USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 2 > Part 28
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After Mr. Richardson's retirement the management of the works de . volved upon Mr. Freeman, the attention of his associates being absorbed in other important manufacturing enterprises and their confidence in him being unlimited. Under his direction, from the year 1864, additions to the buildings, improvements in the machinery, and extension of the sales of the product went on constantly, rapidly, and systematically. The changes were not so abrupt that their dates can be readily given. Mr. Freeman watched and took advantage of every new idea and inven- tion in his art. so that the growth of the Freeman Print Works was gradual and natural ; but the contrast between what they were when he took charge of them and when he relinquished it is surprising and most creditable to his business ability, especially when we consider the finan- cial history of the country between 1864 and 1881.
When Mr. Richardson retired in 1864 the property consisted of the Stone, Estes, and Eagle Mills. A three story addition had just been added to the last named which practically made it a new mill, and ma- chinery previously ordered by Mr. Richardson was placed in it after Mr. Freeman had made his purchase. There were also some small print works where the large ones were afterward built. These constituted a very fair " plant"; but the productions were not large and had not a
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
very high reputation in the market. It had but two print machines which turned out only 3,000 pieces a week.
Early in February, 1881, Mr. Freeman, on account of failing health, sold his interest in the concern to the firm of Brown & Bracewell. In the interval between that date and his purchase the property and busi- ness of the company had been wonderfully increased. It had now, in 1881, seven print machines with a weekly product of from 15,000 to 20,000 pieces. It was one of the four leading print works in America, and weekly sent samples of its goods to 4,000 dry goods dealers in the United States and Canada. The number of employes had in- creased from 50 to 266. Not less than 1.500 operatives in different cotton mills depended for employment upon these print works. The printing is done on cotton cloth, part of which is made in the mills of the company, and part purchased from others. In 1864 they paid sixteen cents a yard for the plain cloth, and soon afterward twenty cents. In 1879 they ob- tained cloth of the same quality for two and a half cents per yard. In 1864 the printing was done by a slow and necessarily costly impression upon blocks ; long before 1881 the rapidly revolving and sharply engraved cyl- inders were substituted, greatly increasing the product and reducing its cost. Of course these improvements were general throughout the mann- facturing world, but in the quick and intelligent recognition and employ- ment of them Mr. Freeman excelled.
To build up so vast a business as he did Mr. Freeman. it need not be said, required much ability in other directions than those mentioned, nor need we say, after recording the result, that he possessed them. His work speaks.for itself and for him. It is not strange that a life of such arduous labor and anxious thought should have exhausted itself early, although in the latter part of it he had great help in it from his son, Mr. Wallace Freeman. After the sale of his stock in the manufacturing com- pany, February 5th, 1881, Mr. Freeman was relieved from the cares of business, except his directorship in the Adams National Bank, and the ordinary oversight of his investments, and sought to regain his health by a sonthern tour. In this he was partially successful and returned to North Adams in May. A large number of the employes in the print works seized the opportunity to present him and also his son, who had accompanied him, with valuable testimonials of their appreciation of his character and of his treatment of themselves. The occasion was of great interest and very gratifying to all parties concerned ; but, almost imme- diately afterward, recurring symptons of heart disease led him to visit the health giving seaside resorts of New England. It was unfortunately too late. After a few vicissitudes of gainful health and relapse he re- turned to his home, where he died Sunday, October 9th, ISSi, at the age of 62.
This result had for many months been regarded as imminent, but it created profound sorrow in North Adams, Adams, and indeed through- out Berkshire, extending through to all classes of society. One of his
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old and trusted employes upon hearing of his death, exclaimed, "It's too bad, too bad ! Such men as Mr. Freeman are rarely found. You do not meet them every day, or in every town. Large hearted and gen- erous, his name will long be cherished by the many he employed and as- sisted long after his remains are laid in their last resting place. Mr. Freeman's word was as good as his bond, and no man ever said that he promised what he did not perform." Such an expression as this is worth pages of studied enlogy.
