TOWN OF DALTON, BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS

Dalton lies just north of the central part of the county, in lat. 42, 28� and long. 3, 52�, bounded north by Cheshire, east by Windsor and Hinsdale, south by Hinsdale and Washington, and west by Cheshire, Lanesboro and Pittsfield. It was originally known as �Ashuelot Equivalent,� for the reason that it was granted to Oliver Partridge and others, of Hatfield as an equivalent for a township granted them on the Ashuelot river, which now forms a part of the township of Winchester, N. H., and which was subsequently found to belong to New Hampshire. In 1784, March 20th, the township was incorporated, under the name it now bears, given in honor of Hon. Tristram Dalton, then speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1795 about 5,000 acres from Windsor were added to the territory of the town, while in 1804 the area was diminished by a tract 2,500 acres in extent which was annexed to Hinsdale. This left Dalton�s territory nine miles in length from northeast to southwest, with an average width of less then two and one half miles, covering an area of about 13,000.

The surface of the town is in general rough and broken, especially so in the northern and southern parts. Through its central part, from northeast to southwest extends a beautiful valley, through which flows a branch of the Housatonic. This stream, while lending a charm to its surrounding scenic beauties, also affords many excellent mill privileges. This fact was not lost sight of by Zenas Crane when he came among the Berkshire hills, in 1799, prospecting for an eligible site for the establishment of the first paper-mill in western Massachusetts, and which, together with the springs of exceptionally pure water he found in the evironing hills, led him to locate that site in Dalton. Since then this narrow valley has gained a world wide celebrity for the fine paper it produces. The finest point of view, though there are many, is that afforded from the summit of Day mountain, an eminence having an altitude of about 700 feet above the surrounding country, and lying about a mile south of Dalton village. �On the south, at the foot the hill, runs the old road from Pittsfield to Hinsdale, over which Burgoyne�s army was marched prisioners on their way to Boston. To the north in the distance lies Greylock, towering like a monarch above his fellows, with hills rolling below like vast ocean billows. At one�s feet the quiet little village � too busy in its thriving, ever grinding paper-mills, and whirring and combing cotton and woolen mills, to make much stir of business outside the factory walls � nestles its hamlet along the well used waters of the Housatonic, every drop of which must help to whirl its turbines as often as the surveyor�s level indicates a suitable fall. On the northeast, the bare walls of Windsor, with beyond a glimse of Hampshire�s summits; next comes the church of Peru hill, from whose divided ridge waters flow into the Connecticut on one side and the Housatonic on the other. At one�s feet on the east, Hinsdale, with its factories; next beyond, Washington. On the west is the beautiful valley, broad enough and especially adapted by Nature for her Queen, with room for 50,000 people, each home surrounded by a park. In it lies Pittsfield, the city of parks, shown in all its glory, with its necklace of diamond lakelets, and the whole in an emerald setting of mountains.�

There is much good farming land in the town, and many highly cultivated farms, though the township ranks as a manufacturing rather than a farming community. Its principal rocks are gneiss and limestone.

In 1880 Dalton had a population of 2,052. In 1882 it employed fifteen female teachers in its public schools, at an average salary of $31.83 per month. There were 396 school children in the town, while the entire amount raised for school purposes was $4,000.00.

Dalton is a handsome post village located in the central part of the town, on the Housatonic river, and is also a station on the Boston & Albany railroad. It has three churches, (Congregational, Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic), a town-house, two hotels, three dry goods stores, two drug stores, millinery store, printing office, flour and feed stores, four paper-mills, two woolen mills, box factory, blacksmith shop, harness shop, two libraries and two public schools. As the village extends nearly or quite to the Pittsfield line, its central and western parts are each locally know by separate names, taken from the extensive manufactories situated in each locality, viz.: Carsonville, to the locality about the Carson & Brown Mills, and Cranesville to the neighborhood environing the Crane mills.

Americans !
Encourage your own Manufactories, and they
will improve.
Ladies, save your RAGS.
As the Subscribers have it
in contemplation to erect a PA-
PER-MILL in Dalton, the ensuing
spring; and the business being very
beneficial to the community at large,
they flater themselves that they shall
meet with the due encouragement. And
that every woman, who has the good
of her country, and the interest of her
own family at heart will patronize
them, by saving their rags, and send-
ing them to their Manufactory, or to
the nearest Storekeeper-for which
the Subscribers will give a generous
price.

