in the
Red River Valley.
late to
be indexed.
5.
Homan, youngest son
His portrait was received too
of Moses, in
1826
went as a
missionary printer to the island of Malta, in the Mediter-
When the Ameri-
ranean, and some years after to Smyrna.
can Bible Society commenced the publication of the Arabic
Bible in
New
York,
it is
said that only
two persons
in the
world understood the manufacture of the Arabic type.
These were an aged German and
this time he returned to
Homan
Plainfield
Hallock.
where with the
About
assist-
ance of his son Samuel he carried on the manufacture of
CHARLES HALLOCK.
JOHN HAMLEN.
the Arabic type.
When
after a
155
few years the work was
transferred to Beyrout, Syria, Samuel went there also and
took the position which his father had occupied, and
still
is
engaged in that work.
Homan,
in the course of his travels,
became acquainted
with and married an English lady, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, a
most estimable woman, who deceased Sept.
aged seventy-six. They had five sons, Moses,
18, 1875,
Homan B.
,
Ge-
rard J., Samuel and Wm. A., and two daughters, Margaret
and Sarah. Margaret married Rev. T. L. Byington, May 30,
1858, and for more than twenty years they were missionaries
among
the Bulgarians and at C(mstantinoi)le.
married Chas. C. Streeter,
Her
Cummington.
father,
May
Sarah
They reside in
aged nearly ninety, makes his
11,
185'.».
home with them.
JOHN HAMLEN.
[The writer has beeu able by referring to the printed record of the Ilamleu family,
compiled by the late Dea. Freeman Hamlen, and kindly loaned for the purpose by
his widow, Mrs. Martha Hamlen, to prepare a more complete history of this family
than of any other which he has attempted.]
The Hamlens
French origin; they came to EngJames Hamblen' and his wife Anne emi-
are of
land about 1080.
grated to this country in
Mass.
He
1(J4(),
and
settled in Barnstable,
died in 1G90.
John'', son of
James', born in Barnstable, June
married Sarah Bearse, August,
30,
10-1:4,
1607.
Benjamin', son of John' and Sarah, born in Barnstable,
Feb.
11, lOSO,
Eastham, Mass., in 1710; married
Anna Mayo, great grand-daughter of
settled in
for his second wife,
Gov. Prince.
Isaac*, son of Benjamin"'
ried Sarah
Shaw
and Anna, born
of Abinyton.
in
17'-i8;
mar-
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
156
John", son of
and Sarah, born
Isaac''
in
Bridgewater,
Mass., Oct. 32, 1703; married Sally Towne.
The name
Hainhleti,
of
Hamlen has been
and as often Ham//?; and Hamlen.
In the year
John Hamlen, then thirteen years old,
parents to Cummington, three years be-
177<),
removed with
his
fore its incorporation as a town.
entered the
At
the age of sixteen he
Revolutionary army and served about six
He was
months.
variously written: often
at the time of his death the last of the
Revolutionary pensioners in Plainfield.
Town
He married
Sally
(born in Sutton, Mass.) at Windsor. Mass., 1790, and
settled
Plainfield
in
the same year.
He was by
first
or under his supervision.
The house which he
occupied on his homestead where E. A. Atkins
is still
in
trade a
houses were built by him
carpenter and several of the
built
now
In 1800 he was chosen one of
good condition.
the selectmen and served for nineteen years.
He represent-
ed the town in General Court at Boston in 1813, Ml and
also in 1823
and
182().
and
lives,
'15;
He made the journey to Boston on
May sessions turned his horse
horseback, and during the
out to pasture in the near vicinity, and at the end of the
session rode
home
again.
Two
other representatives were
John Hamlen
Freeman and Edwin A. Atkins, the
at the time of their election living in the
house, viz.
I)resent
:
his son
member from this town. His
wife died Oct.
11, 1818,
For a second wife he married Mrs. Dorothy Gove of Worthington, Nov. 10, 1819. She died Sept. 21,
Although for many years in feeble
1847, aged sixty-nine.
aged
forty-five.
health he lacked but a few months of being ninety years of
age at his death, which occurred April
15, 1852.
At the age
of seventy-five he publicly professed his faith in Christ as
a Savior, and united with the Plainfield church.
He had
—
JOHN HAMLEN.
some years previously entertained a Christian
Chihlrenof John and Sally Hanilen were John, Jr.,
however
hope.
for
born July
2,
May
Reuben,
1702;
Dec.
Jr., (2d)
Orren died Sept.
;5.
Reuben
His
ried.
mar. Nov.
nice,
widow
Jan.
1,
Falls,
20,
Abram
of
five
times mar-
2:3,
1837; Flora A.,
tha A., March
2^,
B.. April, 1825,
mar. Jan.
Pamela
1,
of
Little
2S,
1817. died Oct.
4,
March
20. 1810,
died June
1821;
Shepard
L., Feb. 14, 182:3;
died Oct.
14,
died at
Children of Reuben
18(;r,.
born June
R.,
1854. died
Shelburne
He
She survived him.
180().
and Rhoda were Marilla
11,
Elizabeth Jones,
1851.— Fourth, Mrs. Eu-
Tirrell,
S.
Mrs.
18(;4.— Fifth,
mar. Sept.
22, 18:30.— Third,
died Dec.
Shelburne Falls, Mass., Dec.
7,
and was
Rhoda Richards. Married Feb.
182(i. — Second. Fanny Warner, mar.
wife was
18:^0,
:3,
2o, 1810;
181:}.
14,
died July
17, 1828,
1707;
.5,
Freeman,
lS();i;
Horace. Aug.
1807;
settled in Plainfield
first
died Dec.
15, 1816,
April
14,
1814.
3.
2.
July
1705; Clarissa.
10,
Lyman, Jan.
ISOO;
10,
Orren, horn Dec.
170-2;
-iO,
1805; Polly, Sept. 15.
8,
Jolm,
died Feb.
20, 1701,
Nabby, Feb.
May
157
12,
1840;
Mar-
Laura
Children of Reuben
182«;.
and Fanny W. were Laura B., born April 27, 1829; Rosamond W., June 1, 1831, died Aug. 20, 1844; Alfred W.,
June
1834; Albert
17,
A. mar.
Wm.
died Sept.
8,
C. Bissell of
Alfred
Nov.
James
W.
10,
Twinsburg,
13,
O.,
1830.— Martha
March
10, 1855,
1857.— Shepard L. mar. Elizabeth B. Valen-
tine of Cincinnati,
B. mar.
Wallace, March
C.
Nov.
10, 1850,
died
May
(i,
bsod.
Bellman of Cincinnati, Dec.
— Laura
22, 1853.
mar. Harriet N. Stratton of Jeffersonville, Ind.,
180.3,
died
June
(I,
Rachel Mercer of Princeton,
Reuben's children
.settled in
1872.— All)ert Wallace mar,
111.,
Oct. 27, 1870.— None of
Plainfield.
HISTORY OF PLAlNFlELi?.
158
Clarissa mar. Otis Pratt, Jan.
4.
died Dec.
IS, 1817,
13,
1831.
Nab by mar. John Ford
5.
of
Cnmmington,
Sept.
3,
1818; died Sept. 2U, 1833.
Lyman
183r..
mar. Lucy Flint of West Bloomfield, N. Y.,
Children: Sarah E., born May 20, 1827; Mary M.,
April
3,
G.
1830;
1835, died Feb.
Amelia, March
8,
1830;
29,
June 8,
William
1833; Horace,
Horatio B., Aug.
1,
1837;
Aug. 39, 1840; Martha A., Feb. 2, 1843; Alice Flora,
June 35, 184(1, died Jan. 35, 1854; Edwin C, Jan. 11, 1849,
died Nov. 14, 18(i5: Frederick B., July 31, 1853.— Sarah E.
mar. John C. Johns of West Bloomfield, N. Y., Sept. 7,
v.,
1848.— Mary M. mar. Russell Bradley, Nov.
Amelia mar.
Wm.
D. Quick,
March
29, 1854.
13,
1854.—
— Horatio B.
mar. Harriet Brown of Clarkston, Mich., Dec.
1801.
17,
— Martha A. mar. Dennis Collins of Clarkston, Mich. May
1865. — Frederick B. mar. Lizzie Weeks of Pontiac, Mich.
,
2,
Freeman mar.
7.
deceased Oct.
June 4, 1839. She
For a second wife he married Mar-
Clarissa Whiting,
13, 1847.
tha Taylor of Hawley, Nov.
30, 1848.
