Hawley Town (part 2 of 2)

As the years pass on, and I retire from active life, tlie familiar scenes of my childhood and early youth pass like a panorama before my mind. I seem to be in the old meeting hou?e on the hill, in the old-fashioned square pews, hung on hinges, and turned up for greater ease in standing, at prayer time, seeing the good old deacons, Newton and Sears, under the high pulpit, heaiingthe powerful voice of gr od old Par?cn Grout, in opening the morning devotions, and then adding to the general noise all over the house, in turning down the seats at their conclusion.

But of far greater interest to me was the music of the large choir in the gallery, preceded by a knock of the pitch-pipe by uncle Ethan Hitchcock, and a few strokes on the bass viol by Col. Longley.

I must refer to two old customs which made quite an impression on my youthful mind. Our pastor, Mr. Grout, in making calls among his charge, would talk with each member personally, concerning his or her spiritual condition, and thea as he laft, stan ding at the door, would give some words of general exhortation to all. This custom, though sometimes distasteful, making the minister's visits dreaded, especially by the young, was, I think, on the whole, beneficial for those times.

The other custom grew out of the law as it then existed, in proclaiming the bans of matrimony. There were two courses open to a couple entering into this state. They might be "cried" by the town clerk in open assembly. Well do I remember how Gen. Longley, who was always town clerk in tht)se days, would rise just before the minister opened the exercises, and amid profound silence, except a little flutter and giggle among the young people, proclaim in stentorian tones, "Hear ye, hear ye, marriage intended between - and - ." Or if the young couple shrank from this oral publicity the bans could be written, and stand for three public days near the church door. The glass box for this purpose, near the front door of the meeting house, was well watched by the young, and often looked into by the elders.

More than half a century since, Gen Thomas Longley was by far the most influential man in Hawley, or any of the surrounding towns, and deservedly so. The last time he represented Hawley in the legislature, and .a short time before his death, I iiappened to be in Boston. I'sent in my name to him in the House of Representatives, and he immediately came to the door and invited me to a scat near him. It was not long before he rose and made one of his cliaracteric speeelies, condensed, ptrongly delivered and effective. The Pittstield representative told me that he was one of the most influential membeis of the House.

At the meeting of the A. B. C. F. M., held in Pittstield in 1866, Jonas King, then on a visit from Greece, delivered an address at the South church. At its conclusion, I introduced myself to him as from Hawley, giving my name, which at first he liardly seemed to recognize. I told him I understood that my father hired him to teach his first district school,

There were six Hawley boys who became lawyers - all honest lawyers, which I suppose would seem almost a contradiction in terms to onr jjurltan sires. They were Henry T. Grout, Hezekiah Kyland Warriuei-, Charles Dodge, Samuel T. Field, P. L. Page and J. S. Page. The four last were neai of an age, and attended the district scliool together in Hawley.

Well, I never knew a native ( f Hawley who went out from tiiere into the world, to disgrace his native town. I am rejoiced tliat its history is to be written, and shall be glad if I have given any items that will be of use. Please let me know when it is published, and where copies can be obtained.

P. L. Page

The Rev. Jonathan Grcmt was an inveterate tobacco smoker. He lived about a hundred rods from the meeting house, and used, to go home to dinier, betwaeu the two long Sunday services. On one occasion, when returning for the afternoon service, the fire from his pipe got into the fence by the roadside. The alarm was given in the midst of the sermon, when the services stopped, the congregation rushed out and extinguished the fire, returning for tiie minister to take up part fifthly of his seimou.

To show how long continued habit becomes second nature, and to show the force of abseut-mindedness, it is related of him that he was once searching the house, having his pipe in his mouth, and addressed his wife thus: - "Mrs. Grout, can you tell me where I laid my pipe?"

Mr. Grout was cotemporary with Rev. Moses Hallock of Plainfield, and as might be inferred, they had many ministerial interviews. Mr. Hallock is described as being a tall, spare man, with sharp, angular features, and a very mea.sured, methodical manner of speech. On one occasion when they were together, Mr. Grout was smoking an unusually short pipe, when Mr. Grout renuirked that he should think he would burn his nose, whereupon Mr. Grout replied, "I should if my nose was as long as yours. "

A family in Mr. Grout's parish kept geese, and the old gander had a habit of 'pecking on the door. One day Mr. Grout came to make a pastoral call, and knocking at the door, the good housewife, being busy about her work, and mistaking tlie fauiliar rapping, remarked, "Peck away, old gander, you can't come in."

David Scott of Wliately, known as "Master Seott," was a man of great originalitj^, a faimer, and carpenter, also a great hunter. (See page 42.) His son, Phineas, was the pioneer Scott in Hawley, and removed from Whately in 1782. He had previously been there and made a little clearing and built a log house, covering the roof with bark. Wiieu they moved he had a yoke of steei's two years old, and a cow, and with his family, household furnituie ai.d farming tools on a sled, they went the first day to the west part of Conway, where they found it so blocked with snow that tiiey were obliged to stop. The settlers turned out witli loams and shovels and went through, and, hitching on their teams, pulled them through to their liouse, when lo! they fonnd the roof had been so loaded with snow that it had broken in. Such was the introduction of one family to their newly-founded home. Mr. Scott was a farmer, an energetic, go-ahead man. Had done yeoman's service in the Revolutionary army. A man of integrity, and considerable prominence in his adopted town. Two of his children were born in Wliately, and the others in Hawley.

In the old sixth school di«trict is a lot of land which has always been known as the "Hitchcock lot," which was never transferred by deed. Before tlie settlement of the town, the territory was surveyed, the surveyors taking land in paymaut for their services. Among the party was a Mi\ Hitchcock, whose S(m was subsequently one of the original settlers. This lot was taken by Mr. Hitchcock, though he never occupied it himself - it being probable that he never saw it after becoming its owner - and its ownership has passed by inheritance through successive generations to its present owner, Joseph A. Hitclicock, who was born there, now being the head ( f the only family bearing the name in town. It h.'.s formerly been occupied as a homestead, but now the buildings are removed, and it is occupied as an "out lot," a part of it being pasture.