HENRY WISWALL
ZENAS CRANE
JOHN WILLARD
Worcester, Feb. 8, 1801

The above advertisement, appearing in the Pittsfield Sun, was the first public intimation of the contemplated establishment of paper manufacturing in Berkshire county, and was the result of a journey made by Zenas Crane in 1799, who had come from the employment of General Burbank, at Worcester, in search of a location to build. The mill was put into operation in the spring of 1801, and produced for the first few years about twenty tons of paper per annum, or just about the quantity that is made weekly by the Crane mills at Dalton at the present time. This increase is commendable both to the pioneer, Zenas Crane, and to his descendants, to the good judgment exercised in selecting a locality so well adapted to the business, and also to the enterprise and skill that has steadily enlarged and improved the business, bringing it up to its present high position.

In 1845 the pioneer, Zenas Crane, died, having three years before, in 1842 transferred his property and business to his two sons, Zenas Marshall and James B., who now carry on an extensive business in new mills, as Ciane & Co., associated with them, as the managing member of the firm, being W. Murray Crane, son of Z. Marshall Crane. In their mills, known as the "Pioneer" mill and the "Government" mill. are made the bank-note paper used by the national banks and the paper used by the United States government for legal tenders and bonds, also paper for the currency and bonds of other governments. They also make, in great excellence, Parchment, Drawing and Tracing papers, Parchment deed, antique letter, artificial parchment, "onion skin," "bullet patch," map, and other papers. These are the highest priced papers made in this country, and, as can be inferred from the purposes for which they are used, must possess great strength and wearing qualities. It is said that a sheet of their paper placed in a modern testing machine will show.a greater strength than any other fine paper made.

In 1865, Zenas Crane, Jr., son of Z. Marshall Crane, and grandson of the pioneer, rented and afterwards bought the stone mill, situated about one-eighth of a mile below the Pioneer mill, and formerly known as the Ashuelot Woolen Mill. It had been converted into a paper-mill a few years prior to this, and run by Crane & Wilson, but at this time was idle. Zenas Crane, Jr., ran this mill from 1865 till 1877, when it was destroyed by fire, and was rebuilt at once on a much larger scale by himself and his brother, W. Murray Crane. It is now one of the best equipped mills in this country, and, as our accompanying engraving shows, is also a handsome structure. The mill is devoted to the manufacture of ladies' fine stationery, and was the only mill in this country to branch out into this line. The beautiful envelopes and note paper made here in a great variety of tints and sizes nave become famous all over the United States.

The new. tints, of which there are now many, began to make their appearance in Lyons silks, and were soon applied to stationery by foreign paper-makers. When Mr. Zenas Crane, Jr., was in Europe, he visited some of the finest paper-mills and got some acquaintance with the stationery trade. He saw that there was to be a great future for these tinted goods among the purchasers of the best stationery in this country, and he at once began the manufacture of them in their mill, and the result is a product here that challenges a comparison with any goods in this line that the world can produce. The tints are wonders of delicacy, clearness and subdued tone. A few years ago our fashionable people would use no stationery but imported goods. The American styles and makes did not come up to what they required. Messrs. Z. Crane, Jr., & Brother, set to work to prove that as good or better goods could be made in this country as abroad. How well they have succeeded is shown from the fact that the foreign goods are now scarcely quoted in the market, while "Crane's goods" are staple stock with every dealer of any pretentions. This firm has done much during the past two or three years to produce a taste for dead-finish papers, and to-day their brands of "Grecian Antique," "Parchment Vellum," and "Distaff " are as popular as their finest "satin finish" goods. The names to each of their brands are copyrighted, and also their boxes, each of which bears their well known trademark of the "Fireside Crane."

Z. Crane, Jr., & Brother have, within two years, established a library for the use of their employes, and the neighborhood. A handsome building, somewhat in the old English style of architecture was built near the mill and surrounded by lawns and shade trees on each side. The library contains about 500 volumes, to which are to be added each year fifty or more volumes. The reading-room has all the magazines, illustrated papers and leading newspapers of this part of the country and the county newspapers.
The senior member of this firm, Hon. Zenas Crane, Jr., is a member of Gov. Robinson's Executive Council, having been elected to it last fall by the counties of Berkshire, Hampshire and Hampden. His father occupied the same position with Gov. Andrew, and his grandfather with Gov. Edward Everett. A prominent Trade Paper says: "The Crane family is a family of paper manufacturers and has been engaged in the industry from its early establishment in this country. The family living to-day occupies a prominent place in the manufacture of the best papers of the world and bear the same relation to the paper manufacture of the United States that the Montgolfiers do to that of France."