Was
chosen one of
the Selectmen in 1846 and served six years.
the town in the Legislature in 1850 and 1851.
was chosen town
clerk,
an
office
which he held
Represented
Li 1853 he
for twenty-
three years in succession, at the end of which time he de-
During his term of service he intown records of births, marriages, deaths and
intentions of marriage, which had not been done previous
to 1864, adding many that had been omitted, particularly
clined further service.
dexed
all
the
births, thus rendering the records of
For
this labor he
far greater
asked no compensation.
deacon of the Congregational church Aug.
most acceptably until
Was
30, 1844,
his resignation in 1867.
value.
chosen
serving
He was
also
,'«
^ ^^
f
JOHN HAMLEN.
many
for
159
years clerk of the church and compiled the last
church manual published
Reuben were
for
many
He and
1884.
in
his brother
years leaders of the church choir,
Freeman remained on the
old homestead until about 185/), when he removed to the
village.
He died on the morning of Jan. li;, 1880, while
both having excellent voices.
He had been
seated in the family sitting room.
in feeble
health for some time, and his death, though sudden, was
He was a man of thorough
not wholly unexpected.
hones-
was worthy of and received
the confidence of the entire community. Humility, sincerity and charity were marked features of his Christian
ty and sound judgment, and
character.
Truly, in
speaketh."
He had
Edward
0,
in
He
1842.
in Co. I 52d Mass. in the
number of years
ways, " he being dead yet
one child only, a son by his
June
F, born
many
war
Is
from the army
now employed
at
first
first
for the Union.
after his return
Northampton.
served as
wife,
Sergeant
Was
for a
in business
the State House,
Boston, as Executive Clerk for the Governor and Council,
a position which he has held for some fifteen years.
married Helen A. Church of N. Y. City, June
!),
He
1808.
Franklin Church, son of Edward F. and Helen A., was
born in Boston, Sept.
Polly mar. Mason Ames,
8.
ter,
10, 187(5.
Ohio,
0.
May
March
12, 18:^0,
died in Ches-
Horace mar. Clarissa Bancroft of Granville, Ohio,
1834.
She deceased Aug. 8, 1875. For a second
1,
wife he mar. Mrs. Lizzie
6,
May
18, 1847.
187(5.
One
Gavnen
of Gratiot, Ohio, July
Samuel B., born Feb. 20, 18o5, mar.
Easthampton, Mass., Sept. 16, 185(5.
son,
Lydia Clark of
John Jr.
10.
(2d) died in Granville, Ohio, Oct. 22, 1844.
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
160
JACOB JONES.
Jacob Jones, son of John and Ruth, was born in Weymouth, Mass., Nov. 1770. His father died in ISOO and his
mother in
1814,
aged seventy-four.
ton, sister of Maj.
He mar.
David Whiton, Nov.
WhiThey lived
Elizabetli
37, 1800.
on the farm now occupied by his grandson, William Jones.
Died Aug.
Oct.
22, 1861.
Jacob
1832;
4.
19, 1804;
3,
born July
!),
Merritt, Feb.
1802;
Elizabeth, Dec. 25, 1805; Nancy, Aug. 29, 1807;
Sarah, April
Feb.
Children: Addison, born 1801, died
Jr.,
22,
1809;
Minerva, July
Hannah,
1811;
15,
1815.
Jacob Jr. mar. Lucy H. Howes of Ashfield, March,
2.
1828.
Died suddenly while at work Dec.
dren:
Mary Christina, born July 28, 1829; William, May
Nancy W., June 1, 1834; David, July 20, 1838,
Chil-
15, 1873.
13, 1832;
died June
18,
1845;
Samuel W., born Aug.
Christina mar. Ansel K. Bradford, Sept.
Mass.^— William
Florence,
in
Windsor, Mass., March,
born Oct.
April
1855.
13,
1868,
9,
1842.— M.
26,
Reside
27, 1849.
mar. Caroline M. Field of
1856.
One daughter, Anna M.,
mar. Frederic M. Rice of Ashfield,
1887.— Nancy
W.
mar. Seth
W.
Clark, Sept.
3,
— Samuel W. served in the civil war in the 46th Mass.
After his return from the army he removed to Lockport,
111.,
where
he
mar.
Eliza
Children: Hattie, born Oct.
Paddock,
9,
Dec.
25,
1867.
1868, since deceased,
and
William, born 1872.
3.
died
Merritt
May
mar. Celia Gardner, June
22,
1845.
30,
1825.
She
For a second wife he mar. Mrs.
Chloe R. K. Ford, widow of William Ford, July
2(j,
1846.
Served as one of the Selectmen in 1863, died Dec. 30, 1884.
Children by his
first
wife, Rozelia M.,
born Aug.
31, 1830,
161
ISAAC JOY.
died July
7,
Sarah A., born
two others who
1857; also
Fel). 22, 1S42,
died Oct.
died in infancy.
Elizabeth mar. Reuben Hamlen, (third wife) Nov.
4.
3,
34, 1840;
1839, died Dec. 11, 1S51.
Nancy mar.
5.
and
182G,
is
Sarah
(i.
Setli
Williams of Ashfield, Oct.
S.
member
the only surviving
Samuel Williams
mar.
5,
of this family.
Ashfield, Oct.
of
24, 1833.
Minerva mar. Chester
7.
July
Clark,
Dec.
1,
1831,
died
22, 1885.
Hannah mar. John
8.
Clark, Dec, 1834.
ISAAC JOY.
Isaac Joy
was a pioneer
settler
from Weymouth, Mass.
Lived a short distance south of where
He had
lives.
the
the honor
meeting,
first district
" principle inhabitant."
in 1788, serving
two
W.
of serving the
E.
Shaw now
warrant calling
being directed to him as a
it
Was chosen one
of the Selectmen
His wife, Hannah, died March
years.
For a second wife mar. Mrs. Hannah Hathaway of Adams, Oct., 1799. Died July 20, 1801. Chil4,
1797.
dren:
Isaac,
Jr.,
born 170 1;
lor of
Hawley, Nov.
22,
rell,
Dec,
1785, died
born Dec
29, 1790;
Feb.
27,
23,
1786;
Alonzo,
1803;
May
All these children were
1810.
born in Weymouth, Mass.
— Isaac,
March
5,
1703; Mary, who
who mar. John Tay-
Joseph,
mar. Ezekiel Eldred, and Hannah,
1843.
mar. Ruth Tir-
Jr.,
Children: William,
Zenas, Jan. 20, 1790; Lucinda, Nov.
17, 1801;
Harriet, Nov.
and one who died
Susanna, (known as Susan)
2,
1804;
Isaac, (3d)
June
9,
remarkable that
1815,
there was a difference of nearly twenty-eight and one-half
in infancy.
It is
years in the ages of the oldest and youngest of this family.
11
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
162
1.
dren:
1814;
William mar. Sally Campbell, March, 1810. ChilFordyce, born Sept. 19, 1811; Lydia, Feb. 4,
Horace, Feb. 23, 1816; Rozina, May 22, 1818; Wil-
liam, Jr., Feb. 23, 1821; Edwin,
Zenas
2.
June
7,
1823.
The
Northampton.
mar. Abigail Everett of
one child only appears on the records, Lewis,
birth of
born Jan.
25, 1812.
Lncinda mar. Quartus Taylor.
3.
Children:
Alonzo mar, Lois Kingman of Hawley.
wife
deceased,
His
James T., Horatio and Julia A.
and for a second he mar. Minerva Smitli of Hawley.
4.
Children:
Caroline A., born Oct.
Emily, born Sept.
1850;
liam F., born April
Feb.
Taylor,
20, 1848,
1853.
6,
28,
1846, died Oct. 13,
died Sept.
—James
1853.— Julia A. mar.
24,
2,
1850
C.
;
Wil-
Mary
J.
Thayer
of
T. mar.
Hadley.
Susan mar. James Cook, Jan. 24, 1833.
Harriet mar, Abishur Nash, Jan. 11, 1827.
Isaac (3d) removed to Cambridgeport, Mass., where
5.
6.
7.
he married and now
resides.
Joseph Joy, son of Isaac
She died Jan
ington.
J
1826,
9,
wife he mar. Mrs. Mehitable
She died March
1839.
15, 1836,
1st,
mar. Molly Porter of Ab-
aged sixty -five. For a second
Brown of Abington,
aged sixty-seven.
Sept. 1829.
He died Nov.
22,
His children were Clarissa, born Feb, 21, 1788;
14, 1790; James, Sept, 1, 1793; Polly, May
Leonard, March
10, 1790;
one
who
1.
Dec.
2,
19
Merilla,
Aug,
20, 1800; Electa,
Feb,
11, 1803;
and
died in infancy,
Clarissa mar,
Levi Campbell, June
14,
1810, died
26, 1856.
