History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 98

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

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owner and D. B. Smith, whose large manufacturing interests lay farther up the river.

About 1845, W. MeNary, a wheelwright by trade, had a turning-shop and melodeon manufactory on the east bank of the river, near the "Kingdom" bridge. These works were afterwards purchased by Caleb C. Goodwin, who fitted them up for a blacksmith's shop, which purpose they served for a number of years.

INTERESTS AT NEPAUG.

The first mention of the Nepash water-power being utilized for the benefit of the town is on the tax-list of 1753, when Zebulon Merrill is rated at fifty pounds for a grist-mill and one-third of a saw-mill. The other owners of the saw-mill were Ephraim Andrus, Abram Kellogg, Elijah and Abel Merrill, each one- sixth, valued at five pounds. These mills were not far from the site of the Henderson Manufacturing Company's works, near the place where the turnpike- bridge crosses the Nepash. They were kept up for many years; an old resident remembers that Noah Seymour owned the grist-mill about 1800. The prim- itive saw-mills often had, as accessories, rude facilities for making wooden bowls and trenchers, which util- ized the slabs of the logs. New Hartford kitchens were no doubt supplied in the olden time with these and kindred articles of wooden-ware from the saw- mill manufactory.

In 1850, A. S. Atkins & Co. were running the Ne- paug Wood-Turning Works, and J. V. Green a lock- factory, near the site of the old mills; and about a quarter of a mile to the cast, where the turnpike again crosses the stream, L. II. & L. Burnham carried on an iron foundry, in which they were successors to Bates Brothers, who built the dam and started the business in 1832. All of these are now discontinued. About a mile to the southeast, on a tributary of the river, was J. M. Clements' turning-shop, near which Elbridge Curtis now has a saw-mill. Still farther on the Nepash was a saw-mill, now owned by John Healey, who has recently built a new dam and a small grist-mill.

In 1869 the Henderson Manufacturing Company, James F. Henderson president, was organized for the manufacture of furniture-casters, bed-fastenings, and general hardware, having purchased and enlarged the buildings and water-privilege of the Atkins' Ne- paug Works. This business was afterwards purchased by Forbes & Clark (Rev. S. B. Forbes and Edward Clark), of Winsted, who carried it on a short time, when the shops of the company were burned, Sep- tember, 1875, and the personal property and interest of the concern purchased by D. B. Smith, who re- moved them to his own establishment in Pine Meadow. Thus passed away the last manufacturing interest of Nepaug, which one hundred years ago was the busi- ness centre of the town .*

* Until a recent dato the post-office at this place was New Hartford Centre, now changed to Nepang.

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The first storc of any note in New Hartford was opened at Nepaug, or South End, by Col. Aaron Austin, who took as partner Elias Kellogg, in 1789. The store was connected with Col. Austin's house, which stood a little west of the Congregational church, and directly opposite Col. Norman Kellogg's tavern.

In connection with the mercantile business, they also carried on a potash manufactory. Successors to Austin & Kellogg were Nelson Brothers, who did not remain long in the business. In 1824, Messrs. Tertius Wadsworth and Ilarvey B. Elmore built a store some- what to the west of Col. Austin's old stand, and car- ried on mercantile business until 1826, when they sold out to James F. Henderson, who continued for many years a prosperous merchant. At his death the business was taken by his son, James M. Henderson, who carried it on until the store was burned in 1866. Since that time different individuals have done trading in a small way, and the present postmaster, E. R. Merrill, keeps a few groceries and articles of house- hold necessity to accommodate the neighboring fam- ilies, who are mostly farmers or persons of independ- ent means of living.

PINE MEADOW.

