USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume II > Part 38
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362
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
In 1832 he turned his attention to business. Taking up his abode in Meriden, he became the agent for several manufacturing con- cerns. His ability was soon recognized and led to his rapid advancement. At the end of three years he was not only employed as a travelling salesman for Benedict & Burnham of this place, but was also engaged to develop a trade for Baldwin, Burnham & Co. of New York. In 1853 he removed to the West. Returning to Water- bury four years later, he obtained an interest in the business of Benedict & Burnham, and took charge of their store. When the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing company was organized in 1843, he was elected one of the five directors, a position which he held for nine years. In 1853 he united with Israel Holmes and others in the organization of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, and re- mained connected with that corporation until 1869, when with Israel Holmes, L. J. Atwood and D. S. Plume he took part in forming the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing company, of which he became the first secretary. On the death of Mr. Holmes, Mr. Booth became president. In 1873, he withdrew from the cares of active business, although he still remained president and director of the Plume & Atwood company.
Throughout his life, his natural capacity was made to bear prac- tical fruit by his constant application and untiring industry. He wasted neither time or money. In his relations with the several corporations with which he was connected, he showed himself a wise counsellor and shrewd financier, and their success has been owing in no small degree to his far-sightedness and sound judg- ment. His personal wants were few and simple. He had no taste for display, and although he became the possessor of one of the largest fortunes accumulated in Waterbury, he never departed from the quiet and retiring manner of life which he most enjoyed. Yet he was not without sympathy with his neighbors and fellow-towns- men. He took a ready interest and willing part in public move- ments and enterprises. He was a regular attendant and a commun- icant at St. John's church, and was for many years a vestryman of the parish. St. Margaret's school and Trinity church shared with his own church in the enjoyment of his gifts. He was a trustee of the Riverside Cemetery association, and held other positions of trust and confidence.
His death took place July 29, 1886. The Rev. Dr. Rowland, in his funeral discourse, paid this tribute to his memory:
He will be long remembered in the community for his ability as a man of busi- ness, for his perseverance and enterprise, as well as for his genial and kindly nature. But those who knew him best will remember him for his domestic virtues, for his fidelity and affectionateness in the home circle, for his devotion to wife and chil-
302
NISTORY WWW WATERBURY.
Do that he runter Incorrection to business. Taking up his abode in Meriden ho hote agent For several mainfuckupsog .con- Lis ada Um sms coon rogogruved wood ict to bia repid de a trundle sale-nou fur Renediel & Dunstnum of this place, but was als we goged to develop n trade io Baldwin, Burnham & Co. of New Nous. In tasa he removed to the West Returning to Water- lucy four years later, be obtained an interest in the business of Benedict & Buenliani, and took charge of Meir store. When the Benedict & Burnham Manmiacturing company was organized in x843. he was cherten one of the live director, a position which ho held for nine reurs. In i wod with Israel Holmes and
others in the org worst & Haydens, and re-
mainor conne-
mming the
Bunte thing compare
On the Grill of Mr. Holme , 5% 1
president In mais, be & thuren fmc the cure bi active 10
Although he till remained president and director of the Plume & Atwood company.
Throughout his life, his natural capacity was made to hear pro- tical fruit by bis constant application and untiring industry. He mestad neither time or money In his relations with the several operations with walab he was connected, he showed himself a wine ogunsetfor and wherewe Come ,and their success has been dwing Ih go small degres ter sightedness and sound judg ment. Bu personal w mis les and simple. He had no taste For display, and antinight I came the possessor a ce of the largest Initie aceminlater n. Waterbury, he never a and the quiet and retiring manner of life whichde sekre Ta he was not without sympathy with his neloufor- cod 6. louis. tien Le juok a ready interest and willthe suit in move- wmcuts and enterprises He was a regular atedsel and . comomun- reuni DE Si Tuhn church, and was for many cars & ostrymton of the portal S Margaret's school and Trimils Church shared with his pas church in the enjoyment of his griffe Ile was a trustee of the Hiverside Cemetery association, and hell other positions of trust und confidence
His death wie que- Toly 29. 1886. The Rev. Dr. Rowlaml, in his funeral di course, paul this tribute to his memory:
He will be Tome pomer bered in the community for las ability as a man of himi- nest, for his perseverance able enterprise, aswell as for his genial and kindly nature. But those who knew his amit will wemember him for his domestic irthey for be fidelity and affectionatemes har Die bone circle, for Ins devotion to offer soll enni-
Van Slyck & Co Boston
John & Booth
363.