The Carson & Brown Co.�The "Old Berkshire Mill" owned by this company occupies the site where the old pioneer firm built their first mill, and where they made about twenty tons of paper per annum until 1807. Wiswall & Carson succeeded them, continuing until r8io. Since that year the mill has been rebuilt several times, burned once but soon lifted from its ashes, and has been principally managed and owned by the Carson family, except for a short time when the Powers Paper Co., afterwards the Powers & Brown Paper Co., (L. J. Powers, of Springfield, and Charles 0. Brown, of Dalton,) owned it. It has grown from a one-vat hand mill located in the woods, to a grand structure containing seven engines, making two tons of first-class paper |per day. David Carson, who came to Dalton about the year 1800, was one of the original hand paper makers, and his sons, Thomas G., William W. and David J., were brought up to the business, and were considered among the best of their trade in the country. The father, after retiring, removed to
Pittsfield, where he died in 1858, aged seventy-five years, being at the time of his death president of the Pittsfield Bank. Charles 0. Brown is now president of the company, and John D. Carson, treasurer.

The Byron Weston Paper Mills.�The old Defiance Mill was built by David Carson in 1821, and sold by him to Henrv Chamberlin in 1840, by whom it was operated, or rented to others, until 1863, having in tlie meantime, however, been burned out and immediately reconstructed. In 1863 it was bought by Hon. Byron Weston, who has greatly enlarged it, and is now turning out his celebrated record and ledger papers. This mill was originally a one vat, one engine mill, making "twenty posts" of 126 sheets, or about five reams of paper a day, while its capacity is now over two tons. Most of the younger Chamberlins, John, Albert and Ezekiel, learned the paper business in this mill, and it has often been said that the spring water was so good that the mill made good paper regardless of the management. In 1855 Capt. A. S. Chamberlin built a paper-mill on the privilege in the center of Dalton village and known as the oldest mill power in town, formerly occupied by the '' water-mill," so called because the grist-mill upon it was run by water-power under the toll system. This mill was owned and operated by Chamberlin & Mitchell and James Wilson until 1867, when it was purchased by the late Gen. W. F. Bartlett and Capt. Edwin Moodie, commander of a Cunard steamer. Col. Walter Cutting subsequently bought Captain Moodie's interest, and the mill was run by Bartlett & Cutting until 1875, when it was destroyed by fire. The ruins were purchased by Byron Weston, who has built on its site a seven engine mill, which is running as a rag department for his seven engine Defiance Mill near by. He thus has fourteen engines, employs 200 hands, and turns out about four tons of paper per day. His paper is used for county and state records, and for all purposes where great strength and ability for standing age are required. Mr. Weston has also succeeded in sinking here one of the most celebrated artesian wells in New England. About January 20, 1884, while boring at the depth of 200 feet, he obtained a flowing well of 400 gallons per minute of pure, soft water. Previous to this, while boring at the depth of 500 feet, he obtained a flowing well of 150 gallons per minute.

West & Glennon�s woolen mill.�In 1865 W. J. Hawkins, of Pittsfield, and Charles E. West and Christopher Glennon, under the firm name of Hawkens, West & Glennon, having concentrated two privileges on the old Weston place, erected a three story wooden building, 100x50 feet, with attendant dye-houses, and commenced the manufacture of the Windsor Falls repellants and fancy cassimeres, and prosperously operated the factory until August 25, 1873, when it, the adjoining building and two dwellings were entirely destroyed by fire. Thirty days after the fire their new factory was in process of erection and was completed in less than six months, a brick structure 130 x 50 feet and three stories high. On the death of Mr. Hawkins, in July, 1878, the remaining partners continued the business. The firm has undergone some changes during 1884, and is now known as the Windsor Falls Company. The mill is supplied with six cards and forty-six broad looms, and have turned out about 500,000 yards per annum.

C. J. Kittredge, & Co.'s woolen mills were built in 1867. The company are engaged in manufacturing cassimeres and all-wool doeskins, turning out about 150,000 yards per year. Both steam and water are used as motive power.
The Renfrew cotton yarn manufactory, of Dalton, was originally built by S. G. Birmingham, for a woolen-mill, about 1864. Four or five years later it was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt by the insurance company who carried its risk, and about 1870 it was sold to the Renfrew Manufacturing Co., of Adams, who run it in the manufacture of cotton yarn.

David C. Smith� s grist and saw-mill, located on road 25, was built by him in 1849. He grinds about 125 car-loads of grain annually.

Smith Bros', saw-mill, located in the northern part of the town, on road 5 was built in 1860, upon the site of a mill built by Abner and David C. Smith in 1846, and which was destroyed by fire in 1860. The mill cuts about 200,000 feet of lumber per annum.

William C. Burr's saw-mill, located in the northern part of the town, was originally established about 1843, by Samuel I. Parker. It cuts about 100,000 feet of lumber per annum.

