USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Danbury > History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 > Part 22
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In following up Francis's history we find hatters in business of whom he makes no mention. For instance, M. H. Griffing was a prominent hatter in 1846. His factory was in what is now known as Mountainville. He continued in business for ten years, and then sold out to Henry T. Robinson. Mr. Robinson did not succeed, and soon abandoned the enterprise. Mr. Griffing learned his trade in 1843 with Elijah Patch, on Great Plain. George A. Andrews was another hatter who carried on business in Great Plain a few years ago.
Wolfpits, in Bethel, was also for many years-1824 to 1850- the scene of a flourishing hat trade. Among the manufacturers then we find Eli Morgan, Abel Hoyt, Leazer Taylor & Son, Charles & Roderick Dart, and Hugh Starr. In Elmwood we find David Sherman and Beers Crofut.
In 1859 Mr. Francis gives a summary of the amount of work done by all the factories as follows :
Number of hands employed 1,294
Hats made (dozens). 123,870
Pay roll. $329,000
In 1880, the statement was as follows :
Number of hands employed 1,800
Hats made (dozens) 400,000
Pay roll $1,000,000
The following article concerning hatting in Bethel was written
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
for us by Captain Isaac H. Seeley just before his death on March 2d, 1880. He was in his eighty-seventh year, but his memory was as clear as twenty years ago. Bethel had not been incor- porated as a town by itself, and therefore appropriately comes under the head of " Old Danbury."
Mr. Seeley came to Bethel in May, 1793. " At that time there were but four hat shops in operation. Zar Dibble's shop stood on the ground where Walker Ferry's Block now stands, corner of Centre and Chestnut streets. Captain Eli Taylor had a shop west of his house. Thomas Taylor's shop stood west of his house, and Eli Hickok's shop near the Farnum homestead. These four shops each had two boys at work. Hats were mostly made from lambs' wool, about seven ounces weight, and napped with black muskrat, about one and a half ounces weight. Belly muskrat was considered too fine and short for use then. We had no carding machines then, and the wool was all carded by hand by women. Hats were sold in New York in an unfin- ished state after they were colored. Captain Eli Taylor once went to New York on horseback with a lot of hats packed on the back of the saddle. He exchanged them for stock (lambs' wool and muskrat fur), taking small parcels of wool and fur for immediate use. The balance was sent on by the sloop and transported from Norwalk to Bethel by the " Merchants' Line" of wagons. In 1800 Noah Hickok, Eliakim D. Trow- bridge, and Daniel Morgan each built shops in Grassy Plain. Hickok's shop was by his house, where George Osborne now lives ; Trowbridge's was a little west of the large elm-tree now standing at the lower end of Grassy Plain Street, and Morgan's was near William H. Barnum's present residence. In 1801 Mat- thew Trowbridge built a shop here. These shops were all worked by boys as apprentices.
"In 1799 Zar Dibble and Eli Davis owned all the land in the centre of Bethel, as far down as Little Fields, now known as Nashville, some sixty acres in all. Dibble wanted to sell out and move to Ballston, N. Y., and proposed to divide the land to accommodate purchasers. His own dwelling was on the west road, and his hat shop was on the east side of his farm. No other buildings were on this plot of land. Phineas Taylor, P. T. Barnum's grandfather, bought all the home land, leaving about one acre with the house and barns, which was purchased by
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Timothy Taylor. About half an acre with the shop was sold to Lemon Starr. He fitted up the shop with a little addition for a shoemaker, who resided in part of it. Seven years later Starr sold the shop and a small plot of ground to Elias Taylor, who put another addition on the north side for a family resi- dence, and converted the shoe shop into a hat shop again. It was the same place before mentioned, now the site of Ferry's Block. Taylor, being a very enterprising man, cut the land into parts to suit customers, mostly in small plots. He had two roads cut through the land to accommodate dwelling-houses, shops, etc. In 1817 Taylor bought a house on the northeast corner of the plot, and lived there until his death in 1837.
" About this time William Chappel, of Danbury, obtained a patent right for a carding machine, with a Mr. Nichols from the lower part of Newtown. It was very complicated, and the proc- ess was slow. Nichols put up a shop in Newtown, and Mr. Chappel erected a mill in the lower part of Danbury, near what was called then Hoyt's Pond. They were able to do most of the business. In good times this put aside the women's cards, and the business rapidly increased. For five years there was not much shop-building. Messrs. A. and P. Nichols began in Grassy Plain just above the bridge, near G. M. Hoyt's old fac- tory. Their business was large for those days, and they em- ployed a number of hands, making some fine hats for New York customers and Southern trade. In 1810 Ambrose Collins came to Eli Hickok's as a journeyman. He afterward married Hickok's daughter and built a large hat shop on the corner of the Grassy Plain Road and the road now leading to the Eureka water- works, and employed a large number of hands. In the follow- ing year, 1811, Lewis Taylor built a shop on the east side of the road, near Collins's shop. In 1812 Hugh Starr erected a shop on the site of Hugh Reid's present residence. He kept only a few boys to work.