THE PLUME & ATWOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
dren. It is such characters that fill the homes of earth with the spirit of Him who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. In his relations to the church and his intercourse with the world he has shown himself obedient to the precept which bids us " bear one another's burdens."
The Waterbury American said of him: "He was a man of quiet man- ners, of simple and unostentatious modes of life, patient, persever- ing and tenacious of purpose, sound in judgment and not given to mistakes in business." In his home and among his acquaintances Mr. Booth was wont to exhibit a quaint, dry humor, with which it was his custom also to lighten and lubricate the tediousness of busi- ness discussions. Sharp and aggressive in his early years, he mel- lowed and softened with increasing age, and grew more and more liberal with the increase of his means.
On February 19, 1840, Mr. Booth married Eunice Tucker of Oxford, who survived him until August 20, 1894. They had two daughters, Sarah Henrietta and Mary Eunice, the latter of whom is the wife of Edward M. Burrall (see page 208). Sarah was born April 22, 1846, and died in New York city, November 16, 1873. In the Waterbury American of December 3, following, appeared a tribute to her memory, signed "W," which is noteworthy alike for its liter- ary quality and its searching and tender analysis of her character. Her disposition, her attainments, her good works, and especially her taste and skill as a musician, are described in such terms as to enable one, looking back through the haze and dimness of twenty years, to perceive again the fineness of her art and the fascination of her personality.
DAVID S. PLUME.
David Scott Plume, son of David and Aurelia (Hulse) Plume, was born in New Haven, August 22, 1829. He was a member of Lovell's Lancasterian school, and after the removal of the family, in 1835, to Newark, N. J., attended a private school in that city. When fifteen years of age he entered the office of a manufacturer of brass goods in Newark, to learn the business, and "filled all the usual positions of those times, from boy up." In 1852, he began business for himself, establishing a manufactory in Newark and a store in New York city. In this way he became acquainted with the brass manufacturers of Connecticut, and was thus led to pur- chase an interest in the Thomas Manufacturing company. In 1866 he took charge of the business of that concern, and removed to Thomaston with his family. The company was subsequently merged in the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing company, as stated above, and a branch of the business was established in Waterbury.
In 1873 Mr. Plume removed to this city and has since resided here. He is general manager of the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing
364
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
company, and has held the office of treasurer since its formation. He represented the town in the legislatures of 1877 and 1879, has served four years as alderman, and has filled many other responsi- ble positions in public affairs. He is also president of the Fourth National bank, and a director in the Waterbury hospital.
On October 16, 1855, he married Abby Cornelia Richardson of Newark. Their children are Frank Cameron, David Nichols, and Emily. On July 7, 1880, F. C. Plume married Sarah Andrews, daughter of the Hon. S. W. Kellogg. On October 10, 1884, D. N. Plume married Sarah Anne Purdy of Burlington, Ia. She died June 24, 1889.
LEWIS J. ATWOOD.
Lewis John Atwood, son of Norman and Abigail (Woodward) Atwood, was born in Goshen, April 8, 1827. He removed at an early age to Watertown, where he was a clerk in the store of Amos A. Gridley. He came to Waterbury about 1845, and after having been in the mercantile business for a number of years, entered the employment of Holmes, Booth & Haydens. He there had charge of a department in the manufacture of burners for kerosene lamps and other lamp work. On the formation of the Holmes, Booth & Atwood Manufacturing company (afterwards changed to Plume & Atwood), he became a stockholder and an officer of the company, and has been its president since September 9, 1890.
Athough not trained as a mechanic, Mr. Atwood has a decidedly mechanical turn, and has taken out many patents for improvements in coal-oil burners, lamps and lamp fixtures. He also devised an ingenious hydraulic press for forcing "scrap metal " into a compact form, to prepare it for re-melting. This was formerly accomplished by pounding the metal with sledges into a cast-iron vessel or mor- tar, and was hard and slow work. The hydraulic press does the work rapidly and well, and has been generally adopted .*
Mr. Atwood is a deacon in the Second Congregational church, was president of the Young Men's Christian association from 1889 to 1894, and is active in other charitable enterprises.
