USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 2 > Part 22
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Crittenden & Burlingame erected, on the property purchased by them of Giles Tinker, a wooden building, thirty by fifty feet, and two dwelling houses. They manufactured satinet and all wool cloth with only two looms ; and also carried on wool carding and cloth dressing for customers. In 1828 Mr. Burlingame sold his interest to Edward Burke, of Conway. In 1899 Mr. Crittenden, having become largely indebted to W. E. Brayton for means to build, sold out to him, and he soon afterward disposed of his two thirds of the property to Samuel Ingalls and Rodman II. Wells. There were then six satinet looms. Mr. Wells was then not quite of age and had learned his trade at the " Boys' Factory." The entire capital of Wells & Ingalls amounted to less than $100. In 1829 this firm purchased more land and built an addition to the south end of their factory, rent- ing a part to Arnold & Co., for the manufacture of cotton goods. In 1831 Ingalls & Wells purchased the interest of Mr. Burke, and became sole proprietors. In 1836 a further addition was made, and the machinery was increased to eighteen looms. In 1845 Mr. Wells retired from the firm, and Duty S. Tyler became his successor. The factory building and most of the machinery, with a considerable quantity of stock was de- stroyed by fire May 5th, 1852. The loss was heavy above insurance, but in the same year the mill was rebuilt 125 feet long and 50 feet wide, and four stories high. In 1854 Sanford Blackinton purchased an interest in the establishment, and the style of the firm was Ingalls, Tyler & Co., until 1860, when John B. Tyler, the son of Duty S. Tyler, purchased his interest, and Henry Clay Bliss purchased Sanford Blackinton's interest, and this firm continued under the name of Ingalls & Tyler until 1869, when they suspended. The mill remained idle until 1882 when the whole property was purchased by the Arnold Print Works and the mill was sold by them to the town of North Adams, and remodeled and fitted up for a school house. The Slater mill has long since disappeared. The "Eclipse," after the failure of Harvey Arnold, in 1876, passed into the hands of E. H. Arnold, who sold it to the Arnold Print Works ; this cor- poration built a large addition and refitted and improved it. The lo- cality known as the " Beaver" doubtless gained its name from traditions handed down by descendants of the early settlers, more especially those of Clarksburg. It is said there was a beaver dam of great strength and durability erected by those little industrious animals on the Hudson Brook, at the narrow gorge just below the Natural bridge, and that the constant toil of those creatures, together with the foodwood, etc., which constantly accumulated there, raised the dam to a great height, and caused the water to flow back so as to obliterate the falls. This was of course impossible, yet there are plain evidences that the water must at some period have washed the whole surface and worn out the fissures,
527
ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.
chasms, and basins. Captain Shippee, who resided just above the falls, some sixty years ago, has been heard to say that he frequently saw the remains of the beaver dam ; and the Clark families, who also descended from the earliest settlers, confirm this statement. The now thriving set- tlement known as the " Beaver," which is so snugly ensconced between the hills, was in its original state a wild and sequestered locality. In fact it was scarcely approachable on foot by. the fisherman and hun- ter, owing to the steep and almost perpendicular rocky bluff just above the Slater mill. People now can hardly realize the difficulties of build- ing a road, and much more of improving a water power in a place so rough and forbidding. Yet live Yankee enterprise will accomplish al- most anything it undertakes, and pioneers always start up when a neces- sity arises for them. This Hoosae valley now teems with a comfortable and intelligent population, and capital and labor have joined their efforts and erected a splendid mill, handsome dwellings, boarding houses, a store and school house. In 1832 Major Lorenzo Rice, a carpenter by trade, formerly of Savoy, and George W. Bly, a practical machinist, formerly of Springfield, formed a copartnership under the firm name of Rice & Bly, and leased the basement story of the Slater mill in order to manufacture cotton machinery for their own use. In the same year they purchased of Silas Shippee the "Town lot," containing twenty-six acres of land and all the water power (the present Beaver mill site) for 8500. In 1833 they erected a stone mill, forty by eighty feet, three stories high ; also several dwellings. The first set of machinery was put in, some twenty looms and preparation for making print goods. The same year, after much effort, the town of Adams was induced to lay out the road from the Union to Clarksburg line, Messrs. Rice & Bly rendering im- portant aid in building the highway and bridges. A committee of survey had previously declared it impracticable to construct this road. In 1855 Edmund Burke, an extensive manufacturer of Conway, became a silent partner in the concern. The sweeping financial panic of 1837 was weath- ered in safety by this firm of only five years' growth, which had begun to build its mill with scarcely means enough to lay the foundation. They kept running and met all their obligations when many older, larger. and apparently stronger establishments succumbed. The secret lay in the unceasing industry and economy, the shrewd management and moral in- tegrity of these men. In 1845 Thomas P. Goodrich became an active partner in this concern and business was done as the firm of Rice, Bly & Co. During the preceding year the firm had manufactured on their own premises more or less machinery, and with what they had purchased they had at the time mentioned sixty looms in operation. In 1845 an L part of fifty feet was added to the mill, and thirty looms and preparation put in, making a total of ninety looms. A commodious store had also been built.