"In 1803 Daniel Morgan and Oliver Shepard went into part- nership, bought the land and built a hat shop where now is the . shop of Cole & Ambler, and in 1805 Shepard bought out Mor- gan's interest.
"In 1808 Nathan Seeley went into partnership with Samuel Peet for one year. They took the shop of Oliver Shepard until June, when they built and moved into a shop on the site of
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G. G. Durant's present shop. Seeley was to put in two boys as apprentices. At the end of the year Peet withdrew from the firm. Seeley in 1809 hired Delecena Benjamin to go into the shop to instruct the boys. At the end of 1809 he gave the busi- ness to the boys with his own services. In 1810 Lewis Gregory and Delecena Benjamin commenced hatting on the ground where Captain I. H. Seeley lived. At the end of 1811 Nathan Seeley bought the business of Gregory & Benjamin for his son Isaac. Gregory and Joseph Gillett were journeymen for Seeley. They afterward bought the old Fort property, which was a large build- ing and was formerly a rendezvous for people to meet nights at the latter part of the Revolutionary War. Gregory & Gillett fitted it up for hatting, and made wool hats for Seeley. The same year Eden Andrews built a hat shop and hired a man to take charge of his boys and shop in Wildcat District. It was about this time that Joseph Taylor built a shop in Wildcat Dis- trict, and he was followed by Levi Taylor and Timothy A. Ben- edict, each of whom erected shops, and put boys to work. Joseph Hitchcock built a shop in Plumtrees, and Asel Dunning also began hatting about this time. Elam Benedict built a house and shop on the corner of Long Boggs road and moved from the field to the new shop. About 1822 A. C. Hickok built a shop in Long Boggs District, used it a few years, and then moved to Bethel. In 1815 Ebenezer Hickok bought the homestead and shop of Benedict and continued the business.
" About 1815 Starr Ferry moved to the town from Brookfield, having decided to settle near his wife's old home. He purchased of Sandy McLane, on Stony Hill, a little house and erected a hat shop on the east side of his farm. Feeling that his location was not adapted to his energies, in 1820 he sold his farm to Major Dikeman, who converted the shop into a dwelling. He came to Bethel and bought Matthew Barnum's homestead. There being a large cooper shop on the premises, Ferry fitted it up for a hat shop, and finished hats only. He hired himself and shop to I. H. Seeley for a year, Seeley having a large contract with White Brothers & Co., of New York, to make up wool hats for them from wool they had in store. Seeley set the hatters in Bethel generally to work, having only one year to complete the contract.
"Soon after this Centre Street was opened and Ferry took a
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
plot of ground and built a large factory on the south side of the road where Judd & Dunning's shop now stands. About this time Asel Beebe, Levi Beebe, and Stiles Wakelee built shops in the village.
"Sherman Ferry, previous to the opening of Centre Street, pur- chased the Sturges homestead and built a hat shop on it, which he occupied for some time. After Centre Street was opened he sold out, and it fell into the hands of Oliver Shepard. Shepard died there. Ferry and his brother moved into Centre Street.
"In 1822 Asel and Levi Beebe's shop was burned down. The following year they erected a new shop on the old site.
"There were a number of shops in the district of Wolfpits. Abel Hoyt, father of G. M. Hoyt, of Danbury, had a shop, where he made hats, which he sold in an unfinished state. After he left the business two of his sons, Starr and Selleck O., com- menced the business. Starr left Wolfpits and removed to Grassy Plain, opposite the house of James Morrow. Selleck O. went to Poughkeepsie.
"Eli Morgan had a shop near Abel Hoyt's, and made a good many hats, also sold in unfinished state.
"Eleazor Taylor's shop was near where Samuel Mead resides. His son Alva was connected with him. Daniel P. Shepard also was a manufacturer, afterward D. P. Shepard & Son. Loderick S. and Charles Dart were in partnership. Charles Dart went to New Orleans and opened a store.