Another expression of the same class came from the directors of the Adams National Bank, who we are assured felt and believed every word of what they resolved, of which we give the essential portion :
" Whereas it has pleased God to remove by death our esteemed townsman, W. W. Freeman, who has been long identified with the business interests of this com- munity, and for 18 years a director of this bank, therefore
" Resolved, that in the death of Mr. Freeman we recognize not only a great loss to this institution and the public in a business point of view, but in a far greater and deeper sense we deplore the loss of a true citizen, a genial friend, and an up- right man.
"In his character and life were combined and illustrated many shining and rare traits. He was the soul of financial honor. His word was ever as good as gold. The poor and needy ever found in him a generous friend. For years an employer of labor, he never stood aloof from the laboring men, who loved him and followed him with tears to his grave.
"He was an ardent hater of shams, a chivalrous and outspoken advocate of right as he understood it, in politics and all his relations to his fellow men. His dignified yet frank and genial deportment in the daily intercourse of life won for him personally and socially hosts of friends, and at his sudden demise the entire com- munity are mourners."
The funeral services of Mr. Freeman were held at the Congregational church, where Rev. T. T. Munger preached a sermon in which he beauti- fully and truthfully portrayed his character. The pall bearers were L. L. Brown, James Renfrew, A. C. Houghton, S. W. Brayton, E. S. Wil- kinson, C. T. Sampson, H. G. B. Fisher, and A. W. Hodge.
CALVIN T. SAMPSON.
Calvin T. Sampson is the descendant, in the seventh generation, in direct line, from Abraham Sampson, who emigrated to America, landing at Plymouth, about 1629. His brother, Henry, was one of the company who, in 1620, crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower, in company with his unele, Edward Lilley. Not having attained his majority, he did not sign the memorable compact made in Cape Cod Harbor, November 11th, 1620; and for the same reason, probably, his name does not appear in the his- torical list of the Mayflower emigrants.
These brothers, with Elder William Brewster and Miles Standish. made their residence, in 1632, about six miles north of the first landing place of the Pilgrims.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
This new settlement received the name of Duxbury, from Duxbury Hall. the seat of the Standish family in England.
Abraham Sampson was one of the fifty-four original grantees of Bridgewater, in 1654, though he did not remove to that place.
His son, Isaac, born in 1660, married Lydia, granddaughter of Cap- tain Miles Standish. He, with others from Duxbury and Plymouth, made a settlement, about 1680, in what was at first called " the Western Precinct of Plymouth," and which, in 1707, was incorporated as the town of Plymouth.
His eldest son, Isaac, resided in Plymouth until 1730, when he moved to Middleboro, where he died in 1750.
His son, Jacob, born in Middleboro, in 1738, when but sixteen years of age enlisted in the troops raised by the Massachusetts colony, to serve in the French and Indian war in 1754-9, and was present in the battle of Monongahela, and at the defeat of General Braddock. After his return from the war he moved to New Salem, which was settled by families from Middleboro and Danvers, the latter town being then known as Sa- lem Farms.
Early in the Revolution he enlisted in the Continental army, served as a sergeant through the war, and was with Ethan Allen at the taking of Ticonderoga.
His son, also named Jacob, born in 1760, was a trader in good circum- stances, and took a prominent part in the Shays rebellion After its failure, his property was confiscated, and a warrant issued for his arrest. He moved with his family to Stamford, Vt., a town situated in a moun. tainous region, sparsely inhabited and covered mostly by forests. Here he engaged in farming ; the land, however, being chiefly valuable for its growth of wood and timber.
His son, Calvin, was also a farmer. He married Polly Millard, of Stamford. Calvin T. Sampson, the subject of this sketch, was their youngest son. He was born in Stamford, October 2d, 1826. His boy- hood was passed on the farm. When eleven years of age he began to haul wood from the farm to North Adams, a distance of four miles, and in this way formed acquaintances which were useful in later operations.
He had a thirst for knowledge ; and by working extra hours earned some money with which he purchased text books ; these he studied by himself. At sixteen he was able, with the aid of a sister, to attend the academy at North Adams, where he remained one term.