In November. 1849, Mr. Bly sold his interest in the business to Major Rice and retired. The firm was continued as L. Rice & Co. In Decem-
528
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
ber, 1850, the mill was wholly consumed by fire, causing a severe loss above the insurance. In the spring of 1851 Major Rice purchased the in- terest of Burke & Goodrich, and exchanged the whole remaining property with R. HI. Wells for his interest in the firm of Wells, White & Co. At a later period Major Rice sold out and removed to Winsted, Connecticut.
In 1851 Messrs. Rodman II. Wells, Shubael W. Brayton, and Henry N. Wells formed a copartnership under the firm name of Wells, Brayton & Co., and the two latter became joint owners with the former, of the property which he had purchased of Major Rice, the water-power, dwel- lings, store, etc. The new company erected on the side of the burnt edi- fice a well constructed stone mill, 102 by 40 feet, four stories high, for the manufacture of satinets and cassimeres. They filled the same with new and improved machinery, comprising forty looms. They worked up about 200,000 pounds of wool annually, manufacturing from 300,000 to 330,000 yards of Union cassimeres, worth probably $180,000. They gave employment to eighty hands, and sustained a population of about 250 persons. The senior partner of the firm, Mr. R. H. Wells, was a practical manufacturer, having commenced as a "bobbin " boy at Blackinton, and having been for several years of Ingalls & Wells and Wells, White & Co. Mr. Brayton was an active, practical business man, giving personal supervision to the affairs of the concern. H. N. Wells and R. H. Wells sold out their interest to Sylvander Johnson in 1862. In 1870 the mill was burned down and was immediately rebuilt with a large brick mill adjoining it on the north. The whole property was afterward sold to, and it is now owned by, Albert C. Houghton and William Arthur Gallup.
James E. Marshall was another manufacturer who did much to im- prove and develop North Adams. He was born in England and came to this country when a young man. He spent a short time with his uncle, Joseph Marshall, a wealthy manufacturer of Hudson, N. Y. In 1829 the latter gentleman purchased of Thomas Higginbotham & Co. the " old brick " factory in the village. In 1834 he purchased the Phoenix mill, furnace, etc., of the administrators of Giles Tinker's estate. In 1835 James E. Marshall cante to this village to operate the above establish- ments, in which he had a nominal interest, his uncle continuing to reside in Hudson. Both mills were greatly improved, and supplied in part with new machinery. The Phoenix mill had ninety-two looms, which were run until November, 1840, when the mill, with all its contents, was unfortu- nately destroyed by fire. The loss was a severe one, but the business energy and go-ahead spirit of the Messrs. Marshall were not to be dam- pened. The mill was soon rebuilt, of large dimensions, and in a more substantial manner, and in the winter of 1881-2 it was again set in oper- ation with one hundred looms.
In 1842 the Messrs. Marshall purchased of E. Richmond and General Jabez Hall the " Stone" mill now standing on River street ; they also purchased about the same time the "Eagle" and " Gould" mills, and operated them jointly with the "Old Brick" and " Phoenix" mills,
529
ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.
