History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 29

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 29

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" The Messrs. Douglas have raised themselves, increas- ing year by year to their present business standing (now from $80,000 to $100,000 per year) entirely by their own inventive genius, artistical skill, and the aptness of their inventions to the wants of the public. And the demand for the labor of their heads and hands is the best evidence that their calculations were based upon no visionary and unsound theory as to what was really needed to supply the deficiency heretofore experienced in finding a suc- cessful, convenient, and cheap mode of forcing water for the various uses to which their pumps, rams, and other hydraulic machines are applied.

"Further on stands the extensive sash and blind, floor- ing, and planing mill of J. W. Baldwin, who is driving a profitable business, and keeps employed some twenty- five hands; and again the tweed or jean mill of the Pameacha Manufacturing Company, with its twenty oper- " Next comes Jesse G. Baldwin, who is largely engaged atives and business of $20,000. Still further on, near the in the silver-plating business, such as tea,, table, and des-

MIDDLETOWN-MANUFACTURING IN 1850.

sert spoons, forks, fish and butter knives, soup ladles, &c., together with the manufacture of patent wire, strengthened brittannia, and common brittannia spoons, wares, which, for beauty of finish, diversity of pattern, and favorable notoriety, will not suffer, we will venture to say, in comparison with anything of the kind made in the Union. * He employs thirty hands and * * does a business of from $60,000 to $75,000 a year.

"Continuing on through the city, we find Cooley & Danforth engaged in getting up the patent abdominal supporters and trusses, of Drs. Banning, Fitch, and Bat- tle. Aside from the painful necessity of wearing these artificial props and supports, it would seemi almost a pleasure to be braced up in so highly finished and beau- tifully wrought instruments. F. A. Hart & Co., employ- ing about thirty operatives in making silk and cotton corset and shoe lacings, welting cord, shoulder braces, &c. Tewksbury & Tuttle, turning out bevels and squares. H. H. Graves & Co., making a very pretty and substantial article of brittannia coffee and tea urns, sugar and cream cups, lamps, and candle sticks, with twelve hands. Nathaniel Bacon, a gentleman quite extensively known as the maker of superior bank and safe locks. H. E. Boardman, manufacturer of gaiter boots to the amount of $12,000 per year, employing some fifteen hands. H. & W. Johnson, making the same style of boots to the amount of $5,000 or $7,000 per year. I. K. Penfield, turning out any quantity of patent grommets. Penfield & Camp are doing a business of $6000 per year in the manufacture of Judd's medicated liquid cuticle, a substitute for sticking and court plasters in surgical oper- ations, and for dressing wounds, a remedial agent that has only to be tried to know its intrinsic value. H. Sal- isbury & Co., exclusively engaged in making gold spec- tacles, to the amount of $20,000 yearly. Gleason & Dickinson, doing perhaps a less, but the same kind of business. C. F. Smith, who has recently commenced the manufacture of sand-paper. This last-named completes the list of wholesale manufacturers in the city."

to $10,000. Kelsey, Wright & Co. get up a fine article of suspender buckles, to the amount of $12,000 to $15,- ooo, and employ some twenty hands. Still further up, or at the Upper Houses, Warner & Noble manufacture hammers of the same styles as those made by W. P. Alli- son, and do about the same amount of business.

"Once more taking. our 'note book,' we will extend observations along the 'Arrowmammett ' River, which rises at Durham, flows through Middletown (Middlefield Society), and empties into the Connecticut, affording many excellent water privileges yet unoccupied, besides those already in use. Commencing at the reservoir, some five miles out of the city, is the horn button factory of Alfred Bailey & Co., who are having a successful run of business. Turning our face toward the city, we succes- sively meet, in their order, the works of Mark Mil. drum & Co., where are made brass and copper wash ba- sins, coal shovels, sifters, &c .; bone grinding mill of An- drew Coe; the Falls Manufacturing Co., at Middlefield Falls, who, with thirty operatives, make suspender twist to the amount of $20,000 per year. This company have just increased the size of their mill, and are otherwise ex- tending business. H. Aston & Co., pistol factory, in the employ of the United States, have fifty hands, and make six thousand pistols a year, worth $35,000. Blasting powder mill of D. C. Rand, with six workmen; the pow- der here made is principally used at the Portland quarries. Paper mill of R. F. Brower; the style is light and heavy hardware wrapping. Carbine factory of North & Sav- age, at work for the United States. This factory is not now under full blast, having just gone through thorough repairs, in anticipation of an enlarged business. Factory formerly known as Starr's Pistol Factory, now occupied by William Ashton, in the manufacture of pistols, and James Tidgeman & Son, try- squares, bevels, and guages. Comb Factory of Buckland, Stearns & Co., who employ sixteen hands and turn off from $25,000 to $40,000 worth of ivory combs annually. It would seeni hardly possible for hu- man skill to invent machinery to work more precise, and we might say delicately, than that used at this establish- ment, or to find ivory combs possessing a more perfect completeness when finished than those made by this firm. And last, though by no means least, the plane factory of Austin Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin has been long and exten- sively known as a maker of joiners' planes, and by none better than those who have had occasion to experience the advantages of a good plane over a poor one. Planes of all patterns are here made to the amount of $25,000 a year, by twenty-eight workmen.