The settlement of the town was commenced by Dr. Perez Marsh, Daniel Frost and Nathaniel Kellogg, in 1755. Soon afterwards, Joseph Chamberlin moved into the southern part of the town, locating near the Pittsfield line. About 1770, William Cady, Josiah Lawrence and Abijah Parks moved into the eastern part of the town, and Mr. Lawrence subsequently built the first grist-mill Tlie town was incorporated March 20, 1784, and from that time immigration was more rapid, so that in 1791, when the first census was taken, there were 554 inhabitants.

The first town meeting was held on the 19th of April, 1784, nineteen days after the town was incorporated, when William Williams, Eliphalet Chamberlin, Ephraim Cleveland, Solomon Storey and Nathan Webb were elected selectmen; William Williams, town clerk and treasurer ; and Eliphalet Chamberlin, Josiah Lawrence and William Williams, assessors. Among the votes also, passed at this meeting were the following :�

"Voted, That the swine may run at large in this town the present year, they being yoked and ringed according to law."

"Voted, That Deacon Williams have leave to innoculate his family for the small-pox on lot No. 46 in this town."

The original town-house was built about 1840. In 1870 the present commodious building, was erected upon the site occupied by the old building, costing 3,000.00.

Dr. Perez Marsh was the son of Capt. Joel Marsh, and was born at Hadley, October 25, 1729, and graduated from Harvard in 1784. He was a physician and surgeon's mate in the Regiment of Col. Ephraim Williams the younger when he was killed at Lake George, in 1755. Immediately after, he came to Ashuelot Equivalent. He was appointed justice of the peace, June 24, 1761, a special justice of the court of common pleas, June 6, 1765, and a standing justice of said court, to succeed Gen. Dwight, September 6, 1768. He was a man of intelligence and character, though these appointments were probably due quite as much to the fact that he was a grandson of Samuel Porter and son-in-law of Israel Williams. He died at Dalton, May 20, 1784, leaving two sons and several daughters. The daughters married in Pittsfield and some of their descendants now reside there. The late Henry Marsh, Esq., of Dalton, was his grandson. The epitaph upon the slab that marks his grave, reads as follows:�

HENRY MARSH,
IN MEMORY
OF
HIS HONORED FATHER,
PEREZ MARSH,
QUI VITIA ECEPIT
MAY 20, 1784, AGED 53 YEARS.
PAUSE HERE AND THINK HOW OFT A TOMB LIKE THIS
YOU�VE SEEN ALOUD EXCLAIM PREPARE THEE FOR AN EARLY GRAVE.

William Cleveland immigrated to Dalton at an early day, from Massachusetts Bay, making his way a part of the distance by the aid of marked trees. He located on road 5, where Alvah K. Cleveland now resides, being the first to settle upon that farm. A sample of the pioneer life he led is shown in the fact that his wife spun and wove the flax which William had raised on his farm, after which he carried it on his back to Kinderhook, N. Y., a distance of fifty miles, and exchanged it for their first cow. He married Mrs. Sarah Tozer, rearing eight children. He was a Revolutionary soldier, Alvah, son of William, who succeeded him upon the farm, married Hannah Kittredge, of Dalton, who bore him five children, one son, William K., marrying Elizabeth W. Mitchell, of Windsor, by whom he had three children, William D., Nellie M., and Alvah K. William D. resides in Wyoming Territory ; Alvah married Amy E. Neate, of Pittsfield, and has two children, residing upon the homestead settled by his great-grandfather, where Nettie also resides. The old homestead dwelling was used for a hotel by Alvah Cleveland for many years.
Thomas and Josiah Lawrence, brothers, were among the first settlers in Dalton, coming from Plainfield, Conn., about 1778. Thomas, who was born in 1748, was the first to locate on the farm now occupied by T, A. and C. B. Lawrence, on road 20, and died in Dalton, July 26, 1825, at the age of seventy-seven. His youngest son, Daniel, married Nancy Burchard, of this town, and reared thirteen children, of whom three, Thomas A., who married Sarah Otis, of this town, and reared three children, Clara A., Sarah B., and Mary E.; Martha now Mrs. Hyde, of Waterbury, Conn.; and Charles B., who married Lydia A. Johnson, survive, Charles and Thomas residing upon the old homestead.

Amos Smith immigrated to this town from Connecticut, at an early date, and located on road 5, where the widow of Sullivan Smith now resides. His son, Abner, was born in 1781, married Mary Diiscoll, and reared seven children, of whom five, David C., Dr. Abner M., of Pittsfield, Eliza, Amos, and James D. survive. Amos, residing on road 5 in Dalton, married Julia R. Flint, of this town, who bore him two children, Edith and Belle L. David C. married Permelia Comstock, of Stockbridge, Mass., by whom he had four children, among whom are Ensign M., who married Lucy A, Branch, and has two children, and now resides 111 Texarkana, Ark.; David, of Pittsfield,who married Milla E. Hale, of this town, and has one child, Anna P.; and Robert A., who married Lucia M. Owen, of Lee, Mass., and has two children, and resides on North street, James D., brother of David C., married Rachel E. Gleason, of this town, rearing two children, and resides on North street.