On January 12, 1852, he married Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Almon Platt. They have had three children: Elizabeth Alvira; Frances Finnette, who was married to Albert J. Blakesley; and Irving J., who married Jennie Ford of Lakeville. The last named is the only child living.
* This process is technically known as "cabbaging," probably from a fancied resemblance of the bundles or masses into which the metal is pressed to a head of cabbage. The word "cabbage" or "cabbaging," as applied to this process, although an old one in the trade, is not found in any dictionary known to the writer. -F. J. K.
397
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Company, and bur held the office of treasurer since its formation. He represented the town in the legislature of 1877 and 1879, bas serfel four years is aldermen, and bas filled many other responsi- Me positions in public affairs. He is also president of the Fourth Norioual bank, and milrector in the Waterbury hospital.
An Ostoher 1. 1855, he married Abby Cornelia Richardson of Newark. Thefe children are Frank Cameron, David Nichols, and Emily Da Jnily 7. 1880, F C. Plume married Sarah Andrews, daughter of the Hun. S. W. Kellogg. On October 10, 1894, D. N. Plume married Sarah Anne Purdy of Burlington, Ia. She died June 24, 1889.
LEWIS T. ATWOOTS
Lewis Jobn Avivost min spd Most / Woodward) Atwood, wie broe a fimde age to Waterfowl, where he was a chore a me un Amos A Gridley. He came lo Waterbury about 1845, and on Turvmed boon in the mimensil
emploviewwi of Hommes, Booth & Haydens. a depaiement in the manufacture of burners for Coop- and other lamp work. On the formation of the Holmes, bunch & Atwood Manufacturing company (afterwards changed to Plume & Atwood), he became a stockholder and an officer of the company, and has been its president since September 9, 1890.
Although not trained as a mechanic, Mr. Atwood has a decidedly mechanical turn, and has taken out many patents for improvements Il combinil burners, lamps and hoop fixtures. He also devised an ingenious hydraulic press for foreing "scrap metal" inte a compact form, to prepare it for re-melting. This was formerly accomplished by pounding the metal with sledges into a cast-iron vessel or mer- tar, and was hard and slow work. The hydraulic press doar the work rapidly and well, and has been generally adepled"
Mr. Atwood is a deacon in the Second Comstige al church, was presidentof the Young Men's Christmas ogation from 1889 10. 1894, and faretive in other charitable enterprises.
On January 12, 1852, he married Sarah Elimboth, daughter of Almon Platt. "They have had three children; Elizabeth Alvira; Frances Finnette, who was married to Albert J. Blakesley; and Irving J., who mareil Jennie Ford of Lakeville. The last named is the only child living
* I las proces is tech Grammas 'bang," probably from a laneid resemblance of the handle or masses into which the ders ed to abdul cabbag , The word ".abbage" of "calling. g," a Applied to this pre ess, although as Mone in the trade, is not found in any dictionary known to he writ -F. J. K
So fatword
CHAPTER XXIII.
A CLASSIFICATION-AMERICAN PINS AND THE PIN COMPANIES-BUTTONS AND THE BUTTON COMPANIES-THE HOOK AND EYE COMPANY ; ITS REMOVAL- THE BUCKLE COMPANY AND OTHER MAKERS OF SMALL BRASS GOODS-THE CLOCK COMPANY-THE PLATED WARE INDUSTRY - THE WATERBURY WATCH - MANAGERS AND MEN OF SKILL IN IMPORTANT PLACES.
I N the six chapters immediately preceding this, we have given the history of the largest and most important of the Water- bury manufactories-the establishments which not only manu- facture articles made of brass, but make the brass itself, casting the ingots and rolling them into sheets, and thus producing sheet brass for the market. Of these great establishments-known as rolling mills-there have thus far been seven in our town,-although the youngest of these, the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing company, does not make its brass here, but in Thomaston. Of the seven, five are still flourishing, namely, the one just mentioned, the Scovill Manufacturing company, the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing company, the Waterbury Brass company, and Holmes, Booth & Haydens. The concern known latterly as Brown & Elton ceased doing business forty years ago, and the extinct corporation of Brown & Brothers has been succeeded by Randolph & Clowes, on an entirely new basis. But in addition to these six large establish- ments, now active, there is a number of smaller ones, which, although not makers of sheet brass, are manufacturers of brass goods on a more or less extensive scale, and some of which are of great importance, because of the extent of their trade and the quality of the goods they produce. And besides these, there are a good many others, the chief products of which are not articles made of brass, but which are more or less closely connected with the brass trade, or at any rate with the manufacture of metals or of machinery.