His father died when Calvin was about twenty years of age, and his elder brother, Chester, took charge of the farm. Mrs. Sampson had in- herited about forty-five acres, and her daughter had purchased a small piece adjoining ; these with some land hired by Calvin made up a farm of about a hundred acres, which he now cultivated. In May, 1849, he mar- ried Julia Hayden, of Clarksburg, Vt. About a year after his marriage Mr. Sampson had his first experience in the shoe business. George Mil- lard, a cousin, had purchased the factory and stock in North Adams of
6. P Sampion
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Rodgers, Ingraham & Co., who had become embarrassed in business. This establishment was located on Eagle street, in a building now owned by the Isbell estate, and occupied as a furniture store. Boots and brogans were the articles manufactured.
Millard meeting Sampson one day on the street at North Adams said : "I have something I want you to do for me," and explained by showing him a most sorry pile of an old accumulated lot of boots and brogans which were included in his purchase of Rodgers, Ingraham & Co. "I want you to take these out and sell them. Will bill them to you very low and you can make some money on them." It was not an inviting feast to look upon, but with the arrangement that the lot should have a sprinkling of " new goods." Sampson decided to undertake it. He took a load into his wagon and made a trip into the neighboring towns and in four days had disposed of his load for butter, dried apples, and a sprinkling of cash, making on this trip a profit of 825. He made other trips with similar results until he had disposed of the whole lot. He then sold his farm, and in September, 1850, moved to North Adams. In the following spring, having thus tested hisability as a salesman, Mil- lard asked Sampson to accompany him in one of his peddling trips in the county, agreeing to pay his expenses, and during this trip Millard was so satisfied of Sampson's ability, having effected sales to parties with whom he himself had failed, he made him an offer of a salary of $600 and expenses to travel for him one year. It was a most liberal and tempting offer for those times, but Sampson decided not to accept it, much to the surprise and chagrin of his cousin. He had in fact decided he might as well have all the profits of his sales as well as only a portion. The sequel proved the wisdom of his decision.
On the 24th of April, 1851, he went, for the first time in his life, to Boston, determined to purchase if possible a stock of shoes on credit, carrying with him only 850 in cash. A total stranger, without any let- ters of recommend or introduction, the mission would have seemed al- most fool-hardy. It did require pluck and a " good face," which in this instance, at least, proved effectual. He repaired to the store of Atherton, Stetson & Co., of which firm he had heard through one of his customers in North Adams. After explaining to them what he had done in the way of peddling shoes, and what he purposed to do with a new supply. they decided to furnish him with a small invoice of shoes to the amount of $117, on three months' time, with the condition that if the amount was paid in thirty days he should be allowed a discount of three per cent.
A similar arrangement was made with W. N. Spinney at Lynn; and he purchased of Christopher Robinson, also of Lynn, a bill of goods for $19 in cash. Thus supplied with a stock he returned to North Adams and began business. He carried his goods from house to house in a valise, and in less than ten days had sold them all out. He ordered larger invoices from Lynn and Boston ; in three months was able to pur-
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chase a horse and wagon, and by November found he had cleared above all expenses over $1,100.
On the 18th of the same month he opened a store in North Adams, which he carried on with a retail trade until 1858, passing successfully through the financial crisis of 1857. An incident of that memorable year, showing Mr. Sampson's versatility of resource under trying circum- stances, is worth recording.
In anticipation of the inability of the Adams banks to furnish him the funds necessary to meet forthcoming obligations in Lynn and Boston, he repaired to the latter city and purchased a job lot of shoes and rub- bers at a very low price, and which were disposed of to the country mer- chants at such favorable rates that he was enabled to meet all demands on time by the profit of the venture.
In 1858 he commenced, in a small way, the manufacture of women's shoes ; the pioneer of what has since become, in North Adams, one of its largest manufacturing industries.
His first manufactory was located on Eagle street, in the two story wooden building now occupied as a meat market.