In the near vicinity of the Hitchcock lot, ou the farm formerly occupied by Ansel Ileinenway, is the celebrated "Moody spring." The water from this spring is very medicinal, very soft and smooth in quality, preserving its natural qualities for any length of time, when kept in bottles or barrels, without becoming sour or rancid. It also has the power of removing any musty or inoffensive qualities from an old barrel oi' jug, and is a great curative for cutaneous diseases, leaving the skin in a healthy, normal condition. Quantities of the water have been carried considerable distances for use. There no doubt that if its a])proaches were more feasible, and some enterprising citizen would work uji a boom by erecting fashionable buildings and attractive surroundings, it might rank favorably witli watering places and summer resorts. But with its present surroundings, it must, as in tlie past, remain in comparative obscurity, and contribute very little for the "healing of the nations."

Histoky Of Hawi-Ey

Rowland Sears bought land of parties in Springfield, on which he settled, being on the north line of the town, where his son Benjamin, and grandson of tlie same name, both lived and died, now owned and occupied by Lewis W. Temple. He did not make payment in full at the time of purchase, and afterward sent his neiglibor, Ebenezer Hall, to make the settlement, and final payment, going on liorseback. After completing the business, wliich was at a business office, Mr. Hall took his departure for liome, and cogitating the matter in his mind, he discovered that an error had been made. Retracing his journey, he went to the office and told them he had rettirned to rectify a mistake. He was bluntly informed that they never made or rectified mistakes there. "Very well," said Mr. Hall, "I thnik I can stand it if you can; the mistake was in your favor. "

Benjamin Sprague who lived in the east part of the town in its early history had a liabit of making unwarrantable statements when relating or describing anything, and there is a tradition that when some one questioned a statement he had made, he said he hoped his hair would turn white, if it was not true, and tlie next morning it was actually white.

Clesson Smith lived a little west of the Squaic, and v as known as an inveterate story teller. Some of the older people now living remember the yarns he used to tell, in which himself was usually the hero of the occasion. Whether he thought people would believe his recitals, or or whether he wanted to become notorious, or what his real object was, is still an open question. Once his daughter was taken with a fit in the night, and cramped so that her head and feet came together. He went for his horse in the pastuie, some distance away, while a violent thunder shower was raging, repelled a flash of lightning with his fist, passed on and found his horse, went four miles for a doctor, and got liim to the house in fifteen minutes after starting for the horse.

Once he was loading hay in the field, when a shower arose. He made such speed in driving to the barn that he escaped the rain; but his dog, not being able to keep up, was obliged to swim to the barn, through the accumulating waters.

VVarriner King, when a schoolboy, soon after the year 1800, attended school near the present site of Halloi>kville - being the same school where his cousin, Jonas King, was a scholar - more than a mile from his home, making his own track through tlie snow a part of the way. During one winter term he built the fire at the sclioolhouse, which was in a large, open fire-place, his only remuneration being the ashes, which he collected and sold, and with the proceeds purchased a copy of "The American

Preceptor," the reading book in vogue in those days. Its title page bears the date, "Boston, 1801." About 1850, he gave it to the author of tiiis work, and narrated the incidents above stated. It is highly valued as a relic, with its ancient and sombre appearance.

Jonas King was once a stiident at Halifax, Vt., at a school which was in some degree a self-supporting institution. It was a custom for the students to chop the wood they used, but Jonas was so engrossed in his studies that he preferred them to manual labor, so much so that he was "dubbed" as being lazy. But dire necessity compelled him to perform the task, and a brother student penned the following satire, and clandestinely placed it upon his door: -

Oliver Taylor received encouragement in various ways, in early life, to pursue his studies. The family was poor, and could not give him the advantages he desired, even in his youth. One winter several families in the east part of the town agreed to take turns in boarding him, while attending school there. In his early years he is described as not being very prepossessing, but made an education his only purpose and object. One evening when he was at Capt. John King's, some one proposed that he try his hand at poetry, when he produced these lines: -

Hard and wretched is my heart;" They were written on his slate, and were the extent of his effusion. After he had retired for the night, Capt. King jokingly and wickedly added: -

From my house you may depart." It may be added that the sentiment and decision expressed by those lines were both revoked, and Oliver was allowed to continue his studies, with what success is attested by the reputation he attained in after life.

When Rufus Sears came to Hawley he was a boy of 11 years. Coming from the "Cape," his early childhood had been identified with people of a seafaring life, and he had been accustomed to looking out upon the broad expanse of salt water. His minority, after coming to Hawley, was passed with Dea. Joseph Bangs, and afler attaining his majority, he returned to the Cape, in the fall of the year, intending to remain and settle there. But during the winter, the scenes of ocean experiences did not look as flattering as he had anticipated, and in the spring he returned to Hawley, where he remained through his long life.

When he left Dennis the farmers were planting; ariiving at the hills east of the Connecticut river and looking westward, the landscape was white, and arriving at Hawley, the people were still under the embargo of the winter's snow.

At a town meeting held May 6, 1799, it was voted to accept a road from Camp rock west to Savoy line. This rock is a little east of the house of Chester F. Hunt, and a little north of the site of the The(;philus Crosby house. It stands in a sn.ooth field, and its highesi point is about fifteen feet high, sloping each way from its apex to the ground, having a length of perhaps 50 feet, running north and south. Its ffasteru face is smooth and nearly perpindieular the entire length, while the west side is a sharp incline from top to bottom, making ii somethmg the shape of a quarter of an egg, cut lengthwise.

