Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company.
Stood in the park, served on Sundays, as did Mrs. Hannum's house opposite, for the replenishing during noontime of the foot-stones which the women used in the meeting-house. One who remembers it says: "A little path was always kept open in winter for that purpose." There were also a few houses along pleasant Street, which was something of a thoroughfare, leading to Pascommuck.
During the 40's, however, important changes too place, and extended improvements in the manufacture of buttons, and the introduction of other manufactures brought new citizens.
Mr. Samuel Williston, son of the first pastor, prevented by failing eyesight from pursuing his studies, and fitting himself for the ministry, as he and his parents earnestly desired, had already before this come to the front as a prominent factor in the affairs of his native town, and so he remained through his long and remarkably useful life.
On May 27, 1822, he was married to Miss Emily Graves of Williamsburg, who proved a rare helpmate. Their beginning was of the most modest kind. Mr. Willison used to take pleasure in recalling that he was married in what had been his Sunday coat for two years, and that their bridal tour was a walk to Rum Brook, at the foot of Mt. Tom, where a bottle of wine and loaf of cake served as their refreshment. Professor Tylor in his commemorative discourse, records that "almost half a century afterwards, happening to call upon them on their forty-eight anniversary, he found them preparing to celebrate it in the same place in the same manner."
Of the story of Mrs. Williston's initiating the button business, often retold, suffice it to say here that from covering a few extra ones for her neighbors, there dawned in Mrs. Williston's mind the thought of enlarging upon such a scheme and suiting the action to the thought she commenced making buttons for sale. The first package made she took over to Northampton and gave to Mr. David White, treasurer of the Hampshire County Missionary Society, as a contribution from the first
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