In April, 1806, Roger Sheldon, who kept tavern in what is now the "old boarding-house," bought of Chauncey Sadd a water-privilege in Pine Meadow, and built the dam across the Farmington River at that place. Mr. Sheldon also dug the raceway about half its present width, and built a grist-mill on the site of the building now occupied by A. N. Bragg & Co. Through pecuniary embarrassments, Mr. Sheldon was unable to hold the property. He left town in 1809, and it passed into the hands of Isaac and George C. Kellogg, who purchased of his creditors four hundred acres of land, comprising all of what is now Pine Meadow, from C. W. Gilman's farm (formerly Col. Wells') to the old carriage-shop, and from the top of the mountain on the west to the hills on the east, includ- ing the " Forks," which they cultivated. The Kellogg brothers added to the buildings, and put in machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods, and also an iron foundry. Previous to these purchases the brothers had been engaged with their father, Ebenezer Kellogg, in the manufacture of carding-machines; their shop is said to be now a part of Mrs. Lemley's house. In 1833 the Kellogg brothers divided their property, Isaac taking the foundry and the southern portion, and George C. the northern portion, and sold out onc- half of their water-right to the New Hartford Manu- facturing Company, who built a new mill for manu- facturing woolen goods. In this business the Kelloggs retained a controlling interest, George C. Kellogg being president of the new corporation. The woolen business was carried on until 1844, when the factory was burned, after which George C. Kellogg built a machine-shop for the manufacture of cotton-pickers principally, and carried it on successfully, associating

his son Edward with him in business, under the firm- name of E. Kellogg & Co.

After the fire of 1844, Smiths & Brown (John C. and Darius B. Smith and Sanford Brown) bought out the woolen-works property, rebuilt, and put in a cot- ton-mill. This firm was dissolved at the death of Maj. Sanford Brown, in 1857, and succeeded by D. B. Smith & Co., D. B. Smith eventually buying out the other partners (J. C. Smith and T. Polhemus) and becoming sole proprietor. In May, 1875, the cotton- mill of D. B. Smith was burned, but immediately re- built on a more extensive scale. In the latter part of 1875, his factories being then partially rebuilt, Mr. Smith purchased the personal property of the Hen- derson Manufacturing Company's Caster-Works, re- moving them to Pine Meadow, and carried on this business until 1877, when, having completed his build- ing arrangements, cotton machinery was again put in, and his son, George W. Smith, associated with him, under the firm-name of D. B. Smith & Co.

The business now embraces the manufacture of cotton-duck, furniture, hardware, brass and iron foundry, and saw- and grist-mills. The firm employ abont one hundred and seventy-five hands in all branches of business, and in the cotton factory three thousand spindles are in operation.

About 1845, Freeman Graham, formerly an appren- tice to the Kelloggs, and for a short time engaged in the manufacture of pistols both at the North village and in the old Kellogg machine-shop, bought ont the iron foundry of Isaac Kellogg's heirs, and carried on machine and foundry business in Pine Meadow until 1851, when he failed in business, and in 1852 his property was purchased by Herman Chapin.

After the death of George C. Kellogg, in 1847, his son, Hiram B. Kellogg, took his father's share of the machine business, which continued under the same name until May, 1865, when Edward Kellogg, the senior partner, sold his interest to Philip E. Chapin, when the firm became H. B. Kellogg & Co. In 1866, H. B. Kellogg sold his interest to Philip E. Chapin, who became sole' proprietor, and so continued until the Chapin Machine Company, a joint-stock corpora- tion, was organized in 1870 for the manufacture of knitting-machines, machinery, and all branches of foundry business. This company, of which P. E. Chapin was president and held controlling interest, enlarged the brick machine-shops formerly occupied by Freeman Graham, using the Kellogg foundry, and continued in operation until 1878, when they went into bankruptcy. In April, 1878, the Chapin Manu- facturing Company, P. E. Chapin principal stock- holder, was organized, taking the buildings and machinery of the original concern. This soon went into insolvency, and the buildings, purchased by Ed- ward M. Chapin, are at present writing unoccupied.