It is said that when Thomas King came to Hawley, in tin spring of 1772, with his family, this rock was made a camping place over night, lience the origin of the name, "Camp rock." By its peculiar shape, it made a natural protection from the west wind, and a stream near by furnished water. Whether this place was appropriated as a camping-place for only one night, or while they prospected for a location, tradition saith not. The spot wliere Mr. King located and built was about a mile and a half west of this rock.

Somewhere about the year 1850, a woodchuck brought some bones out of its hole, in the West Hawley cemetery. Thej' remained there upon the ground several weeks, attracting many visitors, ar,d causing much speculation. It was not known to whose remains they belonged, until an examination was made, when a plate was found, showing it was the body of Joseph Howard, who had been buried many years. The woodchuck had entered at one end of the coffin and traversed its entire length, making the abode of the dead its home.

Hawley, like other towns, had a mili^^ary company in the primitive times of the old State militia. In those old days ardent sjjirits were deemed a necessity, and were veiy freely brought into requisition on all occasions of that kind. Elias Goodspecd was captain of the company, and for some reason became unpojjular with his men. On one occasion when they met for drill, he called them into line, and when the order "Forward Marcli" was given, thej- staited, but cc uld not h( ar the command "Halt," and marched up plum]) against a building. Similar ma. neuveis were repeated, and the men were found to be incorrigible, when another captain was chosen, but the spirit of rebellion had detracted so much from the true military spirit, and the law requiring regular military drill having previously been taken oif, the company disbanded in 1834, although some of the Hawley militia afterwards joined companies in adjoining towns.

On Mondaj' evening, March 7, 1887, a great reception was held in Pittsfield, in honor of Hon. Henry L. Dawes, and his re-election to the U. S. Senate. Among the letters read was one from P. L. Page, of Ann Arbor, Mich., tendering congratulations and contributing this sentiment: -

C-mtended for by her distinguished legislators, John Quincy Adams and Charles Sumner, in our National Congress, in behalf of the African; and now by the senior senator of Massachusetts in behalf of the Indian. May his efforts be crowned with complete success.

Roswell Longlej was a great scholar, fitted for college, but his health failed and he was obliged to give up his studies, and died at the age of 33. The following was written bj' him as iin Acrostic: -

Asa Vining, with his family, came from Weymouth to Hawley in 1806, arriving at the Connecticut river, at a point opposite Northampton, June 6, the day of the execution of Daley and^'Halligar. The rush was so great in consequence of the hanging that they could not cross the ferry as they desired, and Mr. Vining made arrangements with the ferry company to do some work in payment of their passage, and thus secured a transit across the river.

On the farm of Atherton Hunt are some objects which deserve mention. Near the buildings ai-e three chestnut trees which Mr. Hunt set out with his own hands, more than 70 years ago. This is mentioned from the fact that the chestnut is not a native on these hills.

"Aunt Cliarity's chair" is an old landmark, being a rock by an old discontinued roadside, in which is a depression, making, by its shape and height from the ground, a natural seat.

Just east of Mr. Hunt's buildings there runs a long, narrow strip of swamp, which has been reclaimed, making good meadow land. There is a tradition that when one of the settlers came into town, his wagon became mired, and was overturned while crossing that swamp, and some table knives were lost. Mr. Hunt states th at he has always had an eye open when working there, but never discovered any of the lost knives.

Written By P. F. Cooley Of Pittsfield

My earliest recollections of the olil town where I first saw the light are very pleasant, and I love, in imagination, to again look out from the old east chamber over the hills and valleys, where in the distance can be seen the proud Mt. Waehusett, lifting its head above all its surroundings. Turning to the northeast, plainly outlined is the broad-based, yet equally towering Mt. Mouadnock, while facing eastward, is the valley of the Connecticut river, which is often curtained by dense fogs, which sometimes in early mornings extended over and covered its entire length.

Our neighboring farmers used to say that fog on the river for three continuous mornings betokened rain. In fact, the broad expanse over which we coiild look became a sort of barometer, guiding the agriculturist m his daily calculations about what work to do, and what to postpone until the weather predictions should be favorable. In tact, all the observing men of that time were a self constituted signal service corps, and in justice I must say they were as reliable as some of the modern ones.

In those days of sparse settlers, and in the scarcity of reading matter, such as books and daily papers, it was very customaiy, as they met, to compare their prophetic skill, pertaining not only to rain, but also to what might be expected in the coming winti r. If the corn husks were thick and iieavy it was concluded that a hard winter was to come. If the muskrats were slow in making their holes in early autumn a long and pleasant fall was to be enjoyed. If the autumn winds howled with a peculiar noise around the farm buildings, it would be a time when they would find themselves short for hay in the spring. If, after a shower, the tog climbed up the sides of the hills, it would be fair on the next day, but if it settled into the valleys it would be a "catching" time for harvesting till after the next good shower had come and gone. In short, there was a sign for almost everything, and each event had a sign pieceding it. When the time for "hog-killing" came, it must be done in the full of the moon, and the hog must receive the death stroke while the tide was coming in, or the pork would shrink in the pot. When the cat washed her face, the direction of her paw showed which way the wind would blow the next day. During a rain if a rooster crowed on the fence it would soon be fair, but if he crowed standing on the ground, the rain would continue until another day.

I can recall numerous signs like specimens given, were by universal ijonsent, considered as infallible by the old settlers; some of which I learned from tradition, and others I heard from the lips of the descendants of that old puritan stock which settled in the town when it was an unbroken fortiSt, and had to be subdued by the slow, hard work of the pioneer.