Zenas Crane, the pioneer in the paper industry of Western Massachusetts, was born in Canton, Mass., May 9, 1777. In the spring of 1801 he came to Dalton and built the original paper mill, where Carson & Brown now are. He had previously visited the locality, in 1799, and traveled over the mountains and streams on horseback, in search of a suitable mill-site, and what is of more importance in making fine papers�suitable spring water. In 1809, in company with Martin Chamberlin, he built the mill where his sons now are. He died in 1845. In 1842 his two sons, Zenas M. and James B., became sole proprietors, and the business has been continued without interruption until the present time. In 1879 hey purchased what is now known as the "Government mill," built just over the Pittsfield line by the late Hon. Thomas Colt, and which is now run on bank note and bond papers for the United States government. At their other; the "Pioneer mill," in Dalton, they also make bank note and bond papers, which are used by several foreign governments, and by the trade generally. W. Murray Crane, son of Zenas M., became a partner in the business about 1879.

Justin Cole, a Revolutionary soldier from Hatfield, Mass., was one of those who made an early settlement in Dalton, locating upon the farm now occupied by D. J. Pratt.

Dea. William Williams, who came to this town at an early date from Hatfield, Conn., was appointed a trustee of Williams college in 1797, and in 1800 was senator in the State legislature. He died March 1, 1808, at the age of seventy-four.

James Barden removed to Dalton, from Uxbridge, Mass , and made the first settlement upon the farm now owned by Joel W. Barden, on road 4, in 1784. He married Tryphenia White, who bore him ten children. Joel, son of James, was twice married, rearing by his first wife, Mary Ensign, five children, namely: Jamelia, Almira, Lovell M., Jasper W., and Mary W.; and b) his second wife, Lydia Wright�who is now, at the age of 96, the oldest person in town�five children, as follows: Joel W., John W., Amelia C., James W., and Clarissa W. Joel was first married to Mary E, Parker, after whose death he married Lydia F. Messenger who bore him four children�Bertha E., and Blanche A., twins, and Angie E., and James E. The homestead where Joel resides, has been in the family for about a century.

Charles Burr, a native of Milton, Mass., married Sarah Baker, and immigrated to Dalton about the year 1785. Of his family of ten children, seven�Mary A., Nelson, Francis, Lucinda, David, Sarah and William C., are now living. William C., residing on road 5 in this town. married Helen M. Partridge, of Hinsdale, by whom he had two sons, Charles W., who married Sarah A. Mann, and now resides in Troy, Penn., and Dwight W., residing on road 5, who married Cora E. Stetson.

Elijah Curtis, from Worcester county, Mass., came to Dalton in 1794, being the first to locate upon a farm on road 7, near the present residence of D. H. Tower. He married Annie Stockwell, rearing ten children, one now living, Chloe, who married John Benton, now of Cleveland, Ohio. His youngest son, Elijah, married Harriet Rogg, of Sharon, Conn., who bore him three children�Maria H., now dead; Marshall C., residing on Main street, Dalton, married Ann G. Gibbs, of Otis, and had born to him three children, Florence, Charles, and Edith; and Chloe.

Alpheus Brown, on road 7, is the oldest man in this town, being ninety-three years of age. He was in the war of 1812, and draws a pension.

Jacob, fourth son of Jacob and Hannah Jones Booth, born in 1770, married Lucinda Richmond, of Hinsdale, Vt., by whom he had nine children, four of whom are still living�Elizabeth Gardner, a widow, Charles H., Watson A. and Philander F. The latter married Almena Davis, of Stafford, Conn., and located on the soap-stone quarry farm, where he has resided seventy-three years, rearing three children, namely: Lucinda, who married Myron Sherman, now of Dalton; George F., who married Eliza A. Aldrich ; and John M., who married Lucinda Reed, of Windsor, and is now a resident of Wahoo, Neb.

Rev. Isaiah Weston removed to Dalton from New Bedford in 1814. His grandson, Byron, a paper manufacturer in Dalton, is one of her most noted and respected citizens. He is vice-president of the Third National Bank of Pittsfield, Mass., also director of the Berkshire Life Insurance Co., and Berkshire County Savings Bank. Mr. Weston was captain in the Rebellion under Gen. W. F. Bartlett; was State senator in 1876, and lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts for 188o-'83, being elected with Gov. John D. Long in1882, against Benjamin F. Butler.