" Again leaving the city, we will spend a few moments among the factories in Upper Middletown. First in the list is that of J. & E. Stevens & Co., who are making wardrobe, coat, and hat hooks, surplice pins, door but- tons, shutter screws, toy and sad iron stands, axes, tack, shoe, and other varieties of small hammers. We might thus go on in enumeration until we had reached the sum of about seventy different articles made at this establish- ment. Half a ton of iron wheels for children's toy wag- ons is here made per week. * * The Messrs. Ste- * vens & Co. employ at their works forty hands, and do a business of from $35,000 to $40,000. William P. Allison "Again, in Westfield Society, a pleasant village some two miles west of the city, there is a never failing stream called 'Willow Bridge Brook,' having its rise in the mountains, and flowing into the Connecticut. There are several unimproved water privileges along its course where a fall of twenty to thirty feet might be obtained with limited expense. Although it is but quite recently that attention has been turned to this stream for its manu- makes hammers of the Allison, Browns, S. F. Claw, Warner, and cast steel stamps, said to be of very desir. able styles and quality, to the worth of $10,000 a year, and keeps employed twelve hands. The Messrs. Norths are manufacturing brass knob chamber or shutter bolts, brass knob barrel, flat shutter, and improved tower bolts; also steel spring square bolts and japanned lifting handles; employ ten hands, and do a business of $8,000 |facturing importance, there are already located here a

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

factory owned by James O. Smith, extensively engaged in making Japan varnish, which has a large sale; the va- rious articles in the line of tin and Japanned ware, which, owing to a superior quality, has a successful competi- tion in market with the foreign make. Mr. Smith em- ploys twenty hands, and supplies a demand for his goods to the amount of $25,000 to $30,000 per year. A mill for weaving coach lace, with some six operatives, owned by J. B. Rose. And the factory of H. H. Graves & Co., where in addition to their works in the city, they make some $5,000 worth of Brittania ware."

WILCOX, CRITTENDEN & Co., manufacturers of ship chandlery hardware, sail makers, awning makers, and boat builders' supplies, are the oldest and largest manu- facturers in their line in the United States, and are located on one of the oldest mill privileges in the town, at the Pameacha. The original buildings were first used by the Pameacha Manufacturing Company, as store houses, and were mostly of brick; the main one being 40 x 50 feet, with an extension 30 x 105 feet, three stories high, and basement since added, together with a black- smith shop, and extensive galvanizing and tinning works.

Both water and steam power are used. The business had its beginning here in a small way. In 1848, Eldridge H. Penfield, from a suggestion made by Benjamin Butler, invented and patented a " brass grommet," or eyelet for sails. He took his uncle, Ira K. Penfield, into copart- nership, and the firm of E. H. & I. K. Penfield made the first sail grommets manufactured in the United States. The business was commenced and carried on for several years, without power, by hand and foot presses, in a very small building in the rear of the drug store, corner of Main and William streets. Each member of the firm worked at the presses, and they employed two young men, one of whom was William W. Wilcox, of the present firm of Wilcox, Crittenden & Co. Eldridge H. Pen- field, in 1850, sold his interest, and young Wilcox was taken into copartnership under the firm name of Pen- field & Wilcox. Business increasing, they moved to number 31 William street, a building previously oc- cupied by Lot D. Vansands in the manufacture of steel pens. Remaining here a few years, the business out- grew hand machines, and was removed to the Power Company Building, corner of Church and Hamlin streets. A steady but not rapid growth had thus far at- tended the business, and it promised well for the future. In 1859, Wilcox sold his small interest to Ira K. Pen- field, invented and patented a new grommet, and began to manufacture by water power, in the basement of the old building known as the Pameacha Manufacturing Company Woollen Mill, owned by Ambrose Wolcott.