The east part of the town was settled by people coming from the eastern part of the state, from all the way as far as Cape Cod. My grandfather, Noah Cooley, came on horseback from Palmer in Hampden county, guided by blazed trees to indicate his road, and built a house (shanty it was termed) near the dividing line of Hawley and Buckland, in the primeval forest. The country was then filled with game, such as would be rare sport for the huntsmen of to day, consisting of black bears, raccoons, wolves, lynx and foxes, the latter of which were very plenty and quite tame. After felling tlie trees and making a clearing sufficient to raise a few potatoes and some corn, he built a barn near by for his horse and cow, for which he had to return to Palmer on foot, and drive back, making a journey of about 120 miles, both ways. He also combined pleasure with business, and at the same time paid his future wife a visit, which visits he annually kept up for seven years, at the expiration of which time, by diligent and liard work he had so far made a home in the wilderness that he had erected a more commodious house, and cleared more land and put it under cultivation, so that on the eighth year Estlier Hyde accompanied liim a^ his wife to the home he had thus prepared, he on horseback, she riding behind on a pillion. Their outfit of housekeeping goods, which she had been all those ei^ht years in preparing, was hauled by a yoke of oxen attached to a two wheeled cart, the only wheeled vehicle then in common use. Tliis manner of settJeuieut by m}' grandfather is a sample of what was in almost every case the experience of the early settlers of the town. As a sequence, the pioneers grew up a iiardy, self-reliant people, both men and women. They were brave and daring, and a community sti-ongly religious and conscientious was the outcome of those descendants of the Puritan, obeying the command to be "fervent in spirit," and their necessities required them to be "diligent in business."

It will be my purpose in these pages to reproduce by a pen picture as I remember in part, and in part as has been described to me, the peculiarities and characteristics of some individuals wlio were prominent in town in its early days, beginning at the eastern part, which was earliest settled, and where my Hawley life was for tiie most part spent.

Dea. Isaac Tobey History Of Hawlet

came 1o town, but he must have been somewhat advanced in years, as he had previously been a soldier in the Revolution. It is said of him that when young he was a natural athlete, and could stand behind any man of common stature and vault completely over his head.

My earliest recollection of him as a boj' was as an old man of about 75 or 80 years of age, straight as an arrow, not tall, uf slight build, full of energy, and fully believing the generation iiad much deteriorated, both mentally and in industry. His sou John, with whom he lived, was a perfect contrast to the father, remarkably large and stout, weighing nearly or quite two hundred and fifty pounds. He had a good education, and his lymphatic build compelled him to a literary and sedentary occupation, in fact, the deacon considered him lazy. I well recollect on one occasion hearing the old pensiouer remark, "John don't like to work as well as I did," adding, after a pause, "Don't know as I say right; he don't like the profits of it as well." At the age of eighty five or more, the old deacon would with cane in hand every day visit the farm work as carried on by his grandsons, and suggest how tl)e work should be done, which advice was not always acceptable to the boys, who were not particularly pleased with his frequent visits, yet his demeanor could but inspire them with respect for the old gentleman, as they usually called him. On one occasion when the boys were piling logs on a piece of land they were clearing, the old deacon came oiit as usual, and seated himself on a log near the pile they were making, when the log rolled over, throwing him on his back, between that and the pile. The boys were quite alarmed, fearing he was badly hurt, for he did uot speak, and taking hold of him carefully, they began slowly and gently to lift liim out. All at ouce, the olJ man spoke out in strong, comiuaiiding tnuep, "Lift, boys. Lift! you don't lift worth a copper." As miglit be expected, the boys speedily place d him on liis feet.

At another time when mowing in the hayficild, tuje of the boys came across a bumblebees' nest, directly in liis swath. The bees came out and sharply attacked the lad, wiio retreated, fighting fhem with his luit. The old deacon was near and saw the affair, and lusliiug up to the lad, exclaimed, "Wliat, afraid of a few little bumble b^es? Let me take your scythe." Taking the unfinished swath, he commenced mowing, but tlie bees were getting more troublesome and quite mad at being thus disturbed. Finally the old man laid down the scythe and stamped down the nest with his feet, then turning to the boy, he said, "Josh, you ain't got much pluck." He then started for tlie house, but the boys could see that he often rubbed his fare, legs and arms, quite sharply, but his "pluck" was too good to own that the bees had siung him at all.

He was an honorable man in all his transactions, and well fitted by his life to adorn the position he held so long in the church as one of the deacons. He dated his first religious impressions in youth, from while walking with a comrad(>-of his own age. A lightning bolt struck down Ids companion and killed him bj- bis side, and from that time be made up bis mind that he would live a cbristiau life. His health was alwajs good, and he wore out, dying at the age of over ninety.

Like every early New England town, Hawliy iiad its village "Squire'' to whom all questions of law and matters of dispute were r( ferred, and one of the early settlers, living near the then populated center, occupied that honorable position. My first knowledge of him was when be was well advanced in life. He was then bale, and in my boyish ej-es, a perfect pattern of all that was noble and great. He and bis brother Joseph came from Groton, Mass. His house was larger and more imposing than most of his neiglibors, and he was possessed of more worldly goods than most of his townsmen. The Longleys by nature were of a strong, sterling character, of the sort born to commnnd. In fact, three of his sons were military commanders in days when the arms-bearing men were all required to do military duty. One was a Brigadier general, another a Colonel, and a third a Captain in the Massachusetts militia of that day. As the pages of this history show, Esquire Longley and his descendants occupied many and varied places of tiust in the affairs ©f the town. So honorable a position was accorded to many of that name, that a few years ago a quaint old divine in the town of Dalton remarked to me, "Your Hawley folks always thought the Longleys made the town." At all events, the Longleys had much to do in shaping the annual town meetings and giving general direction to all affairs of the town. To be able to do so, shows that tlie material from which i-ucli stock descended is of no ordinarj- type. Such men, to rule others, must be "i the kind wlio can rule tliemselves. As an illustiatiou, wlien Squire Longley was well advar.ced in years he made uj) his mind that tobacco, which he had constantly used from boyhood, was doing him v.o gO( d, and as soon as he thus decided, he took out Ids pipe and a partly useii paper of tobacco and laid them on the mantle shelf over the open fireplace, in plain siglit, and wrote on the tobacco package, "Tobacco, I have done with you," and there it remained untouched until he was gathered to his fathers, at a ripe old age.

