History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 67

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 67
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The company is engaged in the manufacture of mohair pile goods, being one of the first in the country to engage in that industry. The raw material used, with the exception of the warp, is the fleece of the Angora goat, and is imported mostly from Asia Minor. It is famed

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for its fineness, and the products here made are of the most beautiful and varied nature, embracing plushes for dress goods and rich uphol- stering. The fine mill buildings are supplied with rare machinery, and many skilled laborers are employed. The plant also embraces many tenements and other property arranged for business purposes.

The manufacture of paper has been an established industry at Sey- mour more than 80 years. The first mill was built in 1805 by General Humphreys, and paper was there made by hand, after the manner of those times. He soon sold out to Worrull & Hudson, who disposed of the mill, in 1816, to Ebenezer Fisher and Henry Le Forge. The fol- lowing year Samuel Roselle began working in the mill and later had an interest in it.

In 1825 the mill was enlarged, and paper was made by machinery. In 1831 it was sold to the Humphreysville Manufacturing Company, which commenced making paper in May, that year, with four hands, but soon increased to 18. Printing, tissue and colored papers were made. In 1843 the mill was taken by George L. Hodge, Samuel Ro- selle and Sharon Y. Beach, who continued as Hodge & Co. two years. In 1845 the mill and a five years' lease of the site was sold to Ezekiel Gilbert, Sharon Y. Beach and Samuel Roselle, who manufactured as Gilbert, Beach & Co., and produced fine printing paper. The water lease expiring in 1850, Sharon Y. Beach purchased the interests of his partners, and secured a new site for his mill, at Blueville, on Bladen's brook, a mile above its mouth. Paper making was discontinued June 15th, 1850, the mill torn down and rebuilt at the new site to permit work in it September 2d, 1850. Here the interest has since been car- ried on, and has become widely known as the Beach Paper Mill.

This site had been improved many years before by Titus Beach, to furnish power for a fulling mill. The water supply was increased by building larger reservoirs, and the mill was enlarged in 1859 and at later periods. In 1880 the interest passed to the S. Y. Beach Paper Company, composed of Mr. Beach and his four sons: George W., An- drew Y., Sharon D. and Theodore B., who have since successfully car- ried it on. In 1885 the old mill was burned, when a substantial brick building was at once erected on the site. The stream is given a 25 foot fall, and steam power is also used, giving the mill a large capacity, and many varieties of paper are produced.

The Smith Paper Mill, near the mouth of Bladen's brook, is more than half a century old. The privilege at that place, including the next power above, was purchased in 1831 by John S. Moshier and John C. Wheeler, who disposed of the latter to Newell Johnson. He put up a small machine shop, and later Raymond French and others used it for an auger factory. In October, 1845, they sold to George De Forest and George L. Hodge, who converted it into another paper mill. At the lower site Moshier got the paper mill in operation in 1832, but sold out to Wheeler the next year, who leased it to Daniel White. Sylves-

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ter Smith and Samuel Bassett were among his employees. In 1837 they formed a partnership and leased the inill, which they bought in 1840. On taking charge they made wrapping paper out of straw, this being the first mill in the state where that kind of paper was made. The building was burned January 29th, 1847, but was soon rebuilt, and the business prospered. Some time in 1851 they also purchased the De Forest & Hodge paper mill (where large quantities of fine printing paper had been made), and operated both on paper and cleaning and grinding rubber, selling the latter property in 1854 to Austin G. Day.

Of the old mill Sylvester Smith became the sole owner in 1856, re- tiring at the end of ten years, since which time his son, W. W. Smith, has been at the head of the business, purchasing the property in 1870. The mill was burned March 13th, 1863, and the rebuilt mill was sup- plied with improved machinery. In 1867 it was enlarged and steam power added. For a third time the mill was burned, January 11th, 1869, the loss being $30,000. On this occasion Amasa Trowbridge lost his life while attempting to save his neighbor's property. In 1871 water power from the Rimmon pond was supplied, and November 10th, that year, the mill was for the fourth time burned. The present mill, on the old site, is used in the production of the finer grades of manilla paper.