made large and important additions to the buildings, in- vented and patented many improvements which have gone into general use, and which are fully appreciated by owners and masters of vessels. Their business re- quires a large blacksmith shop, an iron and brass foun- dry, galvanizing and tinning departments, besides several large rooms for finishing goods, with power presses, drops, lathes, and other machinery, giving employment on an average to 150 hands. The galvanizing department is conducted on a large scale, and deserves special notice. They have five tanks of melted spelter or zinc, one of which holds ten tons, and is never allowed to cool. A new gronimet, recently invented by W. W. Wilcox, com- posed wholly of sheet brass, superior in strength and fin- ish to anything which has heretofore been made, is now being introduced by this house, with every prospect of its coming into general use.

A large and complete assortment of sail makers', ship chandlery, and awning makers' hardware is produced by this well known house. Their success has been the re- . sult of close attention to business, and keeping abreast of the times by anticipating and understanding the wants of the maritime commerce interest of the country.

THE RUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- The man- ufacture of cotton webbing was commenced, in a small way, by Spaulding & Collis, at the mill privilege near the old Palmer place, on the boundary line between the city of Middletown and Staddle Hill, where they erected a brick mill. This was in 1833. The business was not successful, and the firm became involved. Mr. Samuel Russell, who had then recently returned from China, as- sisted the firm at various times, and they being unable to meet their liabilities, the machinery and other property passed into his hands.

In 1834 the Russell Manufacturing Company was or- ganized, with a capital of $100,000. The incorporators were Samuel Russell, Samuel D. Hubbard, George Spaulding, and others. The first officers were: Samuel Russell, president ; George Spaulding, secretary; and Samuel D. Hubbard, treasurer. The company purchased of Mr. Samuel D. Hubbard the mill site and other prop- erty on that part of the Pameacha River now known as the Sanseer River, at South Farms, near the old mill privilege granted by the town of Middletown to Thomas Miller, in 1655. A large brick mill, 80x30 feet, 3 stories high, was erected, and the machinery from the factory of Spaulding & Collis was transferred to the new factory. In 1836 Hon. Henry G. Hubbard (nephew of Samuel D. Hubbard), then but 21 years of age, was invited by the company to join with his uncle in the management of its affairs. For the first few years the business was not suc- cessful; but Mr. Henry G. Hubbard having acquired a thorough practical knowledge of the business, he bent all his energies to make it a success. In 1841 he com- menced the manufacture of elastic web, which had never before been attempted except on hand looms, a single thread at a time. He obtained the services of a Scotch weaver and soon after invented machinery to weave the

Having a limited capital, Joseph Hall jr., of Portland, was taken into partnership, under the firm name of Wil- cox & Hall. In 1869 Mr. Hall sold his interest to Mr. Wilcox, and a new partnership was formed, consisting of William W. Wilcox, E. Bound Chaffee, Albert R. Crit- tenden, and Homer Churchill, comprising the present firm of Wilcox, Crittenden & Co. The new firm brought force, strength, and capital to the business. They have | web in power looms. This was the first successful effort

IOI

MIDDLETOWN-MANUFACTORIES.

ever made in this, and probably in any country to weave elastic web in power looms.

In 1850 Mr. Hubbard purchased his uncle's interest, and not long afterward that of Mr. Samuel Russell. He continued to make further improvements from year to year. As the business increased new buildings were erected and other mill privileges purchased. There are now six large mills in successful operation; three of these at South Farms, viz., two weaving and one spinning mill, a spinning mill at Rockfall, in the town of Middlefield, a weaving mill at Staddle Hill, and a spinning mill at Higganum. These are run both by water and steam power. The three spinning mills contain 15,000 spindles which consume 3, 100 bales of cotton per year, produc- ing 1,200,000 pounds of double and twisted yarn. This thread goes into the dye house at South Farms, where the various colors are produced. It is thence distributed to the weaving mills, where it goes through the process of winding and warping, and is then sent to the looms: There are 400 looms and 5,000 shuttles weaving elastic and non-elastic webbing of almost every variety and pat- tern. Suspender webbing, exquisitely wrought in silk in the most elaborate designs, is all produced by machinery as perfect in its movements as clock work. The sales in this line of goods for 1883 were upwards of $800,000 and for other goods over $100,000.