In 1826, Messrs. Copeland & Chapin purchased a water-privilege and building in Pine Meadow of the Kellogg brothers, and opened an establishment for the

411

NEW HARTFORD.

manufacture of planes, rules, levels, etc. The senior partner remained in Hartford to attend to the sales of the planes, which were at first their sole produets, Herman Chapin, the junior member of the concern, loeating in Pinc Meadow to superintend the business. In 1828, Mr. Chapin bought out his partner's interest, and soon after erected the present factory, which was then ninety feet front, with a one-story "L" twenty feet long. Extensions have been built from time to time until the building has now a frontage of two hun- dred feet, with three hundred feet in "L's," all two stories high, with all modern improvements as to heating, fire-pumps, etc.

In 1835, Mr. Chapin commenced the manufacture of rules, and was the first manufacturer who applied machinery to the making of these articles, by which improved facilities they are now sold for less than was paid the workmen for their labor forty years ago.

The present proprietor, Edwin M. Chapin, eame into the ownership of the property and business in 1860, when the firm became H. Chapin's Son. After an exceptionally sueeessful business eareer, Herman Chapin died in 1866 at Savannah, Ga., whither he had gone for the benefit of his health. About eighty hands are now employed, and about three thousand dozen rules per month are manufactured, besides planes, hand-serews, levels, gauges, handles, etc.

About the year 1848 a brass foundry was started by Philemon Allen in a frame building which stood near the Kellogg fonndry. After carrying on the business a short time, Mr. Allen sold out his interest to his brother Samuel, who continued the foundry in opera- tion about fifteen years, when the firm became Allen Brothers, Anson J. Allen having become a partner. This firm continued in business some four years, when their foundry was discontinued.

In 1854, L. C. Stephens & Co. commeneed the rule business in Pine Meadow. In 1859 the business was removed to the North village, to a building ereeted for the purpose on the west bank of the river, to which power was carried from the lower Greenwoods mill by a cotton-rope band. In 1864 the business was re- moved to Riverton, where it is still in successful operation.

The firm of A. N. Bragg and Co., manufacturers of saddlery hardware,-snaps, bits, buekles, cte.,-was or- ganized in 1878. The business, which now gives em- ployment to thirty hands, male and female, began with two, and rooms were rented in a wooden build- ing belonging to D. B. Smith. In May, 1880, the firm purchased a water-privilege and the old Kellogg ma- chine-shop, fitted it up, and removed thither August, 1880. Trading interests were established at Pine Meadow some thirty years ago. The village now has two stores, kept by Allen Brothers and George Chapin.

NORTH VILLAGE.

Water-power was first used at the North village for a tannery in 1772, and a bark-mill in 1774, located

near the outlet of Spruce Brook by Messrs. Webb & Denney, formerly of Wethersfield, who were by vote of the town exempted from taxes for seven years, or until their business should pay the cost of building. The inhabitants had heretofore been obliged to carry skins out of town to be dressed, and were pleased in this way to encourage the business of tauning in their midst. In 1797, Joseph Webb, who had returned to Wethersfield, sold the property ; after passing through several hands, it was purchased in 1805 by Elisha Case, of Simsbury, who set up the business of tanning in the buildings erected by Mr. Webb, and carried it on until a short time before his death in 1824. Mr. Case's tannery was said to be the best establishment of the kind in the State. It had connected with it a large eurrying-room, which is now the dwelling-house of his daughter, Mrs. Maria Jones. It was purchased and removed about 1840 by H. H. Bartlett, who fitted it up for a pistol manufactory, and used it for that purpose a number of years; it was renovated for a dwelling-house by Deaeon John Brown. The tan- nery, a large building, was used as a livery stable and barn until about 1850, when it was burned.

In 1786, Messrs. Ashbel Marsh, Sr., and Roger Sheldon built a grist-mill on Spruee Brook, on the southern slope of Cemetery Hill, a little west of the house now owned by Martin Driggs. The miller was Benjamin Skinner, who lived where William Cook now does. The mill continued grinding until it fell into decay. In after-years the water-privilege was used to run a turning-lathe by Whitehead Howd, who was thought by the last generation of boys to owe his name to the hoary locks which erowned bis head.