Solomon Lawrence, son of Micah, formerly a Presbyterian minister in Manchester and Keene, N. H., was born in Winchester, N. H., and married Mary Cole, of Dalton, in which place he located and reared four children, but one of whom, Hubbard W., survives. Hubbard married Eleanor Gray, of Templeton, Mass., and has one son, Harlen S., of Dalton.

Roswell, son of Vine Branch, who located in Berkshire county, Mass., about 1770, and who was also a soldier in the battle of Bennington, married Theodocia Wright, of Pittsfield, where he located, rearing a family of seven children, namely : Vine P., Mary, Orson A,, Salmon W.. Rufus, Albert and Grove W. Grove married Pamelia Sprague, of Pittsfield, afterwards locating in Dalton, Mass., and reared seven children, all of whom, Hayden W., Caroline, Robert, Pamelia, Lucy, Ellen and George, are still living. Grove was twice married and has resided in his present home fifty years. He was deputy sheriff twelve years, and a member of the State legislature in 1842 and 1843, besides holding other offices of trust, and has been deacon of the Congregational church twenty-five years.

Shuabel Otis, a native of Norwich, Conn., was thrice married, having by his first wife Fennlia Francis, of Windham, Conn., seven children, and by his second, Sarah Butts, five children. His third wife was Irene Butts, of this town. James, son of Shubael, married Louisa Stowell, of Hinsdale, who bore him six children : Joseph H., Edwin, Ella M., Lettie E., James 0., and John 0., (the latter being twins. All are now living except Edwin. Joseph H. succeeded to the homestead formerly occupied by his father and grandfather.

Nicholas Crane emigrated to this country from Wexford, Ireland, about the year 1837, finally coming to Dalton, and locating on East Main street where he now resides. He married Sarah Morgan, of Pittsfield, the union 'being blessed by a family of eight children, namely: Thomas, John, Edward, Nicholas, Mary A., Sarah T., Michael and Kittie, six of whom are still living.

Elijah Curtis's father, with his two brothers, emigrated to Massachusetts from England, and all served in the war of 1812. John, son of Elijah, married Patty Newell, of Dalton. who bore him nine children, of whom two still survive. Hannah, wife of Seth Walker, and now of Medina, Ohio, and John, who married Mary Smith for his first wife, by whom he had ten children, four of whom are still living, namely : Mary Prentice, of Pittsfield ; Cynthia Perkins, of Dalton ; Adda N. Balch, of Elgin, Ill; and .Diodana Clark, of Springfield. After the death of Mary, John married Polly Nye, whom he also survived, marrying for his third wife Margaret dark. He now resides in Dalton, on road 9.

Isaac N. Allen enlisted twice in the war of the Rebellion. His son, Alpheus N., also served in this war, and died in the hospital at New Orleans, in 1869.

Stephen D. Tower removed to this town, from Windsor, in 1854, locating on road 7, where he resided until his death in 1881. He married Esther E..Beals, in 1831, who bore him ten children, but one deceased. His son, David H., who now occupies the homestead, married Margaret Young, of Huntington, Mass., in 1869, and has one son, Walter L.
George E., son of Nathaniel Hager, of Pittsfield, married Hattie N. Wilson, of Dalton, and has five children, Susie B., Hattie W., George S., Lucy G., and James W. He served in the Rebellion, and was taken prisoner at the time of Sheridan's raid, May 10, 1864, and imprisoned at Andersonville, and other prisons, making his escape during the removal of the prisoners at the evacuation of Charlestown, February 17, 1865.

Joshua A. Barton, born at Butternuts, N. Y., in 1800, married Relief Vinton, rearing
eight children, four of whom, Harvey B., of Stockbridge, Mrs. James M. Parsons, of Lenox, John S., of this town, and Henry A., are still living. The latter married Dorcas A. Benton, of Lenox, who bore him six children, fourof whom are living : Mrs. Lephia 0. Warren, of Windsor, Wesley B., who married Carrie Lewis, of Bridgewater, Conn., Mrs. Grace Parker, of Dalton, and Henry A., who married Carrie M. Curtis, of this town, where he resides, on road 22, corner 23, and has four children�M. Alta, diaries H., Blanche M.,and Claire C. John S., brother of Henry A., Sr., married Phebe T. Holden, of Cairo, N. Y., who bore him three children : James A., residing in this town, who married Elvia Kidd, of Tiskilwa, Ill.; Emma E. Raymond, of Hinsdale ; and Willie.

