History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 101

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mill, is the property of T. H. and J. O. Dean. In the machine-shop are manufactured piano-forte ma- chinery, wood slipper heels, etc.

The privilege next below was once used for saw- mill purposes, but soon after the beginning of the present century a carding-mill was started there. It then was used for a fulling-mill. Subsequently in one building satinet was manufactured, and in an- other cotton yarn. Asa R. Howard made hoes there. The manufacture of shoe-pegs was engaged in, and in 1848 Solomon W. Morse bought the whole privi- lege and made cotton cloth. It was then purchased by E. J. W. Morse, and has since lain idle most of the time.

At the Furnace village at the opening of the cen- tury Gen. Shepard Leach carried on a successful furnace business. In 1837, Capt. Lincoln Drake es- tablished the malleable iron works, under the firm- name of A. Boyden & Co. It went under that name for about two years, and was under the superintend- ence of Mr. Boyden. Daniel Belcher then took charge of the business for Capt. Drake. About the year 1840 brass castings were for a while also made. In 1849, Daniel Belcher bought out the business, and since that time it has run constantly, except for a few weeks after the works were destroyed by fire. The castings are for agricultural implements, carriage and saddlery castings, cotton and woolen machinery, and many similar things that take the place of difficult forgings. These castings are sent all over the coun- try. This firm, known as the Daniel Belcher Mal- leable Iron Works, enjoys a high reputation for the excellence of its work. It employs thirty men. Near by is the foundry of L. S. and A. L. Drake, successors, in 1872, to Capt. Lincoln Drake, who organized this business in 1833. This firm employs twenty-five men. Its castings in 1881 were of about seven hundred tons weight, and they are largely for machine purposes, school-house work, hot-water heating apparatus, etc. In this village, farther south, and not far from 1830, there was an oil-mill. In 1854, Keith, Rotch & Co .. were running a thread-factory. Pratt, Belcher & Co. carried on the same kind of business. In 1844 the first belt saw-mill erected in this vicinity was built by Lewis Williams and his son, Edward D. Williams. It has been running since that time, and is the prop- erty of the latter at this time. James Belcher also runs a saw-mill now in this village on the old grist- mill privilege.

In the south part of the town, in the year 1828, J. and H. M. Poole began the manufacture of mathe- matical instruments on a small scale. A strong prej- udice for foreign-made instruments was only slowly overcome. Poole's work was found not only to equal but to excel the imported. In 1878, John M. Poole, who had for twenty-five years been foreman, succeeded to the business. He manufactures surveyors' transits, builders' levels, land and telescopic compasses, and

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John Poole was, after a while, associated with Charles Poole in the manufacture of thermometers. Farther north, on the turnpike, Guilford White, in 1850, began the manufacture of shoes, and continued it for six years. For several years afterwards the same business was conducted by Horatio Thayer and Na- thaniel R. Packard. At the same time Lewis Thayer manufactured shoes, and so continued from 1856 to 1870. Irving and Emory Packard began the manu- facture of shoes there in 1864-65, and their business still continues. On the other road, just south of the Dean Works, Samuel Simpson has for years carried on the wheelwright business.

At the beginning of the century industrial enter- prises of some importance were conducted in the northeast part of Easton. Northwest of the present site of the Ames Shovel-Works, near what is called the Picker field, there was a grist-mill. There was also a cotton-picking machine in operation. Capt. John Ames manufactured knives there, and at what is called the "Hoe-Shop" Nathan Pratt manufactures hoes. Close to the present location of the Ames office was another grist-mill, and still lower down was the cotton-factory of the Easton Manufacturing Company. At the lower end of Stone's Pond steel was being manufactured when the century began. Soon a grist-mill was added, afterwards there was a nail-factory ; then William G. Andrews and Eli- jah Howard began the manufacture of cotton yarn. After a while they provided looms and made cotton sheeting. Gurden Stone succeeded William G. An- drews in the business, which was carried on until 1837, when Jason G. Howard bought out Mr. Stone. In 1839 nine tack-machines were put in and the tack business was begun. Edward J. W. Morse subse- quently rented a part of the works and manufac- tured knitting-cotton. In 1852, Mr. Howard sold the place to Oliver Ames, by whom it was used, as it is still used, for shovel-works. Steel was also being made in 1800 at the now Calvin Marshall place, where firearms were manufactured. Jonathan Leon- ard and his father were here, and this was the scene of the disastrous attempt at lead-mining. At this place was also a mill for breaking flax.