Leonard mar. Polly Warner, daughter of Abel, Nov.
Died Jan. 15,1881. For some years kept the
ISll,
—
ISAAC JOY.
known
1G3
"Hampshiro House." Children Lncretia, born Aug 10, ISV), died March 17, 1818; Cordelia, born
May 37, 1815; Sarah M., March 28. 1817; Emeline and
Caroline, (twins) June 15, 1819; Francis W., May
1822;
Charles, Oct. IG, 1824; Electa P., 1827; Lorenzo W., born
in Worthington, 1832.
Cordelia mar. Rush Gurney of
Cummington, second wife, al)out 18-)r). Sarah M. mar.
John M. Crane of Washington, Mass., Sept. 10, 18:38.
Caroline mar. Jonas Holden of Hawley, May 10, 1841.
liotel
as
tlie
:
1.'],
—
—
—
W.
Francis
April,
mar. Rachel Chapel of Washington, Mass.,
— Charles mar. Julia M.
— Electa P. mar.
Hawley, June
1847. — Lorenzo W.
died Aug.
1845,
17,
1887.
Sanderson, Nov., 1848, died Aug.
Reuben
Scott, Jr., of
12, 1850.
3,
mar. Delia R. Colburn, Jan., 1855.
James mar. Mary Whiton, June 10, 1818. Children:
Mary Ann P., born June 23, 1810; Amelia Antoinette,
3.
Nov.
1823; Clara H.,
2,
Elisha Bassett,
Boston, Sept.
April
2,
now Clerk
5,
1845.
1843.
They
May
— Antoinette
reside in
He was
the senior
District Court at
mar. William Bassett,
Heath, Mass.— Clara H.
mar. Benj. F. Hallett of Boston,
1858.
Mary Ann mar.
1830.
30,
of the U. S.
(second wife) Aug.
member
Piano Coinpany, and deceased several years
Hallett
now
Polly mar. Verus Patrick, March
5.
Merilla nuir.
G.
Electa
are
Davis
since.
Mrs,
resides in Florence, Mass.
4.
whom
4,
&
of the Hallett
mar.
still
Dura Torrey, Dec.
Levi
Clark,
4,
Oct.
27, 1822.
1821.
2,
1828,
both of
living in town.
JACOB NASH.
Jacob Nash was
1)orn
Served through the entire
at the
beginning only
Weymouth, Mass., in 17G0.
war of the R((Vohition, although
in
fifteen years of age,
and came
to
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
1(34
Plainfield directly after the close of the
now occupied by Stephen
the farm
war and
settled
on
In 1788 he
Parsons.
mar. Joan Reade of Abington, whose English ancestors
came
to
America
He
aged eighty-six.
died April
were Sybil, born Aug.
Roxana, Aug.
She died Sept.
in the Mayflower.
22,
14, 1851.
1789;
19,
Jan.
1792, died
1840,
Their children
Arvin, Nov.
20, 1868;
8,
1790;
19,
Eunice, April
Mandana, Jan. 19, 1800. Sybil and Roxana never
Chilmarried. Arvin mar. Lucinda Vinton in 1813.
Eunice V., Martha J., Spencer and Maria S. Eudren
30, 1795;
—
:
nice and Spencer died in cliildhood.
Martha
mar. Chas. A. Lamb, Sept.
J.
8,
She
1853.
Among
has since become well known in the literary world.
her notable productions are " The History of the City of
New
York," in two
folio
volumes, considered in
many
spects the most remarkable city history ever written; "
Homes
of
re-
The
America," published by the Appletons in 1879;
" Memorial of Dr.
J. D. Russ " "Wall Street in History,"
for children, which have gone through
volumes
thirteen
many
editions
;
"Spicy," a novel, celebrated for contain-
;
ing the best description extant of the great Chicago
fire;
her work on the coast survey used as a text book in some
of our colleges,
and upwards
portant historical and
of one
hundred and
fifty
im-
other papers in leading magazines.
Lamb was made editor-in-chief of the
American History," a position she still
Early in 1883 Mrs.
" Magazine of
holds (1891.)
It
has
won
the distinction of being one of
the best edited and best conducted magazines of
in the world,
and
is in all
the
first-class
its
kind
public libraries of
the English speaking cities of three continents, a valued
authority in
is
all
leading literary circles.
of the highest character
and
is
Mrs. Lamb's
recognized as such
work
among
JACOB NASH.
tlie
most eminent
165
scliolars in all parts of the world.
Slie
has been elected to membership in twenty-six historical
and learned
country and Europe, ^lonors
societies in this
never before conferred on any American woman.
residence for the past twenty-five years has been in
York
City.
Maria
mar.
S.
10, 1805.
Arvin's
J.
Whitmarsh, (second wife) April
S.
Reside in Florence, Mass.
wife having
and Mary
18G0.
L.
He
—James
settled
for a second
deceased he mar.
Mrs. Dorothy Covell of Buckland.
IG,
Her
New
Children
James A.
:
A. mar. Mary A. Torrey, Sept.
in
town and has been
for about
twenty-five years proprietor of the grist-mill standing near
the site of the old mill formerly
Beals,
"the Mountain Miller."
owned
Was
l)y
Dea. Joseph
chosen one of the
Selectmen in 1874, and served nine years, a part of the
Elmer E..born in Chicago;
Frank E., born July 25, 1800; Charles A., Aug. 14, 1870
Lewis S., Sept. 20, 1884. Mary L. mar. John Baker
of Savoy.
He recently deceased in Adams, Mass., where
Arvin Nash's second wife died in
his widow still resides.
He
1841, and he mar. Lucretia Pixley, Sept. 20, 1842.
time as chairman.
Children
:
;
—
—
died July
12,
1800.
— Eunice,
daughter of
Jacob, mar.
—
David Crittenden of Charlemont, Sept. 1, 1813. Mandana,
daughter of Jacob, mar. Jacob Pratt, May 20, 1828,
and is now living in South Amherst, Mass. at the ad,
vanced age of
91.
BARNABAS PACKARD.
Barnabas Packard was born
his father's
Nash
name being
of Plainfield, July,
also
in
Cummington
Barnabas.
1781),
and
He
in 17G4,
mar. Mary
settled on the
farm
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
166
wliere Thos.
died April
1795;
Patty, Aug.
Nov.
22,
1868,
;
Barnabas,
;
1792, died
born June
1868,
Sept,
1,
20,
10,
Sept. 29, 1799; Norton,
1805
10,
3,
26,
;
Roswell, Feb.
15,
June 14, 1794.
Snow, died at Cameron,
in infancy
unmarried
H., Oct.
Irene,
1824;
Jan.
Jr.,
Tirrell's,
April
Children: Polly N., born July
10,
Wm.
Ruby,
mar. Ruth
Jr.
Mo., in 1872.
died Nov.
born July
Sally,
;
25, 1797;
Milton,
and one who died
1808,
1820
1791
21,
25,
bom
Aclisali,
:
unmarried; Barnabas,
April
1802
Cliildren
1847.
June
1790, died
south of Orriii
K. Wlieeler lives,
30,
1822
1826
;
;
18,
1819,
Cynthia, born Nov.
27,
Patty (or Martha) Aug.
18,
;
Mary
Roswell Clifford, Feb.
4,
1831;
Charles Edwin, March
19,
1838
Jane,
Oct. 22, 1828
;
Chalmer
O., July, 1834
;
H. Clark, Feb.
;
20, 1840.
Cynthia mar. Aaron G. Ayres, Dec, 1841.
William H. mar. Rachel B. Tillson of Cummington,
April, 1847, and settled in Windsor,
Luther W., Cyrus W.,
Joseph, Tillson,
Fred,
Children: Cornelia,
Mary and Henry
Rachel, wife of
C.
B.
Franklin,
Wm,
H., died
For a second wife he mar. Mrs. Mary
Of the children of
26, 1887.
Cornelia,
and
Tillson
(deceased) settled
Wm. H.,
Joseph
Luther mar. Lucy O. Stetson, Oct, 18,
in Canada.
Children Minnie R,, Annie E, and Mary E,— Cy1882.
Jan.
30,
Ann
(Dyer) Brackett, Oct.
1881,
—
:
rus
W,
and
mar, Nellie Mason, April
for a
second
wife he mar,
14, 1878.
She deceased,
Dora A,
Mills.
Their
children are John H., Maggie A., Joseph W., Charles,
—
Marion E. and Robert B. B. Franklin mar. Julia E. Beals,
Fred died
of Goshen, June 25, 1890, one son, Joseph A.
Aug.
12, 1884,
aged twenty-four,
aged twenty-five,
14, 1890.