In 1808 there stood a turning- and cooper-shop under the bank nearly opposite the junction of Brook Street and the Steele road. This was built and used by Mr. Howd, above mentioned. Here, also, Guy Miner, who built the first house on the Steele road, made tubs, pails, and other articles. In 1809 a black- sinith's shop stood on the site of Mrs. John C. Smith's present residence. In the rear of this was a lumber- yard, and still farther baek a eider-mill and dis- tillery, which furnished liquor for the hotel bar, of which Theodore Cowles was proprietor. Gordon W. Cook, who built the house now occupied by Dr. E. D. Curtis, had a blacksmith's shop just south of his house. A potash manufactory and a shoe-shop stood on the site of the Roman Catholic church, and Maj. John Meigs, who lived where Mrs. Dr. Hazen now does and made hats for the town, had his hatter's shop just south of his residence.

In March, 1816, Martin Driggs sold to Michael Kellogg the privilege of taking the water from Farm- ington River, "at or near the riffles in snid river, about thirty rods above Mast Swamp Hill, so called," and of ereeting a dam sufficient to carry n saw-mill, grist-mill, and any other water-works he should choose to erect, also land for buildings. This property ex- tended from the old dam, which was about eighty

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

rods above the present one, to "Sheep Roek," on which the lower cotton-mill of the Greenwoods Company now stands. Mr. Driggs reserved a right to put in a bark-mill, which he did. His tanneries were located near the iron bridge across the Farmington at North village. With his sons Andrew and Hiram, he ear- ried on the business of tanning and shoemaking* sue- cessfully until 1844, when Archibald Ralston bought out the establishment. In 1844, Hiram Driggs again took the tannery, and, assisted by his son Martin, car- ried it on until 1850, when it was discontinued. The old tan-house was used as a barn until 1878, when it was torn down by Thomas C. Wilber, the present owner of the property.

Michael Kellogg erected the first dam on the river, at the upper village, on the privilege purchased of Mr. Driggs, and built grist- and saw-mills, but ap- pears to have soon failed, for Kellogg, Brown & Chapin (George C. Kellogg, Sanford Brown, Herman Chapin) bought out the property, except bark- and grist-mills, and had a large machine-shop thereon until 1833, when the New Hartford Manufacturing Company succeeded to their interest and built a cotton-factory. This corporation failed, and the business went into the hands of the New Hartford Joint-Stock Company, organized in April, 1839, under the same management, viz. : George C. Kellogg, presi- dent; H. Chapin, Isaac Kellogg, directors. This company also failed, and in 1841 leased the cotton- factory to Smiths & Brown, who carried on the cot- ton manufactory until April, 1845, when the mill was destroyed by fire. After this fire Maj. Brown sold his interest in the concern to John C. and Darius B. Smith, who sold the property to the Greenwoods Company, in October, 1845, which was organized with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, Ed- mund G. Howe, of Hartford, president; David F. Robinson, of Hartford, and John C. Smith, of New Hartford, directors; and John C. Smith, resident agent. This company made extensive purchases of real estate on the east side of the river, and immedi- ately rebuilt the cotton-factory, and commenced the manufacture of cotton duek. In 1848 they received a special charter from the Legislature. In 1849 the present dam and new mill were built. The buildings then consisted of a brick mill, one hundred and fifty by fifty feet, five stories high, known as the sheeting- mill, and the lower mill, a frame building, one hun- dred and thirty-five by thirty-five feet, three stories high, with attie; also a saw-mill, since burned, and about twenty-five tenement-houses. Additions and improvements to the buildings of the company have been made from time to time. Another saw-mill has been erected, and the number of tenement-houses is

now increased to seventy-five. In 1878 the dam was raised six feet. The number of persons employed varies from six hundred and fifty to seven hundred, and the number of spindles in operation is twenty thousand. The capital stock of the company is now three hundred thousand dollars. The president is J. E. Turner ; treasurer, Elbert Brinkerhoff, both of New York. Robert R. Smith, son of John C. Smith, to whose energetie management for twenty-five years much of the success of the company is due, succeeded his father as agent in 1871. Howell W. Brown, of New Hartford, has been for thirty years secretary of the company.