He next purchased the tannery property on Eagle street, enlarged it and occupied it as a shoe manufactory until 1869. This business was prosperous until the breaking out of the Civil war, at which time he had accumulated about $16,000. He lost considerable sums from Southern debtors, so that his whole capital was sunk and he became seriously embarrassed. He kept at work, however, and by 1863 had regained a substantial foothold. In that year, to secure a new and wider field of customers, he opened a store in Boston, which he gave up two years after: and has since filled orders directly from his factory.
In 1869 he sold the Eagle street factory to E. R. Millard, a cousin, and in September of the same year purchased the building on Marshall street, which had been erected by a company for the manufacture of tools, but which enterprise had fallen through.
This building, much enlarged and improved, is shown on another page of this work. The circumstance which has made Mr. Sampson's name a familiar one throughout the country, was the employment in his factory of Chinese labor. It brings out, too, in strong light, the real character and pluck of the man in overcoming any formidable ob- stacle to the successful prosecution of his business.
As early as in 1866, and from that on to the year 1870, he had had repeated collisions with the order known as the "Knights of St. Cris- pin," the object of which society was to enable boot and shoe operatives to combine for mutual support as against the manufacturers.
Mr. Sampson at first yielded to its demands for increase of wages, but at last resolved to resist it, and discharged such of his operatives as he knew to be active in the organization, and in stirring up discontent in his factory. He sent to North Brookfield for others, and succeeded in engaging thirty-three operatives on explicit terms ; but these men were
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ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.
soon prevailed upon by the St. Crispins of North Adams to throw up their contracts. Some time before this last effort to supply his factory with American workmen, Mr. Sampson had clipped from a newspaper the statement that Chinese labor had been successfully employed in the shoe manufactories of San Francisco. He laid it by for future use, and he now thought the time had come to act upon it, and on the same day the North Brookfield men left his factory, he started his superintendent, Mr. George W. Chase, for San Francisco. The result was that he employed seventy-five Chinamen under a contract to work by the month for three years. These were followed by fifty others in the year following. Ac. commodations were provided for them on the premises. Their work proved satisfactory and profitable, and resulted in breaking up the St. Crispin order. not only in North Adams but in the entire State. After the termination of the three years, for seven years thereafter they were hired by the piece with the same wages paid for other help in the same department of work. These men were exclusively employed in the bot- toming department, where the trouble had always existed. The object for which they had been employed having been fully accomplished, after ten years of successful employment the last of these Chinamen left for their native country, some of them carrying with them upwards of $2,000 as a result of their savings.
- In 1878 the C. T. Sampson Manufacturing Company was incorporated, Mr. Sampson holding the position of president. George W. Chase, who has been its treasurer since the organization, began with Mr. Sampson, as bookkeeper, in 1865.
- In politics Mr. Sampson is a republican, and while never a seeker for political office, has been one of the most staunch supporters of its prin- ciples. He is a director in the Adams National Bank, and is president of the North Adams Savings Bank. He is a member of the Baptist church in which he holds the office of deacon.
For upwards of seventeen years Mr. and Mrs. Sampson have made their home at the Wilson House, and for several years past, to avoid the severity of Berkshire winters, they have passed them in the South.
Thorough and honorable in all his business transactions, a liberal contributor to all objects considered worthy, a steadfast friend, and a de- voted husband, Mr. Sampson well deserves the high place he holds in the respect and confidence of the community in which he resides.
SANFORD BLACKINTON.
The life of Sanford Blackinton is remarkable in many respects and unique in one. Living in this year. 1885, at his beautiful residence in North Adams, at the age of 88. in the full possession of all his mental faculties, and being the efficient president of a bank of large capital. his story covers three quarters of a century of business life, including the whole period in which the woolen namfacture for the county has existed in its present form, and having him-elf been identified with it from the
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first. The cotemporary of Lemuel Pomeroy and Daniel Stearns, of Pitts- field, and Russell Brown, of Adams, he is to day the sole living represent- ative of the earliest generation of the men who have made Berkshire the great manufacturing county it is.
Mr. Blackinton was born at Attleboro, Mass., December 10th, 1797, and was the second of ten children of Otis and Ruth (Richardson) Black- inton. Of their five sons, three are living, Sanford and Peter in North Adams, and Noble in Denmark, Lee Co., Iowa. Of their four daughters one, Mrs. Juline Mitchell, is now a widow and resides in North Adams, and another, Harriet, is the wife of Rev. Josiah T. Smith, D.D., living near Boston.