To the smaller brass companies, and the men who have been prominent in them, we set apart this present chapter, and to the other manufacturing concerns the chapter following this, and then, in still another chapter, we furnish a record of all the joint-stock companies of whatever kind, that have at any time existed in the town. When to these we add the long list of our inventors and
366
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
their patented inventions, we shall have covered pretty fully the history of manufacturing in Waterbury, and brought to view the chief elements of the prosperity and greatness of our city. In these several groups we follow, so far as practicable, the chronological order, as indicated by the date of organization.
THE AMERICAN PIN COMPANY.
Prior to 1835, all pins used in the United States were imported. It is true that several experiments had been made, twenty years or more before that time, and that a few pins had been produced here and put in market; but none of these undertakings were commer- cially successful.
. The pins used here were mostly manufactured in England. The body of the pin was made and pointed, and the head was formed by winding a piece of smaller wire around the top and pinching it into shape in a die. The pointing of pins was often used to "point a moral " in social and political economy on the division of labor, and Cowper rendered the business poetical by his well-known lines in the " Enigma:"
One fuses metal o'er the fire; A second draws it into wire; The shears another plies, Who clips in lengths the brazen thread For him who, chafing every shred, Gives all an equal size.
A fifth prepares, exact and round, The knob with which it must be crowned; His follower makes it fast; And with his mallet and his file To shape the point employs awhile The seventh and the last.
This, although not perhaps quite up to the requirements of the patent office, is certainly a very good poetical description of the process of pin making in England in Cowper's time and for many years later.
In America, about 1840, immense progress was made in auto- matic machinery, and about this time several machines were pro- duced capable of turning out the whole pin, headed from its own substance, pointed and complete except for whitening. The most successful of these were the inventions of Dr. John I. Howe of New York, afterwards of Birmingham; Slocum & Jillson of Pough- keepsie, N. Y., and the Messrs. Fowler of Northford. Custom
367
THE SMALLER BRASS COMPANIES.
required, however, that pins should be stuck on paper in rows. This was done in England by hand, but to do it here, paying Amer- ican prices for labor, and still compete with English makers, was commercially out of the question. A demand therefore grew up for a machine that would put the pins on paper. Such a machine was at length successfully produced, the invention being the joint product of several inventors. Conspicuous among them were Messrs. Slocum and Jillson and Dr. Howe. The important parts of this machine were the " goose neck," consisting of two curved par- allel bars which received the pins between them (suspended by their heads, the points downward) and carried them by its curve to a hori- zontal position; the "slide," which received them from the end of the " goose neck " at proper distances for sticking, and the "crimper," which prepared the paper in folds to receive them. The "goose neck " is said to have been the invention of Mr. Slocum, the slide of Mr. Jillson and the crimper of Dr. Howe. The American Pin company, which owned the pin-making machines invented by Mr. Fowler, became the owners of Messrs. Slocum and Jillson's rights by purchase, and a mutual contract between the company and Dr. Howe gave to both the right to use the completed machine. It was this machine which made the business a financial success and gave to the Waterbury and Birmingham companies control of the market in this country for several years,-the entire product being sold as the American and Howe pins.
One important consideration in undertaking the manufacture of pins in Waterbury was to afford a market for brass wire. The American Pin company was formed in 1846, as already stated on page 320, and its first stockholders were Aaron Benedict, G. W. Burnham, Henry Bronson, J. S. Mitchell, Jr., Bennet Bronson, G. W. Benedict, Benjamin DeForest, John DeForest, J. C. Booth, A. W. Welton, D. F. Maltby, Philo Brown, J. P. Elton, Ambrose Ives, James Brown, P. W. Carter and S. B. Minor,-these gentlemen being the principal stockholders or partners in the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing company and in the firm of Brown & Elton, both of which concerns were manufacturers of brass wire. The capital stock was $50,000, one-half of which was owned by members of each firm. At the annual meeting of 1850, this was increased to $100,000. The manufacture of hooks and eyes by automatic machinery was also a large factor in their business.