Space will permit but a brief mention of the differ- ent manufacturing and industrial interests which have sprung up in the North village of New Hart- ford during the last fifty years. The manufacture of tinware has been carried on continuously since it was begun by Tertius Wadsworth, some sixty years ago. His successor was Henry Jones, whose shop was just south of Mrs. Frazier's present dwelling- house. He carried on an extensive business, and sent peddlers South with goods. Virgil S. Abbott and Henry T. Smith in turn succeeded to the business, the latter commeneing as apprentice for Mr. Abbott, then as journeyman manager for the tinning-works of the Greenwoods Company, and finally proprietor of the establishment which he now manages, which em- braces, besides the manufacture of tinware, plumb- ing and dealing in general hardware.

Carriages and wagons were made forty years ago by Wilson B. Spring, first near the lower end of the vil- lage, and afterwards in a shop, torn down this year, which stood at the foot of Cemetery Hill, on the Town Hill road. The New Hartford Carriage Com- pany was organized in 1867, William Steele, presi- dent; Watson Giddings, H. M. Gates, directors. Their manufactory was on the south bank of Spruce Brook, where it enters the Farmington River. This business was in operation but a short time before it went into the hands of a receiver. Henry M. Gates, who has been a prosperous blacksmith in town for fifteen years, has a carriage manufactory in connec- tion with his smithy, and employs a number of workmen. His shops are at the lower end of the vil- lage, directly opposite the New Hartford Carriage Company's works.

About 1840, Henry Jones and Isaac P. Frisbie (of Harwinton) started a clock manufactory near the dam built by Webb & Denney on Spruce Brook, and made clocks for the Southern market. Owing to heavy losses the business proved unprofitable, and was given up after about four years. In 1845, H. B. & S. Alvord, who came to town to keep store, rented the eloek-shop, and carried on a wood-turning business. It was afterwards rented to different parties, burned, and rebuilt, and used in turn for a sash- and blind-fac- tory, and for the manufacture of planes and gauges. It was a second time burned, and never rebuilt.

* The shoemaker, as distinguished from the cobbler, was also a tanner. The cobbler in town at this time was Thomas Gleason, who, with hia bench and tools, went from house to house, making, mending, and re- pairing. He huilt the first house on Greenwoods turnpike above tho hotel, now owned by Mra. Howard P. Marsh.

413

NEW HARTFORD.

A broom-factory and shook-shop for making sugar- hogsheads for the West Indies was started by William Steele, E. E. Clark & Co. in 1866, in the old clock- shop building. In 1867, Mr. Clark retired from the business, the shook manufacture was discontinued, and in 1874, on the death of Mr. Steele, George B. Bancroft, previously in the employ of the concern, became sole proprietor. Mr. Bancroft built a factory, fronting on a road opened in 1870, near his own resi- dence. This was burned in 1876, but immediately rebuilt on the same site. The business gives employ- ment to ten persons, and one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five dozen brooms are made per week, be- sides brushes, etc.

The manufacture of corset-springs was carried on from 1865 to 1869 by Messrs. Thompson & Purinton, in the building previously used by L. Stephens & Co., opposite the Greenwoods lower mill.

The Greenwoods Scythe Company was organized in 1864 for the manufacture of scythes, edged tools, and agricultural implements. The works of the es- tablishment were at.the upper end of the village, near the western abutment of the Greenwoods Company's dam. This continued in operation until the company was dissolved, in 1871-72, the water-power proving insufficient for the necessities of two large manufac- turing establishments. The tools, machinery, and real estate of the concern were purchased by the Greenwoods Company.