making in all two hundred and ten looms and preparation. Until 1847 they manufactured print cloths for the Hudson Print Works. But, be- lieving that it was true business policy to purchase the cotton and de- liver the manufactured goods in the form of prints, saving remissions, extra freight, and losses attendant on the manufacture of cloth separate from the printing, this firm, in 1843, purchased the then dilapidated print works owned and operated, until 1837, by Turner & Laffin. These print works were erected in 1828 by Caleb B. Turner, who purchased the furnace then belonging to Otis Hodge, jr., and land now occupied by the Freeman Manufacturing Company. They were the first print works in the county. In 1831 Mr. Turner took in Walter Laffin as a joint partner in the real and personal estate. Just before the partnership was formed. a portion of his print works and a lot of print goods valued at $8,000 were de- stroyed. Turner & Laflin erected the main brick building of the print works now operated by the Freeman Manufacturing Company. They carried on a very extensive business in manufacturing and printing cot- tons until 1837, when, in the general suspension and financial crash, they failed. After Mr. Turner's failure he became a merchant. He did a great deal to develop, by practical effort, the manufacture of cotton goods, and he was one of the pioneers in calico printing.
The print works remained vacant until Messrs. Marshall took posses- sion of them. They repaired, rebuilt in part, and leased them for a term of years to two enterprising and sagacious men, Harvey Arnold and Je- rome B. Jackson. In 1847, before the lease had expired. the Hud-on Print Works were destroyed by fire. This led to an arrangement by which the Messrs. Marshall's and O. Arnold & Co.'s goods were printed by Ar- nold & Jackson, on joint account.
Mr. James E. Marshall continued in business with Arnold & Jackson about eighteen monthis until December 31st, 1848. He had some time previously become sole owner of all the above mentioned property. Jan- uary 1st, 1849, he sold the entire manufacturing estates, real and per- sonal, to R. H. Wells, Joseph L. White, Amasa W. Richardson, and Jerome B. Jackson. Mr. Marshall immediately purchased an interest in the Blast Furnace in this village which he retained until 1858.
The iron business had been very lucrative in North Adams for sev- eral years prior to this time.
In 1845 the whole region of country around Adams was prospected in search of iron ores. In the spring of 1846 Nelson H. Stevens, of Rich- mond, obtained leases of several ore beds in Adams and vicinity, and purchased, at a cost of $6,000, a building, situate on what is now called "Furnace Hill" west of the Hoosac River and formerly used by Hodge & Dean. He also leased at an annual rent of $200 a ten-horse water pow- er of James E. Marshall, who then owned the Phoenix mill. During the summer and winter of 1846, Mr. Stevens, in connection with Senaca Pat- tee, erected a blast furnace on the premises, at a cost of about $6,000, for
02
530
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY,
the manufacture of the best quality of charcoal pig iron. The business was begun in December of that year.
During the session of the General Court in the winter of 1847, a charter was obtained and the stockholders were incorporated under the name of the "North Adams Iron Company," Mr. Stevens having pre- viously sold a quarter of his interest to Rodman H. Wells, a quarter to J. N. Chapin, and an eighth to Charles K. Bingham. The valuation of the whole property was 832,000 for the furnace and fixtures, stock of coal and ore on hand, ore bed leases, and the "Paul " wood lot.
Previous to the formation of this company Lyman C. Thayer, Wil- liam Hodskins, and J. Q Robinson had purchased the Kingsley ore bed and ten acres of land, situate on the east road, about one mile south of North Adams, for $500. They gave a lease to this company, at 25 cents per ton for the privilege of taking out the ore, on condition that the fur- nace should be built north of the ore bed. Owing to the difficulty of smelting the ores the enterprise did not succeed well for the first year ; but afterward, on procuring different ores, several successful blasts were made, averaging some five tons of pig iron per day, and from 1,600 to 1,800 tons per blast. This iron was sold as high as $35 to $40 per ton. On the first of January, 1849, as has been stated, the original proprietors disposed of their interest and the furnace passed into other hands, James E. Marshall being for several years interested in it and the chief manager. But the principal ore beds failing and the price of iron de- clining as low as $20 per ton, under European competition, the company suspended. The panic of 1857 dealt it a mortal blow, and it went into insolvency in February, 1858. In July of that year the furnace and all its fixtures passed by assignee's sale into the hands of John A. Beckley, of Canaan, Conn., a practical iron maker. Under his supervision the business was carried on for a few years longer with little success, and the building was finally abandoned and afterward destroyed by fire.