At the lower end of what is now called Shovel Shop Pond there was a dam with a grist-mill, nailer's shop, and iron forge with trip-hammer, etc. This prop- erty was purchased by Oliver Ames, the founder of the great shovel business. He had manufactured hoes and shovels here before this time, but had moved to Plymouth. He subsequently returned, and began in a small way the establishment of the now world-fa- mous Ames' shovel business. Having built a new dam and enlarged the Shovel Shop Pond, he renewed at the lower end of this pond the manufacture he had engaged in some years before farther up the stream. It is but repeating a familiar story to say that shovels were slowly made at first, a few at a time, that the first made were carried to market in a one-horse

wagon when one load was almost sufficient to glut the market, that the one-horse wagon gave place to the six-horse team until the railroad was available. Oliver Ames purchased land farther up the stream. In 1852 the factory at the lower end of Shovel Shop Pond proved too small to accommodate the increasing business, and a substantial two-story stone building was erected five hundred and thirty feet long, to which additions were subsequently made. Several other shops were afterwards erected near by, and there are others in different parts of the village where water-power is available. Steam-power is, however, the main reliance. Every description of shovel is made,-long and short handled, square and round- point shovels, spades, grain and coal scoops, post-hole diggers, and other varieties. These are sent not only throughout the United States, but to South America, to parts of Asia and Africa, and to Australia.

An intelligent Englishman visited these works with the writer, and was curious to know how the raw material, steel and iron, could be imported and duties paid thereon, and yet shovels be exported to English provinces, to Australia for instance. Stand- ing before an ingenious machine, he exclaimed, "I see clearly enough how it is, it is your wonderful labor-saving machines. If such a machine as that were set up in one of our shovel-works, our trades unions would have the building in ashes before the next morning, though in so doing they drive business away, and hence injure the working men they pro- fess to benefit. Our manufacturers, too, are very conservative, and are slow to adopt improvements." Those who desire to read a detailed description of the whole process of shovel-making in these works may find it in an article published in the Atlantic Monthly of about 1870, written by Azel Ames, Jr. The Ames corporation have additional shops in Can- ton, South Braintree, and West Bridgewater. If all the stone shops which they use for the shovel busi- ness were placed end to end they would reach about twenty-five hundred feet, or nearly half a mile. Five hundred men are employed in this shovel business. They manufacture from 110,000 to 125,000 dozens of shovels per year. Taking the average of these fig- ures, 117,500 dozens, we have the incredible number of 1,410,000 shovels per year, or 27,115 per week, 4519 per day, 451 per hour. From 1200 to 1500 tons of Swedish iron, and from 1200 to 1400 tons of steel are annually used in this manufacture.

The business of next importance in town is the manufacture of hinges by E. W. Gilmore. In 1854 the firm of E. W. Gilmore & Co., the other partners being Oakes Ames and Oliver Ames, began in a small way the manufacture of strap- and T-hinges, ship-scrapers, wrought iron washers, and other arti- cles. This business was begun in the building for- merly used by the Ames Company for the manufacture of shovels. In 1871, E. W. Gilmore bought out the Ames' interest in the business first named. He then

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built the large works which he now occupies, and moved into them in January, 1872. His power is furnished by a sixty horse-power Corliss engine. Mr. Gilmore is a practical and ingenious machinist, and from time to time has invented and introduced important improvements in the way of machinery and labor-saving processes. By this means, by hard work of brain and hand, he achieved success. When full of work he employs about seventy-five men and boys, making about fifteen thousand strap- and T-hinges per day, besides otlier articles.

In 1851 was organized in North Easton the firm of A. A. Gilmore & Co., the other members of the firm being Elisha T. Andrews and Oakes A. Ames. They manufactured fine calf-skin boots in a building owned by Cyrus Lothrop. Oakes Ames succeeded to the in- terest first owned by Oakes A. Ames. In 1870, Messrs. Gilmore and Andrews bought out Oakes Ames. This firm, which for some time did quite an extensive business, gave up the manufacture of boots in 1879, but the firm did not dissolve until death broke up the long partnership, Mr. Andrews dying in 1883.