We have no precise information as to the time of the emigration of the family to America, or from what country it came, but the name is probably a variation of Blackiston, a family of note among the gentry of the English county of Durham. We do not find the name of Blackinton in any of the genealogical or geographical works regarding Great Britain which are within our reach, and such changes as we suggest as probable in this case have been of common occurrence both in Great Britain and her colonies ; Hobart, for instance, becoming Hubbard or Hibbard, and even so strange a transformation taking place as that of the aristocratic name of Crawford in Scotland appearing in Pittsfield history as Crowfoot.
Sanford Blackinton's grandfather and great-grandfather, both farm- ers, were born and died in Attleboro. His father, also a farmer, removed from Attleboro about 1801, and settled on a farm of 100 acres, near the site of the present village of Blackinton, in North Adams. He added the vocation of schoolmaster to that of farmer, teaching a school about two miles from the farm, to and from which he rode on horseback, taking his son with him. Sanford received his education in the common schools. first under his father's instruction, and later in one at North Adams.
When he was about 16 years old he began to learn the business of a woolen manufacturer as an apprentice to Artemas Crittenden, in a mill which stood on the site of the present Blackinton woolen mills and was afterward burned. He remained with Mr. Crittenden four years and then worked something less than a year with Hedrick Willey in Williams- town, earning $75, and losing it by Willey's failure. He then worked for two years in the same concern, which in the meantime changed hands several times.
He then worked at several places for short periods until the spring of 1821, when, at the age of 24 years, he formed a copartnership with Rufus Wells and Joseph L. White, and built a mill near the old Willey mill which stood near what is now Blackinton village. It had one set of machinery, upon which the proprietors did most of their own work. Each of the firm contributed $100 as cash capital. credit doing the rest. The firm name was Wells, Blackinton & White, but the mill was popu- larly known as " The Boys' Factory." on account of the youth of the . builders and owners.
J. Blackinion
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ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.
It was a small beginning, and the woolen manufacture was then in its infancy, but " The Boys' Factory" proved to be the seed of fortune for Mr. Blackinton.
The firm continued unchanged until 1838, and rapidly built up its business. In the meantime they bought the old mill built in 1814, by Willey, two rods west of that built by themselves and very near the Williamstown line. It also took the name of "The Boys' Factory," although the firm were getting well into manhood.
They had advanced very far as early as 1829. The mill of 1814, a three story wooden building of 60 by 25 feet, had 9 looms, 465 spindles, employed 20 persons, and made annually 52,000 yards of satinet. The mill of 1821, a three story wooden building of 50 feet by 25, making cot- ton satinet warps, had 300 spindles and employed 20 persons. The two mills worked together, the one doing the carding, spinning, and weaving of the wool, the other preparing the cotton warp. According to the custom of the day, the mill also carded wool and dressed cloth for the household weavers who made a large proportion of the cloth produced , in the county where power looms were not known until 1827. The en- largement of the building and improvements of the machinery of the "Boys' Factory " between 1821 and 1829 were remarkable at that time and showed the vigor of youth and sound business talent.
In the year 1838, Mr. White becoming dissatisfied, his partners pur- chased his interest, paying him on the basis of $30,000 as the value of the whole property. The business was carried on for several years longer under the firm name of Wells & Blackinton, when, Mr. Wells dying, Mr. Blackinton became by purchase sole proprietor. While the partner- ship continued the present stone portion of the factory was built in 1842 and was at that time the most substantial structure for such purposes in Berkshire county. It was then 100 feet long and subsequent additions have made it a 450 feet building, a portion being of wood.
Sanford Blackinton conducted the business in his own name until the year 1850, when he admitted, as partners, Charles Atkinson and John B. Tyler, under the firm name of S. Blackinton & Co. This partnership continued until 1855, when Charles Atkinson retired, and John R. Black- inton was admitted as a member of the firm with its style unchanged.
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