In the several mills there are over 1,000 men, women, boys, and girls employed, earning from one dollar to three dollars per day. The whole of this immense busi- ness is under the guidance and control of one man. The most perfect system exists in in every department, and the amount of goods made weekly, together with the ex- act cost of production and the amount of raw material consumed, are all shown by the books in such a clear, simple manner that it requires no expert to ascertain the condition of the "Profit and Loss " account. The con- tinued success of the business is owing to a large extent to the co-operation of Mr. Hubbard's faithful subordi nates, many of whom have grown gray in his service, and look up to him with filial pride.

The capital of the company has been increased to $600,000, made up entirely from the profits of the busi- ness, which yield an annual dividend on this amount.

The present officers of the company are: Hon. Henry G. Hubbard, president; Samuel Russell, vice-president; Eugene H. Burr, secretary; and Ernest Deming, treas- urer.

THE GOODYEAR RUBBER COMPANY .- There are few persons past the middle age of life but remember the "gum shoes" worn in their childhood. These were about the only goods made from the gum 40 years ago. It would be difficult now to enumerate the immense variety of goods made from this material; and this indus- try, which was started within the last 30 years, is now one of the largest in the country; and the goods manufac- tured by this company are now found in nearly every part of the known world. The great difficulties attend- ing the manipulation of the rubber in the beginning, from exposure to atmospheric changes, have long since disap-

peared, and the goods, in the process of manufacture, being subjected to different degrees of heat are equally adapted to any climate.

The present company was organized in 1875, and the stockholders were composed of men that had been en- gaged in the manufacture of India rubber goods for up- wards of 30 years. The present officers are: F. M. Shepard, president, 487 Broadway, New York; D. Young, secretary, Middletown, Conn .; J. A. Minott, treasurer, New York. A part of the buildings occupied by the company were erected in 1854, by Henry C. Bacon, and used for the manufacture of mowing machines. The property was subsequently purchased by the Savage Fire Arms Company, and finally passed into the hands of the present company. The buildings, which are of brick, have been enlarged and improved, and now cover up- wards of 50,000 square feet of ground room, and are three stories high. Two large steam engines of 300 horse power are required to run the machinery, and from 500 to 600 hands are employed. Several hundred tons of rubber are used annually in the manufacture of these goods. The principal manufactures of the company are boots and shoes, a large variety of clothing, rubber hose, and a line of goods known as "crack proof," made from strictly pure material, without a particle of adultera- tion. These are the best goods that can possibly be produced from the rubber.

The principal office of the company is at 487 Broad- way, New York. The branch offices are at Boston, Chicago, Buffalo, Milwaukee, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Montreal.

CANFIELD RUBBER COMPANY .- The works of this company are located on Main street, in the rear of the insurance building. The special articles of rubber goods made by this company are the "Canfield Elastic Seam- less Dress Shield," used by ladies to protect their dresses from the effects of perspiration, and the "Canfield Di- vided Rubber Eraser." The late Jared H. Canfield, of this city, the inventor of these specialties, was one of the pioneers in the manufacture of rubber goods. This busi- ness was established in 1882, by a joint stock company, under the name of the I. A. Canfield Company. This name was changed by an act of the Legislature, in 1883, to the Canfield Rubber Company. The names of the corporators were: Ratcliff Hicks, Miss L. C. Hicks, Isaac A. Canfield, and Henry O. Canfield. The first officers were: Isaac A. Canfield, president; Ratcliff Hicks, treas- urer; and Henry O. Canfield, secretary. The present officers are: Ratcliff Hicks, president; D. M. Baldwin, treasurer; and Isaac A. Canfield, secretary.

The manufactory building is 50 by 150 feet in size, and three stories in height. The machinery is driven by a 60-horse power steam engine, and twenty-five hands are employed in the factory.