In 1855, William Andrews built what is known as the Brett Shop, and went into the business of shoe manufacture with Ward L. Foster; but the business crisis of 1857 made this attempt a failure. The firm of Pratt, Foster & Co. manufactured for a while in the same building. In 1863, George Brett manufactured ladies' shoes in this building for E. H. Johnson, of Lynn. In 1855 he went into business in the same place for himself, and continued it for ten years, when it was closed.

In 1865 John B. King with P. A. Gifford as part- ner began to make boots and shoes. In 1871 Mr. King bought out his partner's interest, and has con- ducted a successful business ever since. He now em- ploys about fifty hands in his work; his goods go chiefly West and Northwest. In the fall of 1880, D. H. Packard began the manufacture of shoes in North Easton. The firm is now D. H. Packard & Co. They employ about fifty hands. In March, 1880, A. J. Leavitt established a business which goes under the name of the New England Specialty Company. He manufactures a large variety of such articles as screw- drivers, can openers, sewing-machine trimmings, steel keys, etc. William King owns a small factory where he makes awls, various kinds of cement, and other goods.

This long journey through the various manufac- tures of the three principal villages of the town where nearly everything has been or is made, brings us at last to "The Centre," where, in 1880, Reed & Lin- coln began the manufacture of quite a variety of shoes. At the present time this firm employs twenty- five hands.

Educational .- The history of school matters in an ordinary country town does not furnish material for an extended or for a very interesting narrative. Our

ancestors were much more interested in churches than in schools, and they expended very much more for their religious than for their educational privileges. But they were not unmindful of the latter, and they illustrated the need of it, for some even of the prom- inent men, and more of the women, were unable to write, and were obliged on old deeds, wills, surveys, etc., which the writer has seen, to " make their mark." It was provided in the articles of incorporation of the town of Easton that, within six months from the time of the publication of such articles, the town should "procure and maintain a school-master to instruct their youth in writing and reading." The town records do not show, however, any very liberal provi- sion for education, even taking into account the char- acter of the times. The following verbatim extract from the town records will suffice to illustrate the too common spirit of town-meeting legislation upon the subject : "Easton March the thirty-first day 1727 at a Leagall meeting of the Inhabitants of said town for to make choice of a schollmaster and to rais money to pay him and to appoint a place for the scholl to be kept: &c. 1 we made choice of Josiah Keith Mod- erator for said meeting. 2ly a vote was called for to give fourty pounds to a schollmaster for one year to keep scholl but not voted. 3ly a vote was called for to give twenty pounds schollmaster to keep scholl one year but not voted. 4ly a vote was called for to give ten pounds to a schollmaster to keep scholl for one year but not voted. 5ly a vote was called for to give five pounds to a schollmaster to keep scholl for one year but not voted. 6ly voted and agreed to give three pounds to a schollmaster for one year to teach youths to Read and to writ and to keep it at his own House and to find himself diet."

What a change in school affairs from the time when the school-master of Easton must provide a school- room, do the teaching, and board himself for fifteen dollars a year, and to-day, when he gets fifteen hun- dred dollars !

There is nothing, down to a very recent date, of sufficient interest to enter into a narrative of this kind. The High School of Easton was organized in 1868, first as a peripatetic institution, moving into different sections of the town for different terms; but before long it was permanently located at North Easton, because more than half the scholars were there. The district system was abolished in 1869, and this change, here as elsewhere, has had a bene- ficial result.

On May 1, 1882, there were in Easton (population, 3901) 822 children between five and fifteen years of age. On the school registers for that year there were enrolled the names of 903 different scholars. Of these 99 were over fifteen years of age, and 11 were under five years. The amount appropriated for the support of schools for the same year was $8577.92. This amount is the exact average per scholar of the appro- priation for schools for all the towns in Massachu-

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

setts, not including the cities, for the preceding year. The average attendance of scholars for the year was 629, and the percentage of attendance was .79. There are twenty schools in town, eleven of them, including the High School, being at North Easton, and two at the Furnace village, all of which are graded schools, the remaining seven being mixed schools.