In the adjoining town of Buckland was a family of Taylors who occupied the same position in that town that was accorded to the Longley.s in Hawley, in fact, Squire Taylor of Buckland and Squire Longley of Hawley were considered the two magnates of that region.

As might be expected, Squire Longley 's eldest son, Thomas, (afterward Gen. Longley,) sought for a wife the eldest daugliter of Squire Taylor, Martha, or "Patty" as the name was then called. After tlie arrangements between the young people had been completed, it became neeepsary, by a custom of the times, for Thomgs to procure of his parents their consent to the imioii. For that purpose lie called them into the parlor, and when they were solemnly seated, ThomfS with all due formality made known the objict of the interview, viz, their approval of his marriage with Patty Taylor. The Squire, from the dignity of his large arm chair, responded, "Yes. my son Thomas, I am hajjpy to give my full and free coisent, and am glad, as well as proud, to know that my son is to be allied to the family of my old fiiend, Squire Taylor of Buckland, and shall be pleased to own Patty as a daughter." The Squire's wife had a full and lively sense of humor, and saw a fine chance for a joke, even if it was at the expeiise of her son, also anticipated subsequent events somewhat. Leaning over a little on her side, and lightly tapping the floor with one foot, she said, "Tommy, I strongly suspect the next generation of Hawley children will make their own baskets."

Neither the Longleys or the Taylors were in complexion disposed to the blonde type, but on the contrary bordered on the brunette, and especially did the Taylors assume the type of the dark brunette, with hair of the same color, and straight, resembling that of the Indian.

For years there was hardly a school district in town but that had a representative of the Longley family, but now onlj- one family of the n.amo lives in town, that of Lewis Longley. Such are the changes effected in a few short years. Squire Edmund, Master Joe, Uncle Zimri, Gen. Thomas, Capt. Edmund, Col. Joshua, Luther, Calvin S., Sullivan Otis, Freeman, Thomas, Joseph G., Worcester, Augustus, EoswcU, .Toshua and Oliver, faces and names familiar to my boyhood, have passed over, and others are removed, to Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington, and in fact almost all over the Union are the descendants of that old Hawley name, scattered and widely separated. Is it too mucii to hope that they and we all, in the future of God's good providence, will again be united, and again greet, and know each other as in days when we inhabited the eastern slope of the Green Mountains?

In the primitive days of all New England towns, the minister appeared as the most prominent personage. Being usually a man of a college education, to him was dei:uled the adjudication of qu( stions where learning was required in render) g a dteifrion. Often his talents were railed in where it was necessaiy to assume judicial as well as ecclesiastical functions. The proper jironuueiation el words, the geographical location of any new or unknown place, or any abstruse mnthematieal calculus, all were referred to the parsdu, and his decision was final, no appeal therefrom, while in all tilings having reference to biblical law, he was as a matter of course the sole judge, and even the place and conditi(m one would occupy after death, he was supposed to have cognizance of. Woe be to the luckless, independent free thinker who dared to interpret scripture differently from this high authority.

On his approach ohilSisli glee and sports were hushed, and the juvenile heart beat fast and quick -when in the august presence of the minister. When met upon the street each boy must remove his hat and make his best bow, each girl, with blushing face and downcast eyes, must drop her best curtsy. It is not for a moment to be supposed that Hawley was behind any New England town in all that pertained to ministerial etiquette. My earliest recollections of

Parson Grout

PARSON GROUT was fully up to the above general requirements. He was a large, robust, rotund personage, to my eyes the perfect embodiment of all that goes to make a man and a hero. Even to day I can in fancy hear his round, sonorous voice, as from the immensely high pulpit he read the hymns and invoked God's blessing or expounded the scriptures to his flock, which in those days included the whole town's people. Mr. Grout was the first settled minister in Hawley, and commenced preaching when it was called No. 7, before its incorporation as a town. Of Mr. Grout's ability as a preacher, in consequence of my youth I was not competent to judge, but do know that as a good man and a faithful preacher, to his death he was held in high esteem, not only by his own flock but also by those of other and adjoining towns. In deportment he was uniformly cheerful, but never hilarious. According to the custom of those days, when making parochial calls he readily partook with his host of the universal flip or egg nog, but never were his potations so deep as to make any showing either in his face, carriage or speech. He spent his whole mmisterial life in the town, and under his teaching there grew up a healthy, strongly religous community, who to day, wherever found, are God-fearing, Snbbath-loving men and women. As a result of the teachings of this faithful servant of the Most High, there has emanated from the town a large corps of ministers, now scattered throughout the country, who in their stalwart Christianity bear the imprint of their first teacher. Mr. Grout died at a ripe old age, and on his tombstone is chiselled in many lines the regards of his former parishioners, in words of no ambiguous import.

The Old Meeting House

THE OLD MEETING HOUSE. To an absent son or daughter of Huwlev, probably no one thing in connection with the old town is more deeply graven on the memory than the old house of worship, where from early years to manhood we listened Sabbath after Sabbath to tlie instructions tliat came from that old high pulpit, or the voices from the well filled "singers' seats," loftily perched at the opposite end from the minister. How freshly, even to day, do I recall the ideas of my young bojhood, as riding in the family wagon, on a Sunday morning, when the view of tliat old church first broke on my vision. To me it was a symbol of all that was large, grand.