"The Seeley boys, both of whom have but recently died, mar- ried young. Isaac H. took the old shop and was a partner with his father for many years. Seth built a store on the ground now occupied by E. S. Barnum."
The following is taken from Part 5-6, Annual Report of the Connecticut Bureau of Labor Statistics :
"Previous to 1885 there was almost continual war between the hat manufacturers and the hat makers and finishers of Dan- bury. It is not necessary here to go into a history of the diffi- culties ; there were many of them, and they were most stub- bornly contested. The advantage apparently rested with the manufacturers, but untiring diligence was required to maintain this advantage. The rise of the Knights of Labor put a new aspect on industrial affairs throughout the country. That or- ganization seemed in a way to control wages more widely than
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
they had ever been controlled by labor organizations. In the fall of 1885 a committee of five was appointed by the directors of the National Associations of Fur Hat Finishers and Makers ' to confer with the manufacturers of fur hats in regard to the present state of trade, and the way to improve it, and the con- dition of those engaged in it.' The invitation set forth that 'as the best means of accomplishing the desired object ' the com- mittee 'respectfully invite the fur-hat manufacturers to unite in an organization to act in concert with our associations in the adoption of such measures as will tend to establish and maintain harmonious relations between the manufacturers and their em- ployés, and promote the best interest of both parties.' The com- mittee pledged their respective associations to co-operation 'in a spirit of harmony and conciliation in all reasonable and proper efforts to improve the condition of the trade, and to make it more profitable both to the manufacturers and their workmen.' The members of the committee were : James Graham, N. H. Hughes, John Seymour, Herman Kaiser, and Richard Bill.
" Prominent manufacturers recognized the importance of the movement, and immediately issued to the hat manufacturers throughout the country, for signatures, the following answer to the invitation :
"'The undersigned fur-hat manufacturers, approving the spirit and purpose of the foregoing invitation, hereby agree to organize an association for the objects therein stated, and to meet for that purpose when this paper shall have been presented to all of the parties now engaged in the business, in the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Penn- sylvania, and the signatures of three fourths obtained hereto.'
" Mr. Edmund Tweedy, of Danbury, was the first signer, and accordingly, October 15th, 1885, he felt justified, from the num- ber of signatures obtained, in calling a convention to be held in the city of New York, October 28th. At that convention sixty- three manufacturers were present. Twenty-five others had signed, who were not present, making eighty-eight interested in the movement. Twenty-two were from Danbury, nine from Bethel, and eleven from South Norwalk. It was estimated that fully 95 per cent of the capital invested in the fur-hat business of the country was represented. Mr. Tweedy clearly explained the situation. The following are extracts from his address :
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
"'To any one who will read the signs of the times, it is plain that the labor question in this country is assuming an importance that brings it to the front of all other questions. It is only necessary to glance at the daily papers, with their lengthy record of strikes, lockouts, boycotting, and violence, to see that the relations between labor and capital are becoming much strained, and that there is likely to result a condition of affairs which will bring great trouble and distress upon those who labor, and loss and disaster to capital.
"' It is evident that the contests between the two are becoming more frequent, of greater magnitude, and are productive of more bitterness of feeling than at any previous period in the history of the country. It becomes the duty of every good citizen, and, particularly, of those who, from their situation, are liable to become engaged in the conflict, to consider well the causes of these disturbances, and whether or not there is a remedy. . . .
"' It is safe to say that in many a factory, for the last two or three years, the wheels have been turned for the sole benefit of the workers, while the owner has been content if the end of the year found him in no worse financial condition than the begin- ning. Doubtless there may have been many instances where the workmen have protested most vigorously against the scanty rewards of their toil, and cursed the injustice of capital, while they were getting all and the employer nothing ; and doubtless, too, there have been many instances where greedy capital has fattened and thrived upon the sufferings and deprivations of honest labor. Each can readily see his own wants and difficul- ties, but has not so clear a vision for those of the other. .
"' It is plainly evident that, for some time past, the workmen in our trade have not been satisfied with their share of the profits of the business. With few exceptions, I think that the same re- mark will apply to the employers. It is undeniable that taking into account dull seasons, when the workman has but little to do, his gross earnings have been insufficient to provide him with the comforts of life, to which he feels that he is entitled. At the same time, the margin of profit to the manufacturer, if any- thing, has not been sufficient to make him anxious about invest- ing his surplus. . . . The tendency of prices for our products has been constantly downward, until they have reached a point without parallel probably in the recollection of the oldest vet-
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eran in the business. I am satisfied that but a small proportion of this decline in prices has been met by a corresponding reduc- tion in wages. I know it to be a fact in my own experience that the cost of labor in proportion to the selling price of the manu- factured products is much greater to-day than at former periods where labor has felt that it was fairly compensated, and I have no reason to believe that this experience is exceptional.