In pecuniary means for educational purposes the town of Easton probably stands first in the list of towns in the State. By the will of Hon. Oliver Ames, who died in 1877, it was endowed with the large bequest of fifty thousand dollars for the support of schools. In order that such a fund might not tempt the town to reduce its appropriations, the will pro- vides that it shall be forfeited unless the town shall every year appropriate for the support of schools an amount per scholar equal to the average amount per scholar appropriated by all the towns of the State. The income of this fund is four thousand dollars per year, and it is used for general school purposes. Be- sides this, there is another fund of fifty thousand dol- lars, left by Hon. Oakes Ames, for the benefit of the children of North Easton village. By the aid of this fund the High School is being furnished with excel- lent apparatus, various chemical and mechanical in- struments, including microscope with numerous speci- mens, a skeleton, and a manikin recently sent from Paris.

Courses of lectures, chiefly illustrated, are given in the large Ames' Memorial Hall. These, though pri- marily for the benefit of the children, are open to the general public, have been enjoyed by large audi- ences, and cannot but be attended with excellent results. With the income of this fund magazines appropriate to the ages of different scholars are sub- scribed for nearly every family of children in North Easton ; and in order that all the children in town may have the same privilege, Lieutenant-Governor Ames pays for the subscription of magazines for chil- dren in parts of the town outside of this village. Over three hundred copies of the Saint Nicholas alone come into town, and a magazine of some kind goes into every family where there are children attending the public schools.

The liberal funds provided enable the school com- mittee to secure teachers of exceptional ability, to provide supplementary books and other means for conducting the schools in the best manner. Music and drawing have been taught by a special teacher, and in the North Easton schools sewing has been taught for several years, with most marked beneficial results. The excellent public library just opened with over ten thousand carefully-selected books fur- nishes an important auxiliary to the educational ad- vantages of the place, and it will be the fault of the school committee if these are not in time of the high- est order.

CHAPTER XXXI.

EASTON .- (Continued.)

MILITARY-ECCLESIASTICAL, ETC.

As the town of Easton was incorporated long after King Philip's war, there is nothing to record in re- gard to any warfare with the Indians. We have but little knowledge of the part taken by the citizens of Easton in the French and Indian war of 1754-63. The most prominent figure of that time is Capt. Na- thaniel Perry, who raised a company of men for the defense of the eastern frontier. His commission as captain was dated June 6, 1754, and signed by Gover- nor Shirley. He enlisted a company of ninety-six men, of whom only sixteen were from Easton. Easton was then waging an ecclesiastical war in its own borders of the most violent and embittered kind, and there- fore came to the question of the French and Indian war with exhausted energies. Capt. Perry saw con- siderable active service in Nova Scotia, assisted under Gen. Shirley in the capture of Fort Cumberland, and in 1756 was mustered out by death. Easton was very active during the Revolutionary war, and sustained her part in that memorable struggle. The town records of this period are full of allusions to the sub- ject, and are, indeed, largely composed of reports of the business of the town related to the war. The first of such records bears the date of April 3, 1775. It was then voted to raise fifty minute-men, twenty-five out of each military company in town. The battle of Lexington occurred April 19, 1775, and on this day these fifty minute-men, under the command of Capt. Macey Williams, started for the seat of war. Being enlisted merely as minute-men for what was called " the Lexington alarm," they were out for only a brief service, viz., nine days. On the 4th of May another town-meeting is called. A bounty is voted every soldier who has enlisted or shall enlist and who will provide himself with a blanket. A com- mittee is chosen to procure blankets for those who re- fuse or neglect to procure them for themselves.

Town-meetings follow each other in quick succes- sion. The change of feeling towards the king is in- dicated by the significant fact that the term " Maj- esty," which had previously been prefixed to his name, is now dropped, and he is simply called " George the Third." Even that term soon disap- pears, and we have no more allusion to royal author- ity. Our citizens partake of the common excitement that stirred our countrymen after the battle of Bunker Hill. Every available offensive weapon is hunted up and brought into service. Investigation shows that the town is short of ammunition, and one of the citi- zens, David Manley, is despatched to Newport for powder, ball, and flints. The Boston Port Bill had impoverished many of the Bostonians, some of whom had to be sent for support to surrounding towns.