The business has increased to such an extent, by reason of the large foreign demand for these goods, that a branch manufactory has been established at Manheim, Germany. The goods manufactured here are sold through houses in New York, Chicago, and London.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

W. & B. DOUGLAS, PUMP WORKS .- The manufacture of pumps was commenced in Middletown, in 1832, by William and Benjamin Douglas, who were the pioneers in this enterprise, and from a single pattern and style of pump, invented and manufactured by this firm 52 years ago, the business has increased until upwards of 1,200 different varieties and patterns of pumps are produced by them, together with hydraulic rams and general hydraulic machinery; and the goods are shipped to almost every part of the habitable globe. The business was conducted under the firm name of W. & B. Douglas until after the death of Mr. William B. Douglas, which took place in 1858. - In May 1859, it was incorporated as a stock company by a special act of the Legislature, the stock being owned by Benjamin and the heirs of William Douglas. The officers of the company are: Benjamin Douglas, president; John M. Douglas, secretary and treasurer; Joseph W. Douglas (son of William Douglas), mechanical and general superintendent; and Edward Douglas, assistant secretary. The growth of the busi- ness necessitated increased facilities. Improvements and additions have been made from time to time, and new buildings erected. The present works cover up- wards of two acres of ground. These are fitted up with two large engines of 150 and 250 horse power each. About 300 hands, mostly skilled workmen, are employed. The present capital is $600,000. The goods manufac- tured here have received the first premium medals at Paris, Philadelphia, Vienna, Melbourne, and other parts of the world.

THE ROGERS & HUBBARD COMPANY .- The works of this company are located at Pameacha. The company was organized under the general law in February 1878. The corporators were: John Rogers, Wilbur F. Bur- rows, Maria E. Hubbard, and Gaston F. Hubbard. The first officers were: Gaston F. Hubbard, president; Wil- bur F. Burrows, secretary and treasurer; and John Rogers, superintendent.

The business of the company is the manufacture of bone knife handles and knife scales, elephant ivory, Sitka ivory, and bone collar and sleeve buttons, and fancy articles in bone and ivory, and also bone meal. The company occupies three brick buildings, one 43 by 28 feet, four stories in height; one three stories high, 16 by 40; and one 40 by 24, four stories; all connected. The machinery is driven by water and steam, with an aggregate of 70 horse power. Sixty hands are employed, and the annual sales are from $75,000 to $100,000.

THE MIDDLETOWN PLATE COMPANY .- The business of the Middletown Plate Company, for the manufacture of fine plated ware of almost endless variety and pattern,in tea setts, waiters, pitchers, ice setts, water setts, cake baskets, etc., was established in 1863 by Edward Payne. The company was organized in 1866, under the general law, with a capital of $20,000. The incorporators were: Edward Payne, Henry Bullard, and Elmore Pen- field. The first officers were: Elmore Penfield, presi- dent; Henry Bullard, secretary; Edward Payne, treas- urer. The present officers are: G. H. Hulbert, president;

Thomas H. B. Davis, vice-president; James H. Kelsey, secretary; Edward Payne, treasurer; and Henry Bullard, superintendent. Three large brick buildings on Hub- bard street, 150 by 40 feet, 4 stories high; 145 by 32 feet, 3 stories high; and a frame building 150 feet long, 2 stories high, are occupied by the company. These buildings are fitted up with the latest and most improved machinery, and about 200 hands are employed. The company manufacture mostly standard goods.

THE VICTOR SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, which was formerly the Finkle & Lyon Manufacturing Co., carried on a successful business for many years, producing as high as 22,000 machines in a year. The company was organized in 1864, with a capital of $900,000. The com- pany ceased to do business in 1883.

THE MIDDLETOWN HARDWARE COMPANY .- The works of the Middletown Hardware Company, for the manufac- ture of furniture hardware, are located near those of the Stiles & Parker Press Company. The company was in- corporated under the general law in 1879, with a capital of $10,000. The incorporators were Edward Payne, El- more Penfield, William E. Hulbert and Selah A. Hall. The present officers are: Elmore Penfield, president; William E. Hulbert, secretary and treasurer. The build- ings are of brick; the main building is 35 by 100 feet, two stories high, with three additional buildings, 20 by 30, 20 by 20, and 18 by 25 feet. The machinery is run by a steam engine of about 35-horse power, and the company employs from 25 to 30 hands, mostly skilled workmen.

THE MIDDLETOWN SILK COMPANY .- One of the first attempts at silk culture in this country was made by the Middletown Silk Company, which was organized in Oc- tober 1838. The objects of the company were "to cul- tivate, raise, manufacture, sell and traffic in mulberry trees, mulberry sud, silk worms, and eggs, silk, and cocoons." The capital stock of the company was $10,000. Richard Hubbard was president of the company.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 29

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818