The expiration of patents, the introduction of new inventions, and constant competition have so reduced both the volume and the profit of the original business of the American Pin company, that it has gradually undertaken other branches of manufacture. At
368
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
the present time, although the company gives employment to about 250 hands, the manufacture of pins and hooks and eyes forms a comparatively small part of its business, which is devoted to the production for use or ornament of a great variety of small wares, into most of which brass enters as a component part.
In February, 1894, the American Pin company removed to their handsome new factory in Waterville (page 30) near the Naugatuck river. The main building is 400 feet in length, and four stories high. The plant is furnished throughout with electric lights and all possible improvements and conveniences.
NELSON HALL.
Nelson Hall, the eldest son of Moses and Olive (Porter) Hall, was born in Waterbury, January 20, 1804. His earlier business life was spent in Pittsford and Rochester, N. Y. He married, April 27, 1828, Lorinda Marshall, by whom he had one son, Irving Nelson. In 1844 he returned to Waterbury, and became the manager, and afterwards secretary and treasurer, of the American Pin company, where he remained for twenty years. He was a director of the Waterbury National bank from 1851 until his death, and was a successful business man, of sound judgment and unquestioned integrity.
In 1852, he took a leading part in the organization of the Second Congregational society, and was a faithful and conscientious mem- ber and officer of the Second church. He retired from active business and removed to New Haven in 1868, and died there, April 1, 1886. He was buried in Waterbury, at Riverside.
A friend who knew him well says of him:
Mr. Hall was a remarkable man. Absolute integrity, adherence to his sense of right, liberality and independence in his opinions were eminent traits in his char- acter. An intelligent appreciation of current literature and a sympathy with progress, national, scientific and religious, were always manifest. He was a liberal contributor to benevolent organizations, and a kind giver to those who needed assistance. Those who enjoyed his friendship will ever regard it as among their most precious memories.
At his funeral, the Rev. John G. Davenport said:
One church in our city owes more to him than it could express. Prominent in all its affairs during the first sixteen years of its existence, elected its first deacon, giving to it liberally of his means in the days of its weakness, guiding it by his wisdom, inspiring it by his faith and devotion, Mr. Hall imparted to it his very life-a life that is throbbing in its veins even to the present day. Its records conspicuously cherish his name, and his memory will abide with us.
J.J. Driggs
新
20
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THE SMALLER BRASS COMPANIES.
THEODORE I. DRIGGS.
Theodore Ives Driggs, son of Dr. Asa Johnson Driggs, a promi- nent physician and surgeon, was born in Cheshire, October 25, 1829. He graduated from Trinity College in 1848, before he had attained the age of nineteen years.,
Mr. Driggs removed the same year to Waterbury, and became assistant to Charles Fabrique, in the academy. He was a leading spirit in organizing the Centre school district of Waterbury, which resulted in the establishment of the High school, of which he was assistant principal in 1851 and 1852. On account of the condition of his throat he gave up teaching, on the advice of his physician, after four years of successful work, and in 1853 became book-keeper for Abbott & Wardwell, button manufacturers. In September, 1855, he took charge of the books of the American Pin company, and was responsibly connected with that concern until his death. On the retirement of Deacon Hall, in 1865, he was made secretary of the company, and later was elected president.
Mr. Driggs took an active interest in educational matters. He was for many years a member of the Board of Education, and, as chairman of the Board and treasurer of the Centre district, in- stituted many important changes. The present efficiency of the schools of the town and city is largely due to his energy and ability. He was the secretary and one of the trustees of St. Mar- garet's, from its organization as a diocesan school, until his death. He was a member of the committee appointed in 1868 by the Common Council for the formal acceptance of the gift of Silas Bronson for a public library, and became a member of the Board of Agents of the library, and secretary of that body. At different times he represented his ward in both branches of the Common Council.
He was the head of the firm of Driggs & Smith, which since 1850 has been the leading music store of the city. For the record of his work as a musician, and especially as organist of St. John's church, see the chapter on the history of music.
Mr. Driggs married, in 1854, Sarah Ellen Shepard, who died three years later. On April 9, 1860, he married Margaret Sophia, daughter of the late George Pritchard. Their children are George Asa, now secretary and treasurer of the American Pin company, Martha Rathbun, Henry Peck, of the class of 1895, Yale University, and Helen Ives.
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