"' Be this as it may, it is evident that the journeymen hatters of to-day are not satisfied with their earnings, and they are in- tent upon increasing them. . . .
"'But it is apparent that there are wise heads among these journeymen, who perceive the advantage of gaining their end by peaceable means, rather than by attempting it by forcible meas- ures which might end in disaster, and they have had sufficient influence with their associates to bring them to acquiesce in their views, and consequently we find them pausing in their compul- sory schemes and offering us the olive branch in the shape of the invitation which has brought us together here to-day.
"' I will venture to say that the situation in which we find ourselves is without precedent in this or any other country. For the workingmen in a trade to ask their employers to organ- ize themselves into an association is a fact so surprising that we may well question its significance. The fact itself seems to me to place the sincerity of the journeymen beyond all doubt ; for labor is naturally distrustful of organized capital, and they can- not be unconscious of the power which such an organization will give us ; and it also shows their confidence that the power will not be unjustly used against them. They are entitled to equal sincerity and the same confidence on our part.
"'What, then, does this invitation mean ? It means, as I understand it, that the journeymen believe it is for the best interests of both parties that they and we should live in peace and harmony together, and that by mutual interchange of views, and by concert of action, it is possible to improve the condition of trade, remove many of its difficulties, and make it more profit- able to all parties. They perceive that to attain these ends it is necessary that there should be thorough organization of the em- ployers as well as of the workmen ; and they invite us to form such an organization, and pledge themselves to co-operate with us in all reasonable and proper efforts to accomplish the desired
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objects. Their plan contemplates, as I am advised, the admis- sion of all those at present employed in the trade into their asso- ciation, the bringing of independent shops under reasonable association rules, the appointment of committees of conference, representing both parties, to consider matters of interest to the trade, and the adoption of joint measures which will give to the joint organizations the practically absolute control of the busi- ness. Of course, the primary object that the workman has in view is the increase of wages ; but he is willing that it should be accompanied by increase of profit to the manufacturer. Are these objects desirable ? To me they appear eminently so. If by means of such organizations the relations between employers and employed could be adjusted upon an enduring and satisfac- tory basis ; all causes of strife and contention removed ; the wages of the workingman and the profit of the manufacturer increased ; strikes and turnouts prevented ; "shop calls" regu- lated ; differences settled by arbitration ; stated times for fixing prices for labor established ; reasonable regulations for the em- ployment of apprentices provided ; the health and comfort of the workmen looked after ; and other matters of like character discussed and regulated, who would say that such results would not be worth any sacrifice that they might cost ? . . .
"' Those of us who have independent shops are called upon, if this plan is carried into effect, to surrender the advantages which are supposed to accrue from such independence in return for the benefits to be gained through organization, while those whose shops are already under society rule have nothing to sur- render, but everything to gain. On the other hand, it must be remembered that the shops which are under association rule have a present security in that fact, while the independent shops are threatened with attack, and their right to exist challenged. It is for the proprietors of these independent shops, then, to consider well the comparative loss and gain involved in the pro- posal before us. On this point I feel qualified, from my experi- ence with both systems, to speak, and I propose to express my views with entire frankness.
" 'This position I have taken and contended for, not because I did not freely acknowledge the right of organization upon the part of journeymen, but because I wished to protect myself against what I believe to be the unjust and unreasonable acts of
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Annaque Domin- --- 1722- Signed and Scaled in -- - presence of -
beniamin : barnum Pier
John Gregory phraim Gregory
mark DanGary September 1 1 de 1722 Binjamin Barnum tenne Barnum tij wik Subscribers to the above surton frufrument. personally agood and achocontigo the same to be there free and Brothertary CL-
John Gregory Justice.
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their associations ; and I have maintained it because I have not seen until now any satisfactory security offered that the acts complained of would not be repeated. I believe that no reason- able member of a hatters' association to-day will deny that their acts have sometimes been unjust and unreasonable. I believe, too, that many of the offensive regulations, against which I have heretofore protested, have been repealed, and I feel sure that if the plan which is now proposed is carried out, every objection- able feature will be removed. A "fair" shop, controlled as I know some have been controlled in the past, will give its owner a foretaste of the torments that await the wicked ; but, con- ducted on the principles which I have indicated, I could almost imagine it a paradise on earth.
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