Histout Of Hawley

lofty and holy. Nearly sqiinre in foim, its two stories wcrt- well ariomed with large windows, and a huge, two storied porch was equally well lighted with windows a trifle smaller, one large entering door facing the east, which was reached by several stairs. On either side of of this double storied porch were smaller doors where those approaching from the north and south sides respectively, could enter. My earliest vision of the sacred old building was when it was a dingy yellow, but in later years when its weather-beaten clapboards sliowed signs of exposure to the elements it was painted white, which color it bore until its final demolition for a more modern structure in a new location near the old "red store," two miles south. Beside the door, on the right, was a glass-faced box for posting notices of all kinds pertaining to religious and secular business. Also an important mission this box had to fill was the publishing on three consecutive Sundays, a notice, bearing the official signature of the Town Clerk, of any parties who proposed soon to marry. From this latter use this box was in common parlance dubbed the "publishing box. " Regularly on each Sabbath morning this box was scanned by the young of both sexes, and often by the older people, to se« what two persons proposed soon to exchange single for married life. When such notices appeared, it was a theme, that in the hour of intcrndssiou occupied no small part of the conversation. At times, these marriage notices would be a surprise, but oftener it wsis the culmination of an anticipated event, which caused ranch solicitude by scrutinizing neighbors and friends.

Having thus surveyed its outward appearance, now go with me inside nmi let us together see if we can not only reproduce its interior in general, but also place in old niches n])jects and faces cnce so familiar to us. As we enter the lower porch we find, leading to the gallery, two flights of stairs, one on either hand, corresi)onding to the side doors for entrance, mounting either of which, we find quite an upper room or vestibule for waiting, until the time for services to begin. Right in front, is another flight of stairs extending the whole width of this upper porch which led to the final entrance of the gallery. The gallery extended around three sides of the main audiei^ce lOom, with seals fitted for singers in front, and along the sides as well, flanked in the rear by square pews with plain seats which turned back on iron hinges. From these distant and loft}' boxes the worshipper had to look down not a little to see the minister, and from the seats near the wall he could not, ev(U by hard craning of the neck, be visible. I imagine there are now living gray haired men and women who well remember the corner pews where they often congregated out of sight of minister and parents, and dining those long sermons said and did things not in keeping with the puritan Sabbath or the sanctity of the place. Below, you will recollect the roomy broad aisle, standing in which, you have seen candidates for admission to the rites of the cLuich, and parents holding tlieii- infants for baptism. lu this broad aisle, too, you have seen young couples, as they presented themselves lo take the vows that made them twniu one tiesh. The last cccasion of the kind I witiu ssed there was when the now dead, but once celebrated Dr. Stei)hen E. Riggs pioudly led the granddaughter of Esq. Longley up this wide avenue, and after the ceremony was performed he alone stood in the same spot, then and there was consecrated as the first missionary to the Dakota Indians, of the tribe called Sioux. On that occasion, which was on a week day, the old church was crowded to its fullest capacity. My impressions on that occasion were as that of a very solemn event. Dr. Riggs and wile directly went to tlieir chosen field, and spent their young, as well as their mature lives, in vigorous efforts to elevate that warlike tribe, the results of which, he graphically portrays in his book, "Mary and I."

But let us go back lo the old chinch and see if we cannot see familiar faces. It is a Sabbath morning; way up in that lofty pulpit is the venerable Jonathan Grout, his head mantled by a snowy crown, and his full voice ringing out as he conducts the exercises. Directly underneath are seated the two equally venerable looking deacons, on the right of tl)e pulpit is the minister's family pew, and on tlie left is the pew occupied jointly by the families of Edward Porter and Stephen Damon. Squarely in front, on the right of the broad aisle, is the pew of "Master Joe Longley," next in the rear is the Sabbath home of Squire Edmund Longley, d'rectly opposite is the town doctor Forbes and family, and in front of these are two long wooden seats fronted by a liigh partition, which are for the deai. If the gospel sound cannot penetrate their ears it can fall on their heads with lieavy effect, so far below the minister do they sit.

When the meeting house was built, no provision was made for warming it, no chimney, or place left for one. Being rather cheaply covered, with only clapboards and plastering to keep out the winter's cold, the thermometer would register about the same inside as out.

There is a time when jiatience ceases to be a virtue, and at length the women bscame tired of going to the neighbors' houses to fill their footstoves, and a demand eame to procure stoves and warm the house. Tliis met with a fierce opposition, and a portion of the ougregation strongly maintained that those who could not sit in. the cold, lacked religious fervor m tiieir hearts. After a long discussion, and not a little liof contention, it was decided to get two stoves, and to insure full results, two long lines of pipe were extended from the stt»ves near the deaf men's seat entirely across the room, giving them an exit at a window each side of the main entrance, expecting the room would thus be made comfortable.

Vain delusion! On llie cold mornings so often prevailing on that windy mountain top, it was impossible, even then, to keep comfoi table at the farther end of the room, even when wrapped in the traditional surtout.

It was, however, quite notice nble that those who had at the first so liotiy opposed the introduction of stoves were the fiist to appropriutf them, and lingered longest u<ar tlieir genial warmtl). The buildlnir was so poorly covered thai if wis impossible to equally warm it. Capt. Ki.g used to say thai one might as well warm an acre out of doors.

But if the building was cheaply covered, it was strongly built. Heavy and ponderous timbers were used in the framework, and a comical man once remarked that the timbers were so huge that it took a barrel of rum to raise it, a remark that seemed to me quite pith}', when in process of demolition I saw tliost huge, iiard wood timbers uncovered.

Farewell, old meeting house! Arouud thee cluster many tender and ennobling memories. Within thy doors have many entered who there found comfort in hours of trial, consolation in limes of distress. Within thy sacred walls have many an one been instructed, and led to a higher and nobler life. Within thy courts has many a new born soul found peace, and sang a new song.