About the same time that De Forest & Hodge began paper making on Bladen's brook the Rimmon Paper Company was formed, Septem- ber 9th, 1846, and the mill at the mouth of Little river placed in charge of Lewis Bunce. December 23d, 1848, this paper mill was burned, but was restored and continued under the management of Bunce. In 1849-50 he manufactured printing paper and clothiers' boards. A few years later the property passed to the Douglass Manufacturing Com- pany, for use in producing boring tools.

In 1887 a part of the latter plant was used by the American Tin Zinc Company (Limited), of which W. J. Wilder was the superinten- dent. The venture did not succeed at this place, and after a few years was removed.

In the period when Smith & Bassett were most active in paper making they used a part of this power in grinding and cleaning rub- ber, but after 1855 the rubber business became a separate industry at Seymour, being fully established here that year by the Day brothers.

The A. G. Day Caoutchouc Company was incorporated April 24th, 1855, with a capital of $75,000, to manufacture vulcanized hard rubber goods under the Nelson Goodyear patent of May 6th, 1851. Julius Day was the president of the company, and other members were Aus- . tin G. Day, Henry P. Day and Thomas Sault. The old De Forest & Hodge paper mill, on Bladen's brook, was fitted up for the new indus- try, and the site has since been occupied. March 18th, 1864, the rub- ber mill was burned, when a better, more commodious factory was erected in its place, which has been finely equipped. In 1890 the A.

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G. Day Company was here engaged in the manufacture of Kerite in- sulated wire for electric uses, with W. R. Brixey as the superintendent. At the same place was also the firm of H. P. & E. Day, engaged in the manufacture of hard rubber stationery goods and surgical appliances. The combined interests give employment to many men, and the plant is one of the most attractive in the town.

The auger and edge tool interests have for scores of years been among the most important in this part of the valley. The pioneer tool manufacturer at this place was Walter French, who came to Seymour from Mansfield. He made augers in a shop at the corner of Hill and Pearl streets, having Colonel Ira Smith as an associate. He next had a shop on West street, near Swan's upper factory. He was afterward superintendent of Clark Wooster's shops, which stood on the river bank, opposite the Swan Works. In 1844 he removed to Westville, but his sons, Wales and Warren, continued here longer, identified with the tool business.

In 1837 the auger makers were Walter French, at his West street shop; Gilbert & Wooster, at the corner of Main and Hill streets, and Raymond French, where is now the Day factory, on Bladen's brook. The latter first occupied the shop put up by Newell Johnson, after 1832, and in 1839 and later had Hiram Upson as a partner, when they purchased the property. In 1841 the French auger shops were burned, but were immediately rebuilt. Soon after John Dwight and Timothy Dwight were associated with him, the firm being Raymond French & Co. They extensively manufactured augers, chisels and plane irons, and finding the works too small, sold them in 1845. In the meantime the firm had put some machinery in the building at the mouth of Little river, and with a view of securing more power, Raymond French had, in 1844, built a new dam on the Naugatuck at Kinneytown, be- tween Seymour and Ansonia, but was persuaded to sell that property to Anson G. Phelps. In 1847 French & Dwight commenced the Rim- mon pond, building the west wall and abutment. More work was done on it in 1849, when the project appears to have been abandoned. Later the dam was completed by the Rimmon Water Company, which was incorporated July 13th, 1866. The work was placed in charge of Raymond French, who so vigorously pushed it that the pond was com- pleted and the gates closed October 27th, 1867. The dam lias an over- flow plate 300 feet long, and there is a fall of 19 feet. The entire cost was about $65,000.

In this period of preparing new sites, the works of French & Dwight were located in a large frame building on the canal, from the falls dam, in which locality they remained as long as they manufactured these goods. On the 15th of March, 1849, their shop was destroyed by fire, when the brick shops in that locality were built and occupied by the firm. In this year (1849) there were in the village as tool man11- facturers, besides the above firm, three establishments on Little river

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-Hiram Upson, French, Swift & Co., and Clark Wooster, the latter having an ax factory near the site where is the upper James Swan factory.