— Henry
Mary
died July
C. mar. Bertha B.
13, 1887,
Gurney, Dec.
— Martha, daughter of Barnabas, Jr., mar, Charles
BARNABAS PACKARD.
1G7
—
Ford of Windsor, Dec, 184:3. Irene mar. Horatio
Lyon, April, 1847. Mary Jane mar. Zebedee H. Ran1852.
dall of Cumraington, March,
Clifford mar. Elnora J. Vining of Cummington, Feb. 25, 1800, and settled
in Missouri.
1870
Children: Emma E., born March
T.
—
—
!),
C, March
;
Leonard C, Dec. 8, 1875; Etta
B., Dec. 13, 1877; E. Edwin, Feb. 1, 1880; Jennie S., Aug.
Chalmer mar. Sophia Dean of Savoy, April 1,
5, 1882.
1863 settled in Missouri. Have one son, Herbert M., born
July, 18G7. Chas. Edwin mar. Araminta Utter of Ohio
Geo.
13,
1873
;
—
;
—
in
Martha
;
Children
Missouri.
Clark
S.,
P., Feb.
5,
Sept. 19, 1870;
1876
in
settled
18G7,
Dec.
1880
;
20,
:
Wm.
Eva
1873;
B.,
born
Aug.
Laura
L.,
Bessie D., 1884
;
10,
E.,
Aug. 10, 1886, and an infant daughter who died in 1870.
These three brothers all reside at Cameron, Mo., Edwin
being cashier of the Farmers' Bank at that place. H.
Clark mar. Melona C. Dawes, June 4, 1865. One daugh-
—
—
ter,
Vesta D., born Aug.
ards of
Cummington, June
daughter
Patty,
July
28, 1866,
of
mar. Arthur B. Rich-
20, 1890.
Barnabas, mar.
Nathan
Beals,
13, 1815.
Ann Thompson,
Norton, son of Barnabas, mar. Mary
Children
1828.
M., Nov.
Aug.
George W., born Jan.
:
30, 1820
1834; Marilla B., April 25, 1837
27,
;
Philena
John
;
K.,
16, 1839.
Milton, son of Barnabas, mar. Charlotte Parker, Jan.
7,
1828.
April
1843;
Children
15,
1833
Lozene
Lyman and
;
:
Lurinda, born Aug.
Leavitt, Oct.
E., Jan.
18,
19.
1835
30, 1830
;
;
Lyman,
Laura, Jan.
1845; Franklin, Dec.
12,
23,
1852;
West and died there.— Lozene
Have
mar. Mina Wheeler. They reside in Windsor.
Whitman.
children. — Franklin
mar.
Nellie
several
Reside in Cummington and have quite a family.
Leavitt went
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
1G8
Roswell,
son of Barnabas, mar. Susan Bird of WilTliey had one daughter horn in
liamstown, July, 1832.
Plainfiehi, Vesta, Oct.
9,
1833.
JAMES RICHARDS,
James Richards was the son of Joseph and Sarah (Whitmarsh) Richards, the fourth of a family of four sons
and three daughters.
setts,
May
31, 1757.
He was horn
Was
in
Eastern Massachu-
one of the earliest settlers and
had seen service in the Revolutionary army. He was an
educated man, of versatile talents, and throughout his acWas
tive life was prominent in church and town affairs.
one of the first two deacons chosen Nov. 15, 1792. Taught
school in winter for many years. Was a fine singer and
organized and led the first choir also taught singing
schools in early times in this and adjoining towns.
He
was held in high esteem by the towns-people, and his
opinion on any public question had the effect of law. One
Sunday morning a new minister had preached, and as
the congregation were passing out one asked another how
he liked the sermon, " Oh, I don't know," he replied, " I
haven't seen Deacon Richards yet." He was chosen one
of the Selectmen in 1790 and served in that capacity
twenty-one years. Only one has served the town in that
;
office longer,
who
Town
the exception being Levi N. Campbell,
served twenty-two years.
In 1797 he was chosen
Clerk and served four years. Represented the District
and Cummington in General Court in 1793, '98, and 1801,
3 and 5, and after its incorporation as a town he was sent
He was also a
as its representative in 1811, '12 and '16.
delegate to the Convention for Revising the Constitution
in Nov., 1820.
Was
commissioned a Justice of the Peace
JAMES RICHARDS.
in 1802,
an
office
at
responsibilities than
He was
169
that time attended with far greater
now, wliich
office
he held twenty-
some years previous
to his death, which occurred Mcli. 1, 18-42. Mar. Lydia Shaw
of Abington, sister of Josiah Shaw, May 1, 1780. She died
Ang. 20, 1828, aged seventy-one. She is spoken of by tliose
who remember her as a most excellent woman. The homestead on which they settled and where they lived and died
is that now occupied by A. B. Cole, the house now standing being the same occupied by them. This was built before 1800, probably, and was the birth-place of the writer.
Their children were a daughter, born May 1, 1781, who
died in infancy; Lydia, born May 1, 1782; James, Jr.,
Feb. 23, 1781; Joseph, Nov. G, 1785; Sarah, Aug. 15, 1787;
Nancy Shaw, Jan. 5, 1790, died Dec. 20, 1794; William,
Aug. 22, 1793; Jason, June 27, 179G, died May 1, 1798;
Jason (2d) Aug. 31, 1798; Austin, Feb. 9, 1800. Of these,
the first five were born before their settlement in Plainfield.
Lydia mar. Ebenezer Snell, Esq., of Cummington, (second wife) Oct. 27, 1825, died June 26, 184G.
James, Jr. graduated at Williams College in 1809. Studied theology at Andover, graduating in 1812. While at college he with four others, of whom Samuel J. Mills was the
leader, became greatly interested in the subject of foreign
missions and prayed into existence the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
In September,
1811, he oft'ered his services to the Board as a missionary.
eight years.
totally blind for
—
After completing his theological studies he devoted considerable time to the study of medicine and surgery, with
a view to increased usefulness
mar. Sarah Bardwell,
May
31,
among
1815,
the heathen.
and Oct.
23,
He
1815,
they sailed for Ceylon, where they arrived after a voyage.
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD,
170
considered
TTiontJis.
a prosjierous one,
but which required
five
After over six years of faithful labor, part of
which time, however, Mr. Richards was greatly hindered
by sickness, he died at Tillapilly, Ceylon, Aug. 3, 1832.
A monument bearing suitable inscriptions in English and
Tamul, marks his
April
last
His widow died
resting place.
26, 1825.
Joseph mar. Mehitable Allen, April
4,
a physician and located at Hillsdale, N. Y.
He was
1809.
Had
one son,
William, also a physician, for several years located in
Cummington.
Married Martha Brown of Peru.
Sarah mar. John Mack, Oct.
27,
1808,
died Jan.
25,
1866.
William studied
College in
services as
Sept.
12,
for the ministry, graduated at
1822.
sailed for the
He
King
mar. Clarissa
Sandwich
there in April, 1823.
the
Williams
1819, studied divinity at Andover, offered his
a missionary, and was ordained at New Haven,
Islands, Nov. 19, 1822, arriving
He became an
of the islands,
Lyman, and they
and after
influential adviser of
fifteen years at the
of civilizing and christianizing the people
work
and aiding
in
translating the Bible into their language, he entered the
government and gave shape and direction
His first duty was to prepare a constitution and code of laws for the nation, which remains, a lasting monument to his memory. He then sailed for Europe
service of their
to their politics.
and the United States as Minister Plenipotentiary of the
King, to obtain from the great powers of the earth an acknowledgment of the Sandwich Islands as an independent
His credentials, handsomely engrossed on
vel-
lum, bearing the signature and seal of the king, are
now
kingdom.
in the possession of his neice, Mrs.
Wm.
Holmes Hallock.
JAMES RICHARDS,
171
Mr. Ricliards was accompanied to the United States by
Prince Haalilio, the heir apparent to the Hawaiian tlirone,
whose visit to Phiinfield will be remembered by a few.
The prince died
at sea
on the retnrn passage.
After Mr.
Richards' return to the Sandwich Islands, he was for several years Minister of Public Instruction,
and his labors
were incessant. The king had perfect confidence in his
judgment and considered him his best friend. His death,
which occurred Nov. 7, 1847, was by them regarded as a
national bereavement.
Jason received
obtained at the
Plainfield
and
as
thorough an education as could be
common
schools.
spent his
life in
cared for his parents until their death.
taught very successfully for
this
He
and adjacent towns.
many
Was
He
years in the schools of
chosen
Town
Clerk in 1833
twelve years. He was a very plain and
and
very exact in making records. He repcareful penman
resented the town in the Legislature in 1841 and '42. About
this time he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, an office
and held the
office
which he held until a short time before his death, which occurred Aug. 7, 1885. It is somewhat remarkable that he professed Christ and united with the church at the advanced
age of seventy-eight years, giving good evidence during
the remainder of his life that he had indeed " passed from
life."