On Trout Brook, a tributary of the East Branch of the Farmington, is a saw-mill, built by Capt. Aaron Richards about the year 1800; this has been en- larged, kept in excellent repair, and continuously running since that time. It is now owned and used for general sawing by John Richards, a grandson of the original proprietor.

West of the village were two old water-privileges, one, formerly used for a saw-mill, about ten feet above the bridge over Spruce Brook, where the new road diverges from the West Hill road; the other, just below the same bridge, where the site of a dam is still plainly visible. This dam, and a shop for the manufacture of saw-handles, were built by Samuel Judd about 1835, and used for that purpose some fifteen years. On East Brook was a good water-priv- ilege, improved as early as 1800 by Jonathan Marsh (3d) for the manufacture of cider-mill screws. After this Edward Strong built a shop at the same place, where he made saw-handles. In 1849, Jeremiah IIal- lock bought the property and started a shingle-mill, which he ran for twenty years or more. A few years since, this privilege, with the grounds adjoining, were purchased by Mr. Nicholas S. Seleninoff, who has erected a residence upon it, and has an ornamental cas- cade in the old wheel-pit.

The first store at the North village was kept by Eliphalet Austin, probably built by him about 1780. This store stood on the site of the brick house at the cross-roads of the village, and was moved off when

that house was built in 1818. Eliphalet Austin was succeeded in business by his nephew Montgomery, son of Col. Aaron Austin. Montgomery Austin was unsuccessful in business, and the property passed into the hands of the Seymour family.

Messrs. Thomas Lee and David Lusk came from Farmington about 1798, and set up the dry goods and grocery trade in a wooden building where the "brick store" now stands. They continued in business for many years.

The "briek store" was built by Tertius Wadsworth in 1823. This has been a trading stand since that time, and is now occupied by the firm of Smith & Spencer. There are at present in this village three stores for the sale of general merchandise, two drug- stores, a tailoring establishment, a harness-shop, two jewelry-stores, a meat-market, a fish-market, a livery stable, three millinery establishments, and four shoe- makers' shops.

BAKERVILLE.

In January, 1752, the following vote was passed in town-meeting :

" Voted, That Datis Ensign may build a dum for a fulling-mill on his own land."

This has not been located with certainty, but, pre- vious to 1752, Eliphalet Ensign, the father of Datis, purchased land on both sides of the brook, corre- sponding to the site which tradition gives to an old fulling-mill in Bakerville, near the building now oc- cupied by Asa Goodwin as a dwelling-house, which was used some fifty years ago as a clothier's shop, where cloth was dressed by - Lyman.

Bakerville, at one time a prosperous manufacturing village, in the southwestern part of the town, may be said to have been founded by Scott Baker, who came from Bridgeport in 1804. On coming to town he lived for a short time near the Harwinton line, then moved to what is now known as the "Spencer place," where he worked at his trade of shoemaking, and commenced the business of tanning in a tub. About 1812 he settled permanently on the bank of the stream, in what is now the village of Bakerville, in a house built by Cyprian Watson, a pioneer of the town, which was inclosed by a log fort, a relic of Indian incursions in the early history of the place. Here Mr. Baker built a tannery, and carried on the tanning and shoemaking business for the remainder of his life. His sons-Beach N., Anthony, and Garrison Baker- enlarged their father's tanneries, built a turning- shop and a clothing manufactory, opened a store, and built up a prosperous village ut Bakerville. John S. Baker, the son of Anthony, put up a steam saw- mill and turning-shop in 1859. A condensed-milk manufactory was for a time in operation at Baker- ville, of which the proprietor was Julius R. Pond. With the death of Anthony Baker, in 1855, the manu- facturing interest of the place declined ; the tannery was burned in 1856, and only the turning-shop and saw-mill are now in operation.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 98

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532