Alexander M. Groesbeck, of Albany, who married Emaline Holmes, of Palmer, Mass., and located in Lee, was the father of eleven children, four of whom survive : Jane Butler, who resides in Minnesota ; Adell E.; and Franklin N., who married Hattie Maynard, of this town, and has one child, Edna M., and Charles H., of this town, who married Clara A., daughter of C. C. Benton, of Lee, and has two children, Emma L. and Grace A. Charles served two years and a half in the Rebellion, being honorably discharged at its close ; and his grandfather, John B. Holmes, served in the Mexican war.

Richard A. Davis, of Oneida county, N. Y., married Mary C. Davis, of the same place, and had born to him twelve children, of whom three survive, namely : James, of Middlefield, Mass., Mary J., of Sharon Springs, N. Y., and Theodore. The latter married Bertha Blinn, of Canaan Four Corners, N. Y., and located finally in this town, where he now resides, and has a family of four children, Cora E., Chloe E., Jennie I., and Mary A. He served in the war of the Rebellion, in the 37th Mass., Co. E., from which he was honorably discharged after a service of three years.

Marcus Putnam, of Becket, and a descendant of Gen. Putnam, of Revolutionary fame, married Phebe Rouse, of Windsor, and became the father of six children, four of whom still live, namely: Joseph and Rufus, of Westfield, Charles, of Pittsfield, and Henry H., of Dalton, who married Jane Cady, of this town, and has one child, Lucy I.

Daniel, son of Daniel Brownson, of Cornwall, Conn., and a blacksmith by trade, married Mary Dean, of Cornwall, where he located, rearing two children, Philo, who died in the war of the Rebellion, and Emery M., engineer in a paper-mill in Dalton, where he now lives. He married Lucy Ann Nobles, of Cornwall, and has six children, Philo C., Francis M., Ada, Edwin H., Louisa; and Eugene E.

Timothy, son of James Callaghan, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country in 1850, and is now a resident of this town. He married Anna Curtain, of Cork, Ireland, who bore him seven children, all of whom, Nellie, Katie, Julia, William, Hannah, Mary and Maggie, are living.

John Callahan, of county Cork, Ireland, son of James, came to this country in 1857, and resides in Dalton. He married Ann Suttle, of Galway, Ireland, and has three children.

Maurice Callaghan, a native of Ireland, and a resident of Dalton, came to this country in 1839. He married Catharine Curtain, of Lanesboro, and has four children, James, Hannah, Ellen and William.

Willard Cooper settled in Windsor, Mass., about 1800, and married Mary Saunders, by whom he had seven children: Royal E., Eliza, M., Clara A., Leander C., Marietta, John C., and Samuel W. Samuel, the youngest son, married Minerva Maynard, of Dalton, for his first wife, by whom he had two children, Willard M., and Carrie ; and for his second wife married Louisa Maynard, both being of this town of which he is a resident.

John H. Smith enlisted twice in the war of the Rebellion, serving the first time in the 47th Mass., and in the second time in the i6th Mass., an unattached company, and was honorably discharged.

Amasa Converse, one of the early settlers of Windsor, married first, Sinai Chaffee, rearing six children, afterwards marrying Esther Walker, daughter of Robert, of Revolutionary fame, who bore him four children. His youngest son, Charles A., also married twice, rearing by his first wife, Jane A. Rice, one son, Amasa R., now a banker, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and married for his second wife Sarah Mitchell, of Windsor, locating first in that town, but afterwards, in 1873, coming to Dalton, where he died in 1880, leaving one daughter, Ethel, wife of Frank A. Fowler.

Myron A. Sherman, grandson of Sylvanus Parsons, who was a Revolutionary pensioner, married Lucinda Booth, rearing five children, and is now a resident of Dalton, on road 5.

Thomas Thompson came to this country from England as a sergeant in Gen. Burgoyne's army, among the British Grenadiers, a noted regiment,�all of the men being six feet in height. He married Martha Smith, of Bridgewater, and finally located in Pittsfield. Thomas D., son of Thomas, married Abbie Barlow for his first wife, and for his second the widow of Jonas Flint. He has two sons, George W., a paper maker in Brooklyn, N. Y.. and Frederick A., in the same business in Westfield, Mass. Thomas resides in this town, at the age of ninety.

John Brown, who was one of the early settlers of Windsor, was a deacon in the Congregational church there for fifteen years, his son John, Jr., served in the same office ten years, and the latter's son, Alpheus, twenty-five years. His wife was Abigail, daughter of Captain Pierce, of Windsor. Alpheus, Jr. , residing in this town, on road 7, married Czarina, daughter of Gen. Holbrook of Windsor, rearing eleven children, six of whom, Addison W., Henry C., Charles 0., Selden S., Edward E. and Francis W., are now living. He served in the war of 1812.