He gave much attention to the study of
common law and though he never took any regular course,
death unto
was considered excellent authority by the people of the
town in ordinary matters of law, being often consulted on
legal subjects, and his opinions when given were very seldom wrong. Had he received a thorough legal education
he would without doubt have been a shining light in that
profession, for
which he had great natural
talents.
He
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
173
mar.
Soj)liia Forsaitli
Ann
Children:
July
1833
IG,
Mack, July
James
and
is
;
of Deeriiig, N.
H., Jan.
5,
1830.
S., born Oct. 23,1830; James Forsaitli,
William Austin, Jan. 37, 183G Laura
;
18, 1838.
F. received a college education, studied medicine
a successful physician in Andover, Mass.
— William
Austin graduated at Amherst College with the intention
of entering the ministry, but while teaching in Williston
Seminary, Easthampton, was attacked by typhoid fever,
which terminated fatally Sept. 8, 1863, He was ill but a
few days. The daughters, Ann S. and Laura M., were
both successful teachers in the public schools for a number
Laura mar. Josiah H. Hunt, a native of
Hawley, and removed to Gloucester, Mass., where her
husband was for some years principal of one of the High
Here she died Sejjt. 34, 1881, and her remains
Schools.
were brought here and laid beside those of her brother.
The writer has her in grateful remembrance as a teacher
for whom he had great admiration and respect and whom
of
years.
he firmly believed could not be excelled.
Austin, youngest son of James
the ministry, graduating
at
(1st)
was educated
Amherst College
in
for
1834.
Maria C. Odiorne of Boston, Dec. 13, 1837.
Settled in New Hampshire, where he spent a long and
Married
useful
life
in that work.
JOSIAH SHAW.
Josiah
Shaw
settled in Plainfield in 1793.
an energetic young
man
of
He was then
He had
twenty -nine years.
previously prospected and purchased a tract of land, and
in
February of that year, he with his wife and three young
made the journey from Abington. He served in
children
:
JOSIAH SHAW.
army and
173
have carried a
battle of Bunker Hill, and to
the Revolutionary
is
said
to
musket and fouglit at tlie
have been a sergeant at Saratoga and witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne; died Aug. 26. 1844, aged eighty-one.
Children
Josiah, Jr. born in Abington, Nov. 13, 1785
:
May
Samuel, also born in Abington,
(I,
1700
;
Nancy, Feb.
;
1708; Freeman, Feb. 23, 1803.
Lydia Noyes of Abington, died
Dec. 13, 1803. Children
Louisa, born Nov, 27, 1808, died
April 27, 1813 Mary Ann, born June 22, 1811 Washington, Jan. 11, 1814
Julia Ann, Oct.
Lewis, Nov. 3, 1816
4,
1794;
1.
Dana, April
Josiah,
10,
mar.
Jr.
:
;
;
;
25, 1818,
died Oct.
W., March
Nov.
22,
;
21, 1825
1829,
1850
3,
;
;
Josiah, 3d, Oct.
died
June
Elijah Warner, Jr.. Jan.
'
3,
1820
Eliza A., Aug. 29, 1827
2,
11,
;
1834.— Mary
1844,
died Dec.
Henry
;
Helen H.,
Ann
24,
mar.
1888.—
Washington studied medicine, married and settled in Haywhere he practised his profession until his decease,
some thirty years since. Had one son, Henry W., now
living in Springfield, Mass.
Lewis remained on the farm
and cared for his father and mother. He remained single
denville,
—
until
after
the
death of
his parents,
Rachel C. Tuller of Haydenville, Nov.
when he mar.
16,
1864.
Was
chosen one of the Selectmen in 1854, and served in that
office
eighteen years in
Chairman
of the
death, April
all,
being for a number of years
Board, which position he held at his
16, 1884.
He
also served three years on the
At a town meeting held soon after his decease, the following was adopted
"Eesolved, that as citizens of Plainfield we express our high
appreciation of his wise and faithful management of public
affairs, and tender our sympathy to the widow and her
School Committee, being elected in 1875.
family under this heavy bereavement."
His children are
HISTORY OP PLAINPlELt).
174
Carrie L., born Sept.
18,
1S65
;
Mary
E.,
July
3,
1875.—
Lucian A. White, (second wife) Dec.
Carrie mar.
24,
1886.
Josiali, 3d, mar. Romina M. Streeter, Jan. 22, 1850.
They removed to Wisconsin, where they now reside.
Henry W. settled in Springfield, Mass., and afterward
in N. Y. City.
He was twice married and deceased in
1890.
Had one
Eliza
June
A,
daughter, Sarah.
mar. John
He
27, 1855.
G.
at present
Sawyer
Albion,
of
N.
Y.,
has the honor of represent-
ing his district in Congress.
2.
whom
Samuel, of
"Physicians," mar.
Dr. Peter Bryant of
a history
Sarah
given under head of
is
Bryant, daughter of
Snell
Cummington,
in"
ter,
Married Clark
Ellen T.
Mass., Aug.
3,
1842; died
W.
March
She died Dec.
1821.
They had one daugh-
12, 1824, at the age of tweiity-two.
Mitchell,
12, 1891,
now
of Dalton,
aged sixty-eight.
Samuel mar. for a second wife Elizabeth O. Clarke of
Children
Samuel Francis,
Northampton, Oct., 1830.
born Sept. 7, 1833; Stella A., Dec. 13, 1835; Sarah G., Dec.
17, 183G; Charles Lyman, Feb. 7, 1842; Laura A., Jime
Samuel F., of whom a brief history is given else27, 1840.
:
—
where, mar. Adelaide Roberts of Philadelphia, Oct.
1877, died Dec.
Hudson,
Jr.,
7,
27,
1884.— Laura A. mar. Dr. E. Darwin
a physician of N. Y. City, Sept.
7,
1871.
He
The surviving mem-
deceased two or three years since.
bers of the family reside in Astoria, N. Y., excepting dur-
ing the summer,
when they occupy
ownership of which they
3.
Nancy mar.
still
Edmund
the old homestead, the
retain.
Campbell,
May
23,
1817,
died Nov., 1820.
4.
Dana mar. Elizabeth Whiton,
Ai)ril
2,
1829.
He
SAMUEL STREETER.
and practiced for more than twenty-
was
also a pliysician
five
years in Barre, N. Y.
deceased
;
Freeman remained on the
5.
father
first
Jan.
March
18;J3
14,
1870.
0,
;
Aug.
Augusta, Feb.
1854; Harriet
years since.
old homestead
Children
F. Engene,
many
where his
Harriet Whiton, Ang.
Married
settled.
1828, died
176
11,
:
Ann
2,
Zerniah. born
18:U, died Dec.
18:57;
28,
;50,
Theodore W.,
June 14, 18:39; Chauncey C, May 20, 1841; Diantha H.,
March 25, 184:}; Elna I., Sept. C, 1849.— Zerniah mar.
Alden F. Pettengill of Cummington, Nov. 10, 1853. Augusta mar. Ira W. Hamlen, July 7, 1858. Theodore
mar. Martha E. White, (let. 12, 1802.
Has for many
years been employed at the U. S. Armory at S]nnngfield.
Anna, born Sept. 1, 1872, died May 22, 1879;
Chihlren
Etta and Harry. Chauncey married, and died a few years
Theodore and Chauncey both
since at Brooklyn, N. Y.
served in the war of the Rel)ellion, Chauncey being the
first
volunteer from Plainfield. Diantha mar. Joseph
Woodward, Feb. 27, 1800.— Elna I. mar. Clias. C. Hall
—
—
:
—
—
of Si)ringfield, Oct.
1,
1808.
SAMUEL STREETER.
Samuel Streeter was a pioneer
settler
having come here
while the town was a part of Cummington.
He was born
After serving in the war of
in Sturbridge, Mass., in 1754.
the Revolution he marritul Bathshel)a Barton oi Charlton
in
and
1778,
Sept.
7,
settled
1844, his
where
S.
H. Sears )iow
lives.
Died
wife having deceased six years before.
Hannah, born June 16, 1780; Joanna, Oct. 30,
1781, died Aug. 13, 1787; Jacob, Feb. 21, 1783; Susanna,
July 30, 1785 Auselm, Oct. 4, 1787 Lucena, Jan. 4,
1789; Arnold, Oct. 14, 1790; Trnman, Jan. 20, 179:5; Samuel,
Nahum, Feb. 9, 1797.