A history of Hawley, and particularly of its first meeting house, would hardly be comjUete without some notice of its surroundings. To one long absent from the town of his birth, a remembrance of the old church as it was, necessarily takes in objects in its near vicinity. Directly north of the church, and on a little lower ground, was a large, pretentious building of two stories, and a long ell running out towards the west. It had never been adorned with paint, but the elaborate carvings and exterior adornments gave evidence that it had once been a place in which its owner felt not a little pride, in fact, William Sanford was at a time looked upon as the millionaire of Hawley, At one time he kept a "tavern" in the upright part, and iu the ell was a general country store. Tradition says that at that store was sold more wet than dry goods. When it was considered rr-putable to buy and sell ardent spirits, Sanford's was thought the best place to buy New England rum, and selling it as he did, b.y the barrel, and down in lesser quantities till it reached the single drink, it did afford him a good revenue.

Mr. Sanford was a pushing, wide-awake Yankee, of stalwart build, blessed with a good constitution. He often took large and laborious contracts of work, such as road-buikling, etc., ai d it was said that he could hire help that would perform more work than others, for two reasons; one was, a man must put forth consideiable effort to keep up with his employer, another was, the extra stimulus, so handy, gave them an unusual amount of push and vim. What mattered it if there was little or nothing due them at settlement? for they had had a good time drinking, instead of laying up their wages. Many are the tales I have heard from my elders of the sprees had at the old Sanford tavern, and of the variety (if expedieuts devisi'd by the landlord to make trade bri.-k at the bar, such as guessing on the weight of a block of word, or even a stone by the roadside, the loser to treat the crowd. The knowing one s used to say that tlie landloid was never or seldom canght, for secretly he had weighed and measured all articles upon which he proposed a guess. While the better class of citizens deprecated such measures and censured tiie revelries at the tavern, it was noticeable that at times of festal gatherings in tiie ample hall of that house, it was well patronized, and numbers of the above mentioned critics were present.

As wealth increased, so did a desire for lionors, and by virtue of a commission from the Governor, Mr. Sanford received the title, "Esq," as a prefix or adjunct, as the case might demand. Causes of some import were often tried ])efore Squire Sanford, partly, because of his commodious hall, and also because it was so very convenient to find means to allay the thirst consequent upon contested lawsuits. With large sales at his bar on such occasions and the added legal fee, his increasing coffers constantl}- received accumulations, to make up the fortune he left at his death. But as is uniformly the case in our American society, the next generation scattered these accumulations much faster than the Squire had gathered them in.

a missionary to Greece, and for years the U. S. Consul there. Springing from almost total obscurity, he occupied in after years, a position as one of the foremost men of the age. His early home, all natives of Ilawley know, was removed from all opportunities to grow up a polished and refined boy, but the germs of a strong manhood was an inherent quality in his composition. Never did a youth upon emerging from a retired home, find himself more unsophisticated than did young King when he commenced teaciiing his first school in the old third district. But of all this he very well knew, and was not ashamed to confess it, and use all possible methods to improve. After a gathering of young people for an evening enteitainment, lie would ask a trusted friend if he had said anything tliat was wrong, awkward, or green, or if he had used correct language when addressing a lady, or if he had pioperly used his hanlkerchief or knife and loik. lie would go out of a room and in.agiue the room a place of gathering, asking for instructions as to his deportment when entering. Ridicule only had the effect of making him try to so deport himself as not to again be its subject. Advice lie sought from all alike, balles, matrons, aad male companions, and was ready to accept it from any. A perfectly ui, polished diamond in youth, which never lost an3'tliing in polishing and resetting.

Although many of that family name formerly lived in that localit}-, giving it tlie title King Corner, it is with pride tliat former resideuts refer to it as the town where Rev. Dr. King was born, fie waa a grandson of Thomas King the pioneer, and his sou, Ezra, and his grandson, Warriner, passed their lives in the same neighborhood, also the fatlu r of Dr. King, on another road but little used in travel.

Uncle Ephraim Marsh

In boyish remembrance I again meet him, going with two crutches, a short, pendant stump taking the place of a long lost leg, as he went from place to place, disposing of wooden measures of his own manufacture, which contributed largely to his support. Neither shall I forget the half dread I lelt when meeting him, for he would stop and press home upon the boy some searching question relative to his spiritnal welfare. These questions were propounded alike to all he met, regarii- Icss of age, sex or condition. I have been informied that his early litV was spent ae a sailor, and that he was exceedingly rough and jirofane, but being brought under religious influence, his life became a perlVcl contrast to what it had been. "Where sin did abound, grace did niort^ abundantly abound." Often has he asked me, "My boy, do you love tlie Lord, and pray to him?" a salutation common with him. He was n constant attendant at all Sabbath services, and equally constant at tlio prayer meetings. Totally uneducated and uncouth in speech, his r( - marks, although inspiring one, would, by their original and ungrammatical form, provoke a smile, sometimes quite audible, hardly deco rous in a prayer meeting. As an example, I quote one verbatim, made in one of his public prayers; - "O Lord, come with thy holy spirit, an.l wake up these sleepy young lambs; yes, good Lord, and stir up the old sheep too. O Lord, you and I both know they need it." Yet lie waH a man universally loved and respected, for he had a kind disposition and a warm heart. His deep, heartfelt earnestness impressed all he iwi that he was a cliristian man. He fully met tlu description of the man who "lived and died happy, for he loved and served his God."

Uncle Hollister Baker

a man upright in all his transactions, in full possession of all his faculties, and exerted them to their utmost to the accumulation of wealth. Everything with him must bow to that one supreme object; education, popularity or religion he cared nothing for. Money was liis idol, and before that shrine he was a devout worshipper. On one occasion his pastor, urging upon him the necessity of taking some thought for a future life, and not be engrossed with worldly matters to its neglect, enfor- ced his subject with the remark, "Bro. Baker, you know that money takes to itself wings and flies away." "Know it, know it, better put it into land." was uncle HollJster's reply.

Near his early home lived Eben( zer Ciowell, whose daughter he sought for a wife, and harving obtained the girl's consent, it was necessary to get the consent of her parents. He deputed his father for that dutjwho thus approached it: - "Neighbor Crowell, my son HoUister woold be glad to have your dafter Becky, I'm jealous; he woold if he coold I'm jealous." What the answer was I never learned, but must have been in the affirmative, as they were duly married, and raised a large famil}'.