At the lower site an auger shop was put up as early as 1837 by Timothy Dwight, and was occupied by various firms, besides Upson. In 1852 it was the property of H. A. Radford, who united with Hiram Upson and Lucius Tuttle in forming the Upson Manufacturing Com- pany in the fall of that year. The company did not continue more than half a dozen years, and in 1859 Charles Douglass became the owner of the property. Since 1877 it has belonged to James Swan, the successor of the Douglass Manufacturing Company, which was estab- lished in 1856 for the manufacture of mechanics' tools. Two factories were used: the one at Seymour on boring tools, and another at Arling- ton, Vt., on edge tools. The latter was also transferred to Seymour in 1876. The works of the company were sold to F. L. Ames in 1860, who soon expanded the business. He had secured the exclusive right to manufacture Cook's patent boring implements and he found the lower factory too small for his needs. Accordingly he built the fac- tory on Little river, next above, when his capacity was much increased. In 1873 James Swan's upper factory was consolidated with the lower two, and since that time the three factories have been operated under one system. Under the ownership of James Swan they have been much improved and equipped as completely as any other similar fac- tories in the country. More than 100 skilled mechanics are employed, and the products embrace a large variety of goods, many of them being articles invented by Mr. Swan, who is a tool maker of many years' ex- perience.

F. H. Beecher's auger works are between the upper and the lower Swan shops. They were established in 1847 by the firm of French, Swift & Co., which was composed of six practical mechanics, viz .: Charles Swift, Warren French, John F. Marshall, Lemuel Bliss, H. B. Beecher and H. A. Radford. These were usually called the "six part- ners," and all were skilled in their avocation. They began business with the determination to produce the best goods possible and to sell them as American products, fully stamped with the name of the firmn. In a few years they had not only overcome the prejudice which led to a preference for foreign goods, but had established a standard of ex- cellence for their wares which caused them to be greatly in demand. This enviable position has since been maintained, these works produc- ing some of the finest goods in this country. In 1866 H. B. Beecher, as the only surviving "partner," became the sole proprietor of the works. In 1875 his son, F. H. Beecher, became the manager, and after his father's death in 1880, the owner of the establishment, which he has since successfully operated on the original line of goods.

In the buildings of the old Humphreysville Manufacturing Com- pany, boring tools have been made since 1875 by a firm doing business

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

under the title of that company. Originally there were four members: George H. Robinson, David R. Cook, Norman Sperry and Marcus Sperry, the two last named alone continuing in 1890. Several large buildings are occupied, and there are three forging rooms. The best steel is used in the manufacture of quarter bits and quarter augers, sev- eral thousands being produced daily. Several score of men are em- ployed.

At the same place are Louis E. Garrett and Samuel A. Beach, who formed a partnership in 1876 for the manufacture of German pattern bits, electricians' tools and goods of a kindred nature. A dozen men are employed.

From the river at this point is also afforded power for the Tool De- partment of the New Haven Copper Company A building 60 by 125 feet is occupied, and the power is given by an immense breast wheel. Large quantities of augers are there made, many men being employed by the company on that line of work since 1883.

Several other corporations were for short periods engaged in pro- ducing augers, among them being the Seymour Manufacturing Com- pany, incorporated October, 1852. Among the members were John L. Hartson, Charles Spencer and F. D. Burns. In a few years the company passed out of existence.

The New Haven Copper Company, as the successor of the Hum- phreysville Copper Company, dates its existence from 1849. In that year the latter corporation was formed by Raymond French, S. C. Johnson, J. W. Dwight, Harrison Tomlinson, George Rice, Sheldon Kinney and others, the nominal capital being $40,000. In 1852 a re- organization took place, the capital, which had previously been in- creased to $100,000, being fixed at $200,000, and a large part of the stock was taken in Seymour. The works on the canal were much en- larged and the business, which had been very lucrative up to this time, was now considerably extended. A wharf and mill were built at East Haven, and in 1853 the company was authorized to build a breakwater at that point for the protection of its vessels when lying at the wharf. Soon after the profits of the company decreased, and it was found necessary to increase the capital stock to $400,000. But even that amount was insufficient to tide the company over the difficulties which beset it, and a new Humphreysville Copper Company was incorpor- ated in 1855, with an authorized capital of $1,000,000. This was not fully organized, but instead the New Haven Copper Company was formed, November 21st, 1855, with a capital of $400,000, and succeeded to the business. Among those interested in the latter corporation were John W. Dwight, George R. A. Ricketts, William Cornwall, George F. De Forest and William W. Goddard. In 1857 assets to the amount of $615,000 were claimed, with less than one-half that amount of liabili- ties, but the stringent times affected the company, so that another re- organization was necessary. In 1874 the present company was incor-

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porated, and under this management the corporation has prospered. Thomas James was elected president and Franklin Farrel secretary. In 1890 the company had a capital of $200,000 and the following direc- tors: Thomas L. James, president; C. W. James, secretary and treas- urer; George A. James, Lewis A. Camp and Franklin Farrel.