Jr., Aug. 17, 1795
Children
:
;
;
;
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
17n
1.
Hannah
Timothy Barker
mar.
of
Heath, Ang.
19, 1803.
Jacob mar. Hannah Shaw Erskine, April 12, 1802,
Children Horace, born April 9, 1804, Almira, Jan. 30,
2.
:
180G;
Reed Erskine, Nov.
Anna, Dec.
2,
7,
1807
died Aug.
16, 1810,
Betsey, June 25, 1809;
;
29, 1815:
Jacob, Jr., April
This family removed to Ohio.
1812.
Susanna mar. Joel Carr, April 1!», 1804,
5.
Lucena mar. Ezra Beals, Jan. 29, 1807.
Arnold mar. Ruth Butler of Buckland, Nov., 1809,
6.
died May 8, 1872. Children
Romina, born 1810, died
Oct. 2, 1812; Sereno, March 11, 1812, died Nov. 2,
1812; Sereno C, born in Pittsfield, Mass., April 22,
1814; Edwin P., June 3, 181G; Theron L., Aug. 17, 1818;
Romina M., May 10, 1823; Ruth Ann, Feb. 6, 1828.— Sereno C. mar. Mercy Stetson. Children Carrie A. born July
3.
:
,
:
Belle G., April 11, 1843;
17, 1839;
died Sept.
9,
Nov.
22,
Nov.
24,
ams,
Dec.
George A., Sept.
— Carrie
1874.— George
13,
1873:
24,
Edith L., Sept.
— Mary
E.
mar.
J.
15,
mar.
1852;
Nelson
mar. Charles
1804.— Belle
marsh, Dec.
1878;
1850;
1854.
Hiram C, May
T.
6,
1879
;
1849,
MaryE.,
Benjamin,
Estes of Ad-
Vesta
WhitMarch 1,
E,
Children: Cora M., born
Herbert G., April
mar. Clarence Tower of
8,
5,
1881.
Cummington,
Oct.
29, 1878.
Edwin
Theron
P.
mar. Elsie Gloyd; died Nov.
L.
18, 1888.
mar. Maria B. Belding of Ashfield, Oct.,
Clara M., born Oct. 4, 1846; Darwin E.,
Children
March 27, 1848; William and Fred.
Romina M. mar, Josiah Shaw, 3d, Jan, 22, 1850,
Ruth Ann mar, George G, Keyes. Now reside in
1845.
:
Delton, Wisconsin.
JOSIAH TORREY.
Truman, son
7.
Hawley, Sept.
of
Samuel,
9.
Nalinm mar.
18,
Anna Copeland, Aug. 30,
Anna Butler, died Sept. 1,
mar.
Jr.
Louisa,
:
1828;
mar. Nancy Hitchcock
Samuel,
1817.
1,
8.
Children
of
177
born
July
1824
19,
;
1820.
Fred,
1881.
Aug.
Ann and Mary
Lorenzo, Jan. 7,1832; Julia
—
Ann, twins, Oct, 29, 1830. Louisa mar. Solomon H.
Deming, March 1, 1849.— Fred died in Greenfield, Mass.,
some years since. Lorenzo served in the war of the Rebellion in the 37th Mass., and is now living in Vermont.
Julia
—
—
A. mar. Chas.
burg,
W.
Bogart, Feb.
Mass.— Mary A. died Jan.
7, 18(;(;.
Live in Williams-
29, 1842.
JOSIAH TORREY.
Josiah Torrey was born in 1750, prol)a1)ly in Al)ington,
was without doubt a descendant of Capt. Wm.
St. Nicholas, County of Somerset, England, who came to this country in 1040 or '41 and settled
in North Weymouth.
This Ca])t. William was many
Mass., and
Torrey of Combe,
Was
times chosen representative to General Court.
for
about thirty years Clerk of the Courts of Norfolk County.
He married
his second wife after settling in
The genealogy
of Josiah
is
son of Josiah, of Phillip, of William, 2d, of
His father was born in
of Abington.
Weymouth.
traced back as follows
1720,
and
Cai>t.
:
—Josiah
William.
settled in the west part
Josiah served in the Revolutionary war
and as early as 1785
settled in Plainfield,
on the farm now
owned by C. W. Packard. He was called by the old people "Governor" Torrey, but how he obtained the title is
not clear. The hill on which the house stands still bears
his name.
His wife died July
mar. Olive Segur, March,
12
15, 1819.
1821.
Died
For a second he
Aug. 0, 1830.
—
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
178
His children were John, Olive, Ruth, Nancy and Josiah,
John
Jr., all of whom were probably born in Abington.
—
— Olive mar. Ansel Converse of Windsor, Nov., 1812. — Ruth mar. John Ford of
1834. — Nancy mar.
Cummington, (second wife) May
1817. — Josiah,
Ebenezer Shaw, Jr. of Cummington, Jan.
mar. Betsey Colson, Oct., 1812.
18,
2,
mar. Polly Nash, Sept.
Jr.
born Sept.
Feb.
18,
10, 1820;
Edwin
T.,
Feb.
1823; Merritt P., June
Francis N., Dec.
Mary
1.
27, 1810;
10,
widow
were Mary N.,
Tirrell,
13, 1821;
1825;
8,
May
She died
Their children
of Isaac Tirrell, Jan., 1810.
R.
1815.
21,
For a second wife he mar. Abigail
1817.
Philena L.,
Austin W., Aug.
11, 1831.
N. mar. Josiah Perkins.
Reside in Pawtucket,
I.
Edwin mar. Candace D. Stanford of Rowe, April,
Children: Mary A., born 1844; George O., born
2.
1843.
Sept.
1858.
8,
1850, died
— Mary
Sept.
13,
1852; George A., Nov.
A. mar. James A. Nash,
Sept.
15,
14,
1860.
George A. mar. Philibena Stemple of Buckland, Jan.
21,
Have one daughter, Mabel.
1883.
Philena, mar. William Gurney, (second wife) Jan.,
3.
1844.
Merritt mar.
4.
Was
Celestia E.
Tirrell,
April
13,
1848.
chosen one of the Selectmen in 1800 and served seven
Also represented the town and district in the Leg-
years.
islature in 1877.
Children: Flora L., born Sept.
Alden L., June 6, 1860.
Austin mar. Sarah
5.
L.
J.
Wing
20, 1856;
of Hinsdale, Mass.,
Oct., 1852.
6.
Francis mar. Julia M. Remington, Nov.
24, 1853.
Austin and Francis were both teachers or School SuperNew Jersey for many years, being highly
intendents in
AMOS TIRRELL.
esteemed.
received
179
*
Francis died n few years since from injuries
by being thrown from a wagon. His death was
community in which he
considered a great loss to the
lived.
AMOS TIRRELL.
Amos
was born
Tirrell
in
Settled here
Mass., in 1703.
occupied by Merritt Torrey.
of
"Old Orchard" among
Weymouth)
about 1780, on the farm now
He was known by the name
Abington
(or
Presented
the towns-people.
each of his children on their marriage with a farm; died
March
March
G,
11,
1810.
Children:
1787;
Isaac, Dec.
Orren, June
1702;
Shaw, April
1825;
Hannah,
5,
Amos,
1780;
Arza, Feb.
13, 1705;
18, 1802; Clarissa,
James, Aug.
l)orn
May
in
Abington,
Jr.,
18, 1700;
25, 1800,
Nov.
18,
Abram
died July
12,
31, 1812.
Hannah mar. Samuel Thayer, Jr., March 27,
Settled where Lemuel Mason now lives and reared a
1.
180G.
large
family.
2.
Dec.
3.
Isaac mar.
2,
1811;
Amos,
16, 1825.
Nabby Snow
of Windsor, Feb., 1813, died
had one son who died
Jr.
in infancy.
mar. Electa Nash, March, 1813, died Nov.
Children:
Russell, born Jan. 22, 1814; Lois J.,
Aug. 13,
Aug. 2, 1823. His widow afterward mar.
Benjamin Town. Russell mar. Mrs. Lucy M. Campbell,
widow of J. Dwight Campbell, April 22, 1852. Children:
Arthur R., born Feb. 10, 1853; Emma L., Juno 2(;, 1857.
Sept.
20,
1815; Isaac,
Oct.
4,
1818; Sophronia,
1820; Polly N.,
—
—Arthur mar.
Nellie
M. Clark, Nov.
27,
1870.— Emma
is
a professional nurse in Hartford, Conn,
Lois J. mar. Daniel Burt of Southampton, Nov., 1834.
Isaac mar. Melissa Sackett of Westfield.