During the long period of twenty-three years that Mr. Marshall was engaged in manufacturing in this village his extensive enterprises afford- ed employment for a large number of hands, leading to heavy disburse- ments of money, and giving an impulse to every department of trade. besides affording steady markets for the farming community, and pro- moting the general prosperity. Mr. Marshall's sagacity and public spirit led him early to enlist in the project of building the Pittsfield & North Adams Railroad. He was one of the first to confer with the Western Railroad directors concerning the scheme. The amount of freighting required in his various enterprises was very large and made him fully conversant with freighting business generally. His teams at first ran to Troy, and subsequently to Pittsfield, to connect with the Boston & Albany, then called the Western Railroad. He, in connection with other gentlemen, made careful estimates of the passenger and freight- ing business to and from the town of Adams which led to the building of the road. He was not only active and efficient in personal efforts, but
531
ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.
he subscribed the largest amount of any person or firm to that fund which proved the sole support of the undertaking. Mr. Marshall was a gentleman of good education, fair literary taste, large conversational powers, courteous and dignified manners, with plain and unostentations dress. These qualities, with his philanthropic views and liberal senti- ments, constituted him a valuable citizen.
After the retirement of Mr. Marshall from the management of the old "Union Print Works" the new firm that operated it was known as White, Rice, Richardson & Co., in which Mr. Jerome B. Jackson became the largest individual owner. A division of the property of the firm was afterward made by which the company with Mr. Jackson remained asso- ciated, took the Print Works. the " Gould," the "Stone" mill, to which they added by purchase the " Estes" mill, thus consolidating the estate now owned by the Freeman Manufacturing Company. Mr. Jackson sold out to Samuel Gaylord in 1860. In 1862 they built the new "Eagle" mill on River street, and in 1864 the Union Print Works were rebuilt. Many changes in the partnership took place.
In 1863 Mr. W. W. Freeman purchased an interest in the Eagle mill and print works, A .. W. Richardson and William S. Blackinton being the other partners, L. L. Brown joining soon afterward, when the firm name was Richardson, Freeman & Co. He was associated with these men one year, until 1867, when Mr. Richardson sold out, and the name was changed to W. W. Freeman & Co. The property about this time in- cluded the Stone mill, the Estes mill, and the Eagle mill on Eagle street, and a small print works where the present large buildings are located. The print works were running with two printing machines, and all the machinery was placed in the Eagle mill after Mr. Freeman's purchase, it having been previously ordered by Mr. Richardson. The improvements in the mill and print works property from that time onward were made constantly every year, there being no particular date of any great changes. The print works were gradually enlarged until they reached a capacity of seven machines, and used in print cloths the manufacture of many mills. In 1874 the name was again changed and the firm incorporated as the Freeman Manufacturing Company, which is its present style.
On the 5th day of February, 1881, Mr. Freeman sold out his interest in the print works and other property of the Freeman Manufacturing Company, to L. L. Brown, his partner, and on the Tuesday following a corporation was formed, and the following officers were elected : L. L. Brown, president ; W. L. Brown, treasurer; and John Bracewell, agent. Mr. Bracewell resigned his position as superintendent of the Cocheco Print Works, at Dover, N. H., to accept this position. The Freeman prints rank among the foremost in the manufactures of the United States. The average weekly production of cloth in the year 1884, was 2,000 pieces.
The retirement of W. W. Freeman was occasioned by no disagree- ment, but was brought about by his ill health which led him to seek rest
,
532
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
and freedom from business cares. The employes of the Print Works pre- sented him, on his return from the South, on May 5th, 1881, with an ice pitcher and tray with goblets, as a testimonial of their regard. Mr. Free- man was born in Salem, N. Y .. in the month of June. 1819, and died on Sunday, the 9th day of October, 1881, in North Adams. Mr. Freeman's business life was begun in Salem, N. Y. In 1849 he moved with his fam- ily to South Adams, and established himself in a large country store. He was one of the principal founders of the old Berkshire Bank, now the Adams National Bank, and was for two years cashier of that institution. He enjoyed the universal respect of the community, because of his hon- orable dealing and business capacity, and won the attachment of those in his employ by his kindness. consideration, and courtesy.