The plant at Seymour covers about three acres of land, well cov- ered with buildings, some being erected as early as 1849. Nearly all of them are of a very substantial nature, the walls being of granite or brick, and the roofs of metal. The main rolling mill is 100 by 200 feet, and has ten sets of rollers. There are also large stamping, forg- ing and polishing shops, all of which are well equipped and having water and steam power-the entire establishment to the aggregate of nearly 600 horse power.

The company is engaged in the manufacture of braziers' and sheath- ing copper, finishing and polishing in a manner peculiar to this es- tablishment, after a process invented by Thomas James and patented by him September 12th, 1876. This process secures a permanent pol- ish, which has given the products of the company a wide reputation. From 125 to 150 hands are employed.

The Seymour Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1880. The business of this extensive corporation was established in 1878 by H. B. and W. H. H. Wooster. A small mill was put up below Rim- mon Dam, in which about half a ton of brass goods was manufactured daily. In May, 1880, this business passed into the hands of the above company, which organized with a capital of $30.000, Nathan S. John- son, president; W. H. H. Wooster, secretary and treasurer, and L. T. Wooster, superintendent. The latter two have since served as first elected, and under their management the company has greatly pros- pered. In 1882 the capital was increased to $75,000, Carlos French and Edmund Day becoming interested. In 1886 a further increase was made to $200,000; and in April, 1890, to $250,000, Charles H. Pine being the president of the corporation.

Under the direction of L. T. Wooster, who is one of the pioneer metal workers in the Naugatuck valley, and who has devised many useful machines in this line of manufactures, the capacity of the works was increased to eight tons per day. January 2d, 1887, the main mill was burned, but was at once rebuilt. The new mill is a fine brick and iron structure, 160 by 190 feet, and is practically fire-proof. In 1885 the rolling of copper goods was added, and structures were put up for that industry, a building 30 by 150 feet being devoted to the manu- facture of brazed tubing. The plant has 600 horse power from the river, and steam to the extent of 500 horse power.

The company makes a specialty of rolling brass, producing about 15,000 pounds per day, and the mills have a capacity for hot rolling 15 tons daily; but immense quantities of copper, nickel, silver and

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

other metals are also produced. Steady employment is given to about 200 hands.

The United States Pin Company is located at Seymour. The manufacture of pins, by machinery invented by William and Thad- deus Fowler, was begun about 1858, in the old mill of Samuel Maltby, at Northford. In 1860 the interest was transferred to Seymour, where a place was found for it in the old machine shop of the abandoned car works, where the mantifacture was carried on by the above company. In 1861 its first report at Seymour indicated a capital of $37,000, with H. Hotchkiss as president. In 1890 Henry L. Hotchkiss was the president, and L. H. Bristol the secretary. For a number of years John Smith and Mark Lounsbury manufactured pins on contract for the company, the latter alone operating the past five years. The fac- tory is supplied with 47 machines, each capable of producing 125 ada- mantine pins per minute.

The Fowler Nail Company is an important interest. Thaddeus Fowler was a very ingenious man, inventing among other contrivances, a machine for making horseshoe nails. This became the property of a corporation, organized in 1866, with the above name, which had among its members, at Seymour, Fowler and Carlos French. The latter has retained an interest in the company, and for many years has been its president. Operations were first begun in the old cotton mill, but after half a dozen years, the present plant below Rimmon pond was occupied. This building had been erected for the manu- facture of wire, but was not occupied for that purpose. The capacity of the works has been greatly increased, and the vulcanized nails manufactured have become a staple article. From 75 to 100 men are given employment.