Slio
deceased
HISTORY OF PLAINPIELD.
180
and he married his present wife who was Hannah Phipps.
reside in Holyoke.
Sophronia mar. Sumner Burt,
—
They
April
31,
1840.— Polly N. mar.
June 12, 1850.
Orren mar. Lydia
ton,
4.
Jan.
19, 1860;
Emeline
E.,
5,
1817, died
born 1819; Joseph W.,
Mary C, Aug.
Orren, Jr., 1823;
19, 1822;
died Feb.
S.,
Southamp-
of
Ware, Aug.
Snell of
Children: Sarah
25, 1880.
Aug.
Edmund Burt
Aug.
9,
Paul H. Cudworth, (second wife) Oct.
4,
1828,
1830.— Sarah mar.
1852.
21,
—Joseph
W.
mar. Huldah Woodard of Ware; has one son, Arthur
W., a clergyman of the Methodist denomination, a promising young man.
His wife deceased and for a second
he mar. Antoinette C. Bryant of Chesterfield. Orren, Jr.
mar. Octavia Ford of Cummington, June 27, 1852. Emeline mar. Edward Thayer of Chesterfield, Oct. 27, 1853.
Arza mar. Electa Snow. Children; Lydia P., born
5.
July 13, 1823; Artemas R., June 24, 1828; Susan G., Nov.
—
—
G,
1830; Elizabeth
C, July
Spencer N., Jan.
28, 1834;
27,
—
1838, and two who died in infancy.
Lydia mar. Justus
Mason of Cummington, March 10, 1842; Artemas mar.
Nancy Olds of Peru. Susan mar. Brigham C. Streeter of
Cummington, Oct., 1850. — Elizabeth mar. Spencer Tower
—
Nov.,
of Chesterfield,
1852.
— Spencer
wife Samantha Haskins, April
his
18G4,
who was
a sister of
first.
Abram
6.
Jan.
mar. Eunice Fuller, March
S.
15, 1843.
older daughter,
May
31, 1830;
who
Torrey, April
Windsor,
24, 1825,
Children: Celestia E., born Jan.
Harriet A., Aug.
ritt
7,
mar. for a second
9,
May
Elisha F.,
died in infancy.
13, 1848.
1850.
— Harriet
—
died
25, 1828;
and one
Celestia mar. Mer5,
1834,
mar. Albert Ford of
ELIJAH WARNER.
181
James mar. Clarissa Bird of Windsor, June, 1835;
had two cliildren who died in childhood, and adopted three.
7.
ELIJAH WARNER.
Elijah
Warner was born in Hardwick, Mass., in 1767.
Cummington and settled on the
Mar. Betsey Mitchell of
farm afterwards occupied by his
Was
dishing and Wells.
Represented the town in General Court at
teen years.
Boston in 1821 and 1827;
was appointed a Justice
Peace in 1828, and held the
occurred Dec.
1790;
sons,
chosen one of the Selectmen in LSOl and served eigh-
20,
James, July
ing, Sept.
1(5,
which
Children: Betsey, born Aug. 27,
1844.
23, 1798;
1802;
of the
death,
office until his
Melancia, July
William, Aug.
Sept. 21, 1800; Wells, Dec.
12,
1808;
9,
1800;
8,
Cush-
1804; Elijah, Jr.,
Roswell H., Jan.
30,
1812; Janette, Sept. 20, 1819.
1.
Betsey mar. Simeon Streeterof Cummington, (second
wife) Dec. 23, 1830.
2.
April
James mar. Fidelia Whiton, Sept. 23, 1824, died
Children: James Emerson, born Sept. 24,
7, 1890.
1825; Fidelia Loraine,
Sept.
1830; Elizabeth R., April
3,
4,
1827; Florilla D., Feb. 11,
1832, died Dec.
8,
1834;
Sarah
W., Sept. 8, 1834; Almon M., March 0, 1843. J. Emerson
became a physician and was for some years in California.
At |Ji'esent resides in Sterling, Va. F, Loraine mar. E.
Alden Clark, Oct. 30, 1849, died Oct. 18, 1854.— Florilla D.
—
mar. Alberto C. Shattuck, Jan.
the same year.
They are now
1852; he died Oct. 15
1,
She afterwards mar. Rev.
living at So.
New Lyme,
Ohio.
S.
D. Taylor.
— Sarah W. has
been a teacher in the public schools of this and neighboring towns, having taught over
tifty
terms.
She remained
with her parents caring for them through their
last years.
HISTORY OP PLAINFIELD.
182
— Alnioii M. served three years in the war of the Rebellion
in the 37th Mass.,
Studied law and
3.
is
and was promoted
now
to the
Lemuel Howlett
Melancia mar.
rank of Lieut.
practising in Cincinnati, Ohio.
(third wife), April 20, 1853.
of
Hartford,
Ct.
Died in Plainfield, Nov.
3,
1884.
5.
William mar. Annis Crittenden, April 23, 1835,
Wm. Edwards, born April 1, 1830 Eliza A.,
Children
:
;
Sept. 11, 1837
;
Flora
C,
Jan.
29, 1840,
died Dec.
14, 1-841
;
Laura E., March 15, 1848.
His wife died Oct. 30, 1852, and he mar. Mrs Polly
P. Latham, widow of Robert A. Latham, Jan. 23, 1855.
They had two children, twins, Frank A. and Fannie A.,
born Oct. 22, 1855. Frank died April 26, 1863. Wm.
Edwards enlisted in the army in the fall of 1862, and
served in the 46th Mass. which was stationed near Newbern, N. C. at which place he died while in the service,
June 28, 1863, of typhoid fever. He was to have been
married to Miss Augusta M. Dyer in the fall of 1862,
had he not enlisted. It was thought best to postpone the
marriage, which on account of his death never took place.
Mary
Flora, Sept. 24, 1842;
,
,
Eliza A. mar.
Wm.
J.
Shattuck (second wife).
Mich.— Flora M. mar. Edward A. Rood,
They also reside at Covert, Mich. Laura
Covert,
1863.
Reside in
—
Oct. 25,
E. mar.
Reside in NorthGeorge L. Campbell, Nov. 27, 1867.
ampton. Fannie mar. Hiram Rood. Also live in Northampton. William died Oct. 6, 1865.
Elijah, Jr. mar. Mary Ann Shaw, Jan. 11, 1844.
6.
—
—
Died Aug.
8.
11,
1889.
No
children.
Roswell H. married and lived in Dalton,
Died in
1890.
Neither
wife
or children
Mass.
survive him.
Gushing, Wells and Janette never married, but remained
CALEB WHITE.
Oil
the old liomestead.
Wells died eight days
it
has been the
183
lot of Jaiiette
to
188"^,
•.*,
care
brothers during their last sickness, viz.
and
fact that
singular
It is a
later.
May
died
Ciisliiiig
four of her
for
Gushing, Wells,
:
Elijah Jr., and Roswell, which she has done with great
She now resides
patience and faithfulness.
W.
her nephew, C.
in
town with
Streeter.
CALEB WHITE.
Caleb White was one of the pioneer
here while the district was
and lived
in a
still
settlers.
a part of
Cummington,
house which stood a few rods south of the
Was
one occupied afterward by his son Samuel.
Bridge water, Mass., in
A
commenced.
service,
wooden
is
now
flask or canteen
in
May
It
bears the
1775.
0,
name
He was
of
He
the
war
W. Shaw
his great-
of
of
Springfield,
Caleb White, with date of
chosen one of the selectmen the
next year after Plainfield was set
years.
when
which he carried
the possession
granddaughter, Mrs. Theodore
Mass.
born in
Served in the Revolution-
1744.
ary army, being over thirty years old
in the
Came
off",
and served four
understood surveying and owned a surveyor's
compass and other instruments, his services being often
He died on the farm where he orignally
in demand.
Had two
settled, April 8, 1840, at the age of ninety-six.
Ziba, born in Bridgewater, probably in 1771,
sons.
Samuel, born in Cummington, Sept.
on or near the spot where
W.
E.
10,
1770.
Shaw
lives.
and
Ziba lived
Married
Huldah Gloyd, Feb. 34, 1794, died April 0, 184:i. ChilHannah, born Oct. 25, 1707; Electa, April 20,
dren
17'.)!>, both of
whom died in early childhood. Nahum,
:
Dec.
20,
18(H);
Loren, July
1,
1802;
Calvin,
Aug.
13,
—
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
184
18U4
;
Amy, March
Nov.
ter,
Beals,
8,
1800
Newell, Nov.
;
17,
March
1807
30,
Dex-
;
Loren mar. Harriet
1800; Huldali, 1814.