In the same neighborhood lived Dea. ZENAS BANGS, a farmer who always performed his work in a slovenly manner. It used to be said of him that he would tire out a dog following him when mending brush fence. He had a neighbor who swept out his hog pen every day, including Sundays. Once on his way to church it occurred to him that lie had neglected the usual sweeping, and going back to perform that duty, they were late to church, a sin almost inexcusable those days. But liis good wife, Aunt Lizzie, explained the situation to the critics, by informing them that she had cut his hair that morning, which made him forget all about the pig-pen.

West Hill, Bozrah, Forge Hollow, the Square, King Corner, Hallockville, South Hawley, Red Store, Hunt district, Dodge neighborhood, Parker Hill. - Absent sons and daughters of old Hawley! do not these names of familiar locations call up interesting and tender memories?

Lads and girls then, now gray-haired and gone, cannot let slip troui the pages of memory the many singing schools in which they met and practiced the musical scale as taught by Col. Barr, Mr. Ford, and by their fellow townsman, Taylor GruTit, where they not only practiced and sang the songs of Zion, but where were often exchanged sly glaiuos, and equally sly pressure of hands on the road home, little courtisies which in many cases culminated in the union of two hearts and a happy home, perhaps in the far west, or perhaps a settlement on the homestead to solace the declining years of loved and loving parents.

And those old time district spelling schools; how fresh and vividly do they return, with other old time pleasures, as memory reverts to the old town and its inhabitants, and wherever we roam, we fully endorse the sentiment, as we sing, "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."

Appendix

Much has already been said in this volume of Rev. Dr. King, but a tract published by tlie American Tract Society, entitled "The only Sou'' has just come to hand, from which we clij* the following; -

In 1819 Mr. King was elected professor in Amherst College, and proceeded to Paris to pursue the study of Arabic with the celebrated De Sacy. Soon after, the Rev. Levi Parsons, missionary to Palestine, died, and Mr. King was solicited to supply liis place in the missionary field. He was oppressed with the weight of the proposition, and sought the advice of an American gentleman there, with whom he had became acquainted, who was at the head of a large commercial house. His friend said, "Go, and I will be a son to your aged parents in America."

It was found that $1500 were necessary as an outfit for him to go, and the merchant volunteered $300 of tlie anutunt, and gave him the namep and address of four friends in the dffcrent European states, to whom he could apply for the remaining $1200. By the return of the mails, the^e gentlemen responded, enclosing $'600 each, making the sum required, and Mr. King lost no time in preparing for his departure.

Previous to this Mr. King had established religious meetings in Paris, and a large concourse assembled in the church of the Oratoire to listen to his farewell address, and he was cheered at different points on his way to Jerusalem. His friend, the merehiuit, wrote to the solitary parents from time to time, enclosing some token of regard "from their aff'ecl ionate son." The next year he returned to America, and in the spring of 1824, he procured a team at Northampton, and freighting irt with groceries, went twenty}' five miles to their humble abode in Hawley. He appeared in disguise, ostensibly stopping U> warm, recognizing in ihem the features of their son. Soon he directed liis conversation in Bueli a wa\- as to let them know who he was, when a very aifecting scene followed. Then the groceries were presented, refreshments served, and during the repast the father was asked if he felt any regret in partmg with his only son as a missionary, which question, with the answer, is engraved on his tombstone in Hawley. This interview was the only one ever held between them, and to the aged parents it was almost as a visit from their son.

The spot where the missionary is buried, in Athens, is in a retired corner, shaded by cypress and pepper trees, enclosed by an iron railing, supported at the corners by stone pillars. Over it is erected a white marble sarcophagus monument, said to be the gilt ot an aflFectionate daughter, on which is the following inscription: -

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JONAS KING, D. D. He was born 8t Hawley, Massachusetts. Uuited States nl America, July 29, 1792. He labored for four years as a niispioiiary in Palestine, and for upwards of forty years as a missionary iu Greece, and died iu Atlienp, May 22, 1869, in th« 77th year of his age.

"I have fought a good fight, I Iiave finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. "

Seth Sears was born July 27, 1801, is the oldest native resident, live.'^ on West Hill. He m. May 19, 1827. Anna Stockwell. Their children were Sarah Aim, b. Aug. 13, 1828, Henry, b. Sept. 13, 1830, resides in Dalton, Silas S., b. Feb. 9, 1833, resides in Diilton, Roewell and Royal, b. May 7, 1835, reside iu Hawley, Bethiah H., m. H. S. Barton, and lives in Savoy.

Three of the daughters of Theophilus Crosby married clergymen, viz: Saphronia married Rev. James Mc Kee, and lives in Cairo, Ga. . Sir«li married Rev. Mr. Hodge, and lives in Oregon, Phebe married Rev. Mr. Crawford, and lives in Solon, Ind. (Corrected from page 22.)

Annual Town Meeting, March 7, 1887: - Moderator, Wm. O. Bassett; Clerk and Treasurer, Lucius Hunt; Selectmen and Assessors, Charles Crittenden. J. Wm. Doane, Amos D. Taylor; Schofjl Committee, for 3 years, Justin B. Warriner, for 2 years, J. Wm. Doane; Constable and Collector, Adna C. Bissell. Appropriations: SchooL^, ^900; Highways and bridges, $1500; Town expenses; $1200; Total, $3600.

Errata

ERRATA. Page 21, Rev. Isaac Oakes was born in Hawley, instead of Hadley. Page 25, Peter L. Baker enlisted, 1862, died, in 1877, at Bernardston,

Mass., instead of Vt. Page 37, Adonijah Taylor is probably John Taylor. Page 41, Aaron Baird should read Aaron Burt. Page 68, Alvah Page should be Phineas Page.