In February, 1776, a committee of three is ap-

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pointed to take care of such of the " poor of Boston" as were then in town. A committee of " correspond- ence and inspection" took general charge of war mat- ters here. A committee was chosen " to incorage the manufacturin of Sault Peter in this town." On the first anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, in a notable town-meeting, the citizens vote that "if the Honerabel Continantal Congress, for the safety of the United Colonies, Declare themselves independent of. Great Breton, we ingage Even at the Resque of life and fotin to do Whatever is in our Power to soport them in sd. measure." Soon followed the declaration of independence, and Rev. Archibald Campbell, the minister of Easton, read that heart-stirring document to a large and eagerly-listening assembly on Sunday next after July 17, 1776. It was then handed to Matthew Hayward, who, like every other town clerk in Massachusetts, proudly recorded it in his town records.

Among the military officers from Easton one of the most prominent was Col. Abial Mitchell. He was appointed major May 19, 1775, and received his com- mission as colonel June 17, 1779. He was prominent in town affairs, and served as representative to the General Court for twenty-one years. He served in the army until the close of the Revolutionary war, and many interesting incidents are told of his courage and prowess. These incidents, interesting as they are, cannot be narrated here, as they would too much lengthen this necessarily brief sketch.

Another of Easton's heroes in the war was Capt. Elisha Harvey. He was in the artillery service, and as he did not die until 1821, he is still (1883) held in remembrance by some of the older inhabitants of the town. He was the hero of a brave action at the battle of Brooklyn Heights, where, in face of the advancing enemy and after his men had deserted their guns, he touched off two loaded cannon, and then turned the gun-carriages about and sent them rolling down the bluff into the water. He then rushed down the cliff, entered a boat, and made for the opposite shore, which he reached, notwithstanding the hot fire that was poured after him. The action was witnessed by the troops on both sides, and was soon reported to Gen. Washington, by whom it was highly complimented. He was present at the execution of Maj. André. He was sergeant in Drury's company of Knox's artil- lery in May, 1776. He was commissioned first lieu- tenant in Lamb's artillery regiment June 28, 1778, and was made captain in 1780. He died in Easton, Feb. 11, 1821.

Another man who saw considerable service was Capt. James Perry, who raised a company of soldiers as early as 1776. He departed for the seat of war with a company of sixty men. He served in the army of Gen. Washington, was at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and returned home some time in 1779. His service was not confined to the field ; he owned a fur- nace at home, where he manufactured cannon and 1

cannon-balls. At the same time firearms were being manufactured by the Leonards in the northeast part of the town, where in 1785 or 1786 Eliphalet Leonard began the making of steel. Capt. Josiah Keith raised a company of soldiers, thirty-three of whom were from Easton, and served with them for a while in Col. John Daggett's regiment. Subsequently, for three years dating from January, 1777, he served as cap- tain in Col. Michael Jackson's Eighth Regiment. He was then made major in the same regiment, in which capacity he served during the year 1780. A comparatively large number of men from Easton served in the Revolutionary war, many enlisting in the company of Capt. Francis Luscomb, of Taunton, in Capt. Keith's, in Capt. John Allen's company of Col. Carpenter's regiment, in Capt. Macey Williams' company, and there were some scattered through various other companies. Easton had reason to bc proud of her record in that great struggle for national independence.

The war of 1812 did not create much enthusiasm, and there are no facts concerning Easton's connec- tion with it to call for any special notice in this sketch. On the breaking out of the war of the Re- bellion there was in town a military company com- manded by Capt. Milo M. Williams, known as Com- pany B of the Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. A call for troops was made by Governor Andrew. This company received the order, and reported with other companies of the regiment on the very next day. The day after this the regi- ment was sent to Fortress Monroe, where it remaincd for three months. Easton furnished three hundred and thirty-four men for the army and navy, and ex- pended more than forty thousand dollars for war pur- poses. Besides this large subscriptions were made by citizens, and there were here, as in other towns of the State, large contributions for camp and hospital stores. The following is the list of the patriots of Easton who died in the service of their country, and whose names are inscribed upon the soldiers' monu- ment, which was dedicated on Memorial-day, 1882:

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818