The American Car Company was organized in May, 1852, and had J. H. Lyman as its president. Timothy Dwight, Raymond French and J. W. Dwight were the majority of the directors on the 14th of that month, when they certified that the capital stock was $150,000. In September it was increased to $200,000, the additional stock being taken mainly by the Dwights and Lyman, who were the chief pro. moters of the enterprise. Five large frame buildings were occupied, extending from the raceway near the old cotton factory on the flat to a point above the railway depot. The lower building, which was the machine shop, is still standing, being used as the pin factory. To most of the other buildings tracks extended, and the cars, which were being built were drawn from shop to shop by horses. After four or five years' successful operation, which gave employment to many men, the company transferred its interests to Illinois, and about 30 families removed from the village in consequence.

The French Railway Splice Company was organized January 20th, 1862, for the purpose of manufacturing railway splices and other de- vices pertaining to railroads. Among those interested were Raymond

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

and Carlos French and Franklin Farrel. The company was not long in business at this place, but for a number of years afterward Carlos French successfully manufactured car springs of his own invention, occupying the basement of the old cotton factory. That industry has also been discontinued.

Raymond French, the pioneer manufacturer, to whom Seymour owes much of its development and prosperity, in the later years of his life occupied a part of the stone shops erected by him in 1849, in the manufacture of steel plated ox shoes. He died February 19th, 1886.

The Seymour Electric Light Company was organized October 1st, 1889, with a capital of $15,000 and the following directors: Edmund Day, president; F. H. Beecher, treasurer; Carlos French, A. B. Dun- ham, L. T. Wooster and S. R. Dean. O. L. Dibble was appointed sec- retary of the company. An electric plant for the Thomson-Houston system was located at the mouth of Bladen's brook, taking water power from the Rimmon dam to operate it. There is an arc light dynamo of thirty 1,200 candle-power lights and one for 650 incandescent lights, of 16 candle power each. A large circuit was established, and since March, 1890, the plant has been in successful operation. In October, 1889, the town of Seymour voted to contract with the company for 10 arc and 34 incandescent lights, to be illuminated from the first of April, 1890, 25 nights each month, for the space of three years. The village was well lighted in the summer of 1890.

The oldest school district in the town of Seymour was the one at Great hill, which was long known as the Eighth district in Derby, and after the organization of Seymour as the First district in that town. The earliest records bear date 1767, and pertain to the hiring of teach- ers for both summer and winter schools. Henry Tomlinson was the district committee man, and Samuel Bassett the collector of school rates. In 1770 Henry Wooster was the teacher. Among the patrons of the district were: Benjamin Tomlinson, Micah Poole, Jonathan Miles, Samuel Russell, Joseph Canfield, George Beard, Captain John Lum, James Manville, Zachariah Fairchild and John Hawley.

In 1780 the schoolmistress was paid six shillings per week, or a shilling per day. In 1784 it was voted to build a school house on the highway, near John Hawley's. The following year a tax was laid to finish the building. In 1801 the summer school was held in the Great hill meeting house, and the winter session in the school house. In 1810 Jared Mansfield and John Smith were the committee, and Captain J. Nettleton was the collector. "Voted that wood per load should be 84 cts., and boarding the teacher 7 cts. per meal, or 873c. per week."

This district was not long after reduced in area, and since being a part of Seymour has been further subdivided. In the present district new school houses were built in 1832 and in 1877.

On the east side of the river and below Rock Rimmon a district was next established. A site for a house was deeded in 1769 by Joseph

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Johnson, and the building put upon it was occupied many years. In 1799 this district was known by the name of Chusetown, and Calvin Lines was engaged to teach at $11 per month. The school house was enlarged and repaired in 1804, the building being painted a Spanish brown. The district was already populous, notwithstanding it had, like the one on the west side, been diminished by division. In 1812 two schools were taught in the district, both male and female teachers being employed. Stiles Johnson was elected a committeeman "to employ a school Dame."

In 1814 the name of Humphreysville first appeared in the school records, and measures were taken about this time to build new houses. The one which became known as the Bell school house was erected by an association of neighbors, the property being divided into 100 shares of stock, which were held in 1816 by John Wheeler, Newell Johnson, Elias Gilbert, Bradford Steele, John Humphreys, Jr., General David Hum- phreys, Chester Jones, Seba Moulthrop, Stiles Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Edmund Steele, John Riggs, Silas Baldwin, Samuel B. Hine, Joseph Johnson, Josiah Swift and David Thompson. In 1830 the school so- ciety purchased the house.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 67

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138