1823.
31,
Newell studied medicine, became a physician and
tled in Pennsylvania,
where he
is
mar. Lydia Gurney, N<jv., 1837.
lington, born Jan.
4,
Children
Shepard
1839;
:
set-
— Dexter
living.
still
Dexter Wel-
L., Dec. 31,
1840;
Mary Ellen, Nov. 3, 1844; Herbert H., Oct. 11, 1853.—
Huldah mar. Wm. Gurney, June 8, 1836, died Aug. 1,
1842.
Samuel, son of Caleb,
Was
1799.
mar.
Polly Norton,
chosen one of the selectmen
served four years.
Died March
Nov.
1834 and
in
Children
21, 1871.
28,
Nor-
:
man, born Aug. 31,1800; Mary, March 31, 1802; Annis,
Feb. 4, 1804; Sally, Aug. 23, 1805; Deborah, June 1,
William, Aug. 12, 1808
1807
John, Jan. 21, 1810
;
;
Cynthia, March
19,
Orson, Jan.
1817
win
12,
12,
T., Jan.
1823
;
1(),
1812
;
;
Oren,
;
Dec.
1814
30,
Henry Kirke, March
1822, died
Brackley C,
Aug.
May
6,
9,
1830
1825,
;
31,
;
Samuel
1820
;
Ed-
Armelia, Aug.
died Aug.
5,
1830.
Three others, two sons and a daughter, died in infancy,
making seventeen children
daughters.
produced in
This
is
Plain field.
—
in
all,
ten
sons and
seven
believed to be the largest family ever
Norman mar. Allnna Gloyd,
June 20, 1821. Mary mar. Vinson Nash, Dec, 5, 1821.
He having deceased, she mar. Bela Dyer (third wife),
June 2, 1805.— Annis mar. Orren Stetson, Jan. 1, 1828,
Died March 10, 1885.— Sally mar. Levi Stetson, 2d, Feb.
Deborah mar. Bela Dyer, Sept. 30, 1834, died
12, 1824.
Nov. 10, 1828.— William married and died Sept. 2, 1852.—
Oren mar. Esther Wagner of Cummington, May, 1837.
Samuel O. (or Orson S. as he has always been known).
—
DA YID WHITON.
185
mar. Lottisa B. Shaw, daughter of David, Feh. 1-!, 1039,
<lietl Feb. 5, 18!!1. H:t<l one daughter, l\Iartlm E., l,orn
Sept. 10, 18.J.:}, mar. Theodore \V. Shaw, Uct. 12, 1 �li2.­
Also au adoptetl :S<m, Lucian A.-He11ry K. mar. Harriet
N. Hasti11gs of Buc:klaud, Nov., 18-11.-Armelia mar. Au­
uer Gnrney, Nov. 1-±, 18-1:3. Only one of these sorn;,
Urso11 S., settled iu Plainfield.
DA YID WHITON.
Davi<l "\Vliiton (this name has since been written
\Yhiting) was one of the early settlers. His house
stood ·where No. 2 sehoo1-110use 110w stands. He was
the sou of Abijah and was born in Hi11gham, l\Iass.,
Nov. 10, l'i'U!J. l\far. Rachel Randall of Hatfield, (who
was through hL·r mother a tlescemlaut of Robert Bruce
of Scotland,) Jan. 1795. He was a man of good ex­
el'.ntive ability aml was often moderator of the town meet­
ings. Died Sept. n, 184:D. Chil<lren: :Mary, born Nov.
28, 17%; Fidelia, Dee. 27, 17D!J; Betsey, Dec. ?2, 1801; Da­
Yid Ramlall, Feb. fi, 180:3; Theodore, l\farch :?Ii, 1805; Har­
riet, )lay 18, 1807; Clarissa, Jan. 21, 1810; Rachel, Oct. 9,
1811; ·william Chantller. Feb. 10, 181:J; Lewis E., l\Iard1
7, 1815.-)fary mar. James Joy, June 10, 1818, dietl April
12, 1888.-Fi<lelia mar. James \Varner, Sept. ;?:3, 182-1, died
Aug. 11, 1887.-Betsey (or Elizabeth) mar. Dana Shaw,
April 2. 18:!!J.-David R. mar. Harriet Parker of Belcher­
tow11, Su1Jt., 18:32. Chilclre11: DaYid Bruce, born Ang.
15, rn:J:3; Thoo<lore P., Jan. :!8, 183!j.-Haniet mar. Free­
man Shaw, Aug. 28, lS:!8, tlied June 5, 1888.-Clal'issa mar.
Freeman Hamlen, dio<l Oct. 1:3, 18-17.-Racho] mar. Royal
B. Hibbard of Barre, N. Y., l\Iay 27, 18:35.-\Villiam C.
mar. Lucretia Shaw, daughter uf David, Oct. 30, rn:rn;
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
186
bad one
family.
Wm.
child,
He
Oct. 31, 1840.
is
Augustus, born April U,
tbe only surviving
1838, died
member
of the
— Lewis E. mar. Diantba Sliaw, and settled at Sara-
toga, N. Y.
Died a few years
since.
JACOB WHITMARSH.
Jacob Wliitmarsb was born in Cummington, Jan. 1,
1789.
Mar. Olive Packard, daughter of Adam Packard of
Cummington, Dec.
Wm.
1814.
39,
Cullen Bryant.
He
used to say there was no com-
petitor in his spelling class
Packard.
They
whom
settled in the
he feared except Olive
extreme southwest corner
about a mile north of West Cummington,
of the town,
which
She was a school-mate of
had no existence as a village. Died
Feb. 9, 1872, his wife having deceased a few years before.
Children: Polly P., born Nov. 19, 1815; Florintha, April
15, 1817; Mary Ann, Jan. 14, 1819; Jacob S., June 9, 1833;
at that time
Fordyce, April
39,
1836; Rachel,
May
31,
Nahum,
1831;
Oct. 16, 1834.
1.
on
Polly mar. Robert A. Latham,
May 34,
1838.
Lived
by Abishur Nash.
Mr.
Latham in company with Dea. Elias Giddings owned and
operated a tannery near where Lester Streeter lives. He
died July 33, 1851, leaving four children. For a second
husband she mar. William Warner, Jan. 33, 1855. He
died Oct. 6, 1865, and for a third she mar. Riley Westcott
the place lately occupied
of Cheshire, about
Feb.
3.
1870.
She died at Florence, Mass.,
10, 1885.
Florintha mar. Verren Dawes of Cummington,
34, 1837.
He
May
deceased leaving two small children, and
about 1858 she mar. Isaac Bates of Cummington.
about 1864, also leaving two small children.
He
died
In April,
JACOB WHITMARSH.
she
1871,
they
3.
May
Lewis Ford
iiuir.
187
Cleveland,
of
now reside.
Mary Ann mar. Newell Dyer, May
24,
1842, died
18GG.
2,
Jacob
4.
wliere
Oliio,
S.
mar. Polly Bartlett of Cummington, Nov,
Vesta, horn 1851, and Alvah, and two
Children:
oO, 1848.
who
died in infancy.
Dec.
24, 1873.
They
— Vesta
mar. George A. Streeter,
on and have charge of the
live
Wm.
—
CuUen Bryant place in Cnnimington. The wife of Jacob
S. died in Worthington, and for a second he mar. Maria
Children: Mattie P., born March
S. Nash, April 10, 18G5.
20, 18G7;
Bessie V.,
Sept.
He was
Florence, Mass.
28,
1872, died 18'J0.
Reside in
chosen one of the School Com-
mittee in 1871, serving three years; has also served on the
School Board in other towns.
5.
Was
Fordyce mar. Eliza Allen of Windsor, Jan.,
chosen one of the Selectmen in 1858, serving two
Children:
years.
Sarah A., Nov.
hami^ton.
25,
Now
Fannie A., born Nov.
Julia;
1801.
—Julia mar.
0.
C, Dyer,
reside in
1871,
H. Judd of East-
widow
Paul, Minn.
of
For a second wife he mar, Mrs,
Edwin
J,
Dyer, Dec.
5,
1888.
Easthampton, Mass.
Rachel mar, Levi N. Campbell, (second wife) Nov.
24, 1852.
7,
1857;
's
wife deceased about 1880,
Marion
J.
7,
— Fannie mar,
Reside in Chelsea, Mass, — Fordyce
reside in St.
Granville Matthews.
They
1852.
Died in Florence, Mass., Jan.,
Nahuni mar. Mary Lucas
Reside in Springfield, Mass,
1887.
of Springfield,
Nov,
1,
S^^i^T.^^.-.,
rf.^ 1^*1
^\ «i« Jtdiak