Dwight M., son of Lewis Bartlett, son of Edward, an early settler in Worthington, Mass., married Clarissa J. Ramage, of Holyoke, Mass., and has one child, Laura E., and resides in Dalton. Lewis married Laura A. Prince of Windsor. His other two children are James I-, and Amanda, both married.

William B. West, of English descent, and grandson of Josiah West, of Salisbury, Conn., who was a Revolutionary soldier, resides on road 5, in this town. He married Julia Loveland, for his first wife, and for his second the widow of William Reed, having one son, Josiah, now living.

Andrew J., son of Ethan A. Mason, and grandson of Nathan, of Cheshire, married Anna Jenning, of Adams, and has two children�Ernest, Marinda, wife of Samuel Hildreth who has two children, Rufus R. and George I.; and Andrew J. was wounded in the war of the Rebellion and honorably discharged. He now resides on road 3 in this town.

Osiah Hawley was an early settler in Otis, Mass., rearing a family of ten children, among whom was Harry S., father of William Henry, a resident of Dalton. Harry L. married Betsey Crittendon, of Otis, and has four children now living. He was a farmer in Sandisfield, and died at the age of eighty-seven. William Henry married Charlotte J. Whitney, of Otis, and has had three children. His grandfather, William Crittendon, served in the Revolution.

Henry H. Knight is a grandson of James Knight, who came from England to this country as a soldier under Gen. Burgoyne, and was at the battle of Saratoga, afterwards locating in Saratoga county, where he died about 1820. Henry H. resides in Dalton.

Alonzo, son of Asa Cone, formerly a resident of West Stockbridge, and grandson of Levi Crittendon, a Revolutionary soldier, and who served at the battle of Bennington, is a resident of Dalton, on road 22. He was twice married, rearing by his first wife. Elizabeth P. Nichols, of Richmond, two children, both deceased. For his second wife he married Elizabeth A. Day,of Rowe, Mass., who is still living.

Charles P., son of Hubbard Sanderson, of Rutland county, Vt., and grandson of Weller Sanderson, an Englishman, and a Revolutionary soldier, married Mary J. Fredericks, of Lenox, and now resides in Cranesville.

John W. Flansburgh, grandson of John Waldron, of Coxsackie, N. Y., a pensioner of the war of 1812, is a resident of Dalton, a carpenter by trade.

John Dwyer, a resident of this town, emigrated to this country about 1850. He married Bridget Callahan, who bore him six children : Maggie, Edward, Francis, Mabel, Willie and Joseph, all living.

Lawrence Connors, of this town, a native of Galway, Ireland, married Julia Callahan, of the same place, who came to this country about thirty years ago. He has seven children.

Spencer Fuller, a native of Whitingham, Vt., married Maria Flemming, and reared a family of eight children : Elmira, Hiram, Jerusha, Evaline, Willard, Harvev A., (who married first Ida A. Cross, of Searsburg, Vt., and afterwards Sarah Porter, of Lanesboro, and has one child,) Guy W. and Adelia, six of whom are living. He resides in Cranesville. Samuel G. Fuller, son of Spencer, married Anna Crosier, of Searsburg, has two children, and also resides in Cranesville. His grandfather, Gardner Flemming, served in the Revolution.

James S. Smith, son of Amos, married Caroline Comstock, of Stockbridge, rearing five children�Cynthia P., Melissa M., Roswell P., Olive M., and James S. The widow of James S. now resides upon the homestead on road 5, in Dalton, which was first settled by Amos Smith. James married for his second wife, Eliza Driscol. of this town, who bore him four children, namely: Andrew D., Emma C., Arthur L. and Helen M.

The First Congregational church, located on Main street, at Dalton village, was organized by Rev. John Leland, Daniel Collins and Thomas Alien, with eleven members, February 11, 1785, Rev. James Thompson, being the first pastor. The first house of worship was built in 1795, and stood where the lower cemetery now is. The present building was erected in 1812. It will comfortably accommodate 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $5,000.00. The society now has 100 members, with Rev. George W. Andrews, pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal church, located, on Main street, was started in 1812, composed chiefly from dissenters from the Congregational church, while some attached themselves to the new church from political motives, connected with the last war with the Great Britain, and others still on account of the Congregational society moving their church building to a new site. Their church building was erected in 1834, at a cost of $1,400.00. It will comfortably seat 350 persons, and is now valued, including grounds and parsonage, at $1,050.00. The society has 165 members.

St. Agnes Roman Catholic church, located at Dalton village, was organized by the Right Rev. P. S. O'Reyley, in 1880, with 800 communicants. Rev. Father Cronin, the present incumbent, was the first pastor. The church building was erected in 1880, at a cost of about $17,000.00. It will accommodate 600 persons, and is valued, including grounds and other property, at $18,000.00. The society now has 1,000 members.