About the year 1834 Sylvander Johnson with his brother, Calvin Johnson, opened a grocery store in the building called the " Arcade," where the Wilson House now stands, and continued it for a short time. Afterward he went to Chicopee and conducted a country store there with D. D. Wheeler, said to be the store and on the same site that W. W. Freeman owned at one time. Later he returned to North Adams and purchased with N. G. Hathaway, in 1847, the Brown & Harris Print Works, located on the site of the mill of the Johnson Manufacturing Company : he converted it into a warp mill and manufactured warps there for many years. Mr. Hathaway afterward retired and Mr. Johnson conducted the business alone. The mill was of stone, about ninety feet by forty, with two stories and a basement. On the morning of April 3d, 1872, the mill with most of its contents was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $75,- 000, which, however, was mostly covered by insurance. The burning of the mill stopped all manufactures for the time, but in two months ar- rangements were made by a stock company. with Mr. Johnson at its head. to build the present mill for the manufacture of ginghams.
In August, 1873, the Johnson Manufacturing Company was incorpo- rated, consisting of S. Johnson, W. S. Johnson, and A. M. Tinker. In May, 1880, a large brick addition on the north end of the mill was com- menced and completed in September of the same year. Mr. Johnson was for many years a conspicuous figure in the business and social life of North Adams. He represented the town for nine years between 1846 and 1871 inclusive, and was elected councillor in 1868. He was a director of the Troy & Boston Railroad Company and his political influence was used at one time to further the Hoosac Tunnel scheme, and its final com- pletion was aided by his efforts. He was one of the founders of the Hoosac Valley Agricultural Society and a director of the Adams National Bank from its incorporation. Indeed Mr. Johnson was prominent in every public enterprise and was always ready to help with voice and purse the advancement and welfare of his fellow men. He rejoiced in the growth of North Adams and did much to make it grow. He was kind, generous, and patriotic, and his death occasioned general sad- ness and sorrow.
.
-
FREEMAN MANUFACTURING CO., NORTH ADAMS.
533
ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.
The thriving settlement of Greylock affords another illustration of the manner in which the growth of Adams was occasioned. The village of Greylock is located one mile and three quarters west of North Adams near the road to Williamstown. In 1846 Messrs. Mclellan, Hunter & Co. purchased of Deacon David Temple the water power and ten acres of land for $1.000. They erected a wooden building and put in machinery for cot . ton manufacturing, also built two dwelling houses at a cost of about $12, - 000. The goods manufactured were yard wide sheetings. In November, 1851. James Hunter sold his interest to his partners, Messrs. Mclellan, MaGee & Hawks. They soon afterward disposed of one half of the prop- erty to Mason B. Green. The latter remained only about six months and left. In 1848 the proprietors sold the whole premises to Ansel Cain. He failed in making payment, and the property reverted to the original owners, who, in 1851, sold the same to Pitt & Snow. Mr. Snow soon left. Mr. Pitt continued in possession until 1856, when he became insol- vent. In 1857 R. R. Andrews purchased the entire property of the as- signees. He greatly improved the same by building himself a fine resi- dence, also several tenements, and adding an ell of fifteen feet on the east end of the factory for a dressing room. The machinery then consisted of 432 throstle spindles, 840 mule spindles, and 40 looms. The goods manu- factured were yard wide sheetings, four and a half yards to the pound, aver- aging 10,000 yards per week. Employment was given to thirty-four hands, male and female, and a population of some eighty persons was sus- tained. There were then thirteen tenements on the ground. Mr. Andrews added by purchase of Dr. Hawkes fifty-five acres, and of T. C. Phelps fifteen acres, a part of which he afterward sold. Mr. An- drews carried on the business until 1865 and then disposed of his interest to Colonel Pomeroy. About 1872 a stock company was formed, including a Canadian capitalist and the Pittsfield Pomeroys, with Pickering Clark for manager, who built a new mill some rods west and south of the origi- nal mill, now remodeled into a tenement house, which was partially com- pleted with shafting and cards when the end of the company's purse and the hard times of 1873 were reached together, and the company came to a sudden stand. Nothing more was done with this property beyond caring for the tenements and mill until 1880, when a new company, styled the "Greylock Mills," was formed with Theodore Pomeroy as president : S. A. Pomeroy, of the same town, as treasurer: and W. B. Plunkett, of Adams, as manager. The new corporation went to work immediately, built a new dam, a large weave shed was built, and work was begun in March, 1881. A fine tenement block was erected west of the mill and five new tenement houses and a store were built, in the fall of 1880. The mill is used for the manufacture of ginghams and its capacity is about 25,000 yards per week.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.