History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 201

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 201

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).

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and Gideon Perkins, Daniel Reed, Philander W. day. They occupy a portion of Anthony & Cush- Dean, James C. Brown, and Albert . Hunter were man's building, Court Street. directors ; Robert Crossman, clerk ; Daniel Reed, Jr., treasurer; and James Brown, president. From that time there was a change in the officers nearly every year, except agent and treasurer, which L. F. Dudley held several years, and George W. White, superinten- dent, who remained some ten years. The company were doing a fair business, and paid a dividend until 1857 of four and a half per cent.

In 1866, Lorenzo Lincoln was elected president, and has held the office seventeen years. Thomas J. Lothrop was elected director in 1867 and agent and treasurer in 1868, and still remains treasurer and manager. In 1869 the company voted to erect a new manufactory on the land purchased of A. E. Swasey.

In 1870 the company increased their capital to ; sixty thousand dollars, removed to their new mann- factory on Weir Street, and authorized the sale of their property on Union Street. The company then began to add to its machinery not only tack-nail machines but for the manufacture of rivets and bolts. In 1873 the capital stock was increased to one hun- dred and twenty thousand dollars. In 1874, George W. White resigned as superintendent. In July, 1878, the fire destroyed a large portion of the factory, in- cluding the machinery for stove-bolts, and that busi- ness was not resumed. The factory was soon rebuilt and new machines added, and now includes one hun- dred and seven tack- and shoe-nail machines and various other valuable machines required in the es- tablishment ; also wire-drawing apparatus and ma- chinery for the rivet department. The establishment consumes about seven and a half tons of iron per day, and furnishes employment to one hundred and ten hands in the various departments. The company manufactures its own machines, and is adding wire nails to its specialties in business. It has a branch store in Chicago for Western trade.

The officers are Lorenzo Lincoln, president; Thomas J. Lothrop, treasurer and agent; Joseph Philbrick, clerk ; H. B. Wheelwright, Thomas J. Lothrop, Lo- renzo Lincoln, Joseph Philbrick, Francis H. Wilbur, directors.

Anthony & Cushman, manufacturers of all kinds of tacks, brads, and shoe-nails, commenced business, in 1864, in their works below Weir village with twenty- six machines. Their business increased largely, and in 1882 removed into their spacious manufactory, Court Street, formerly Bay State Screw Works, where they have nearly ninety machines running, employing about one hundred hands, cutting four tons of metal per day of various kinds. Capital, sixty thousand dollars.

H. L. Cushman & Co. commenced the manufacture of tufting and shoe buttons in April, 1882. Capital, twenty-five thousand dollars. They employ twenty- five hands, and make nearly a million of buttons per

Strange's Cylinder Saw and Machine Company, on Tremont Street. The senior partner, Elias Strange, is the oldest mechanic in this vicinity, having been at the business about sixty years as foreman and manager in several establishments. Several years since he directed his attention to the manufacture of machines for making staves, boxes, barrels, amateur steam-engines, etc., of which company Elias Strange is president, Emerson C. is secretary, and Elias W. Strange is treasurer. They employ about twenty ; hands.

Taunton Copper Manufacturing Company. - In 1826, William A., Samuel L., and George A. Crocker associated together as Crocker Brothers, and commenced the manufacture of copper upon the Wading River, in Norton, a privilege which their father, William Allen Crocker, formerly owned, a small establishment previously occupied by Crocker & Richmond a few years for the same purpose. In 1831 the above-named William A., Samuel L., and George A. Crocker, with Daniel Brewer, Nathaniel Crandell, and such others as they may associate with them, were incorporated as the Taunton Copper Manufacturing Company, under the firm-name of Crocker Brothers & Co., with a capital of $200,000. The works were enlarged double their former size in Norton, and practical skilled workmen were obtained from England to produce the less costly article called yellow metal, and by chemical arrangements in the manufacture of copper and yellow metal they utilized the oxide of zine for various mechanical purposes ; they also contracted for the manufacture of planchets for copper cents, which machines were worked by William Allen West many years, furnishing the United States government with fifty thousand dollars annually. In 1849 the company erected a large estab- lishment at Weir village for the manufacture and rolling of copper, yellow metal, and zine, removing a portion of the machinery from Norton. The com- pany conducted a large and profitable business for many years, increasing their capital to $600,000, and again to $900,000, and paying large dividends. Wil- liam A. Crocker retired from the firm in 1854, and George A. Crocker died in February, 1864. Few other changes have taken place by deaths and resig- nations. A few years since, in consequence of busi- ness reverses and losses on stock, and the inability to pay dividends, the capital was decreased to $450,000. During, however, all the panics and reverses of 1837, 1857, and 1873, the company continued its large and costly business operations, regularly paying, without intermission, their employés, many of whom have been upon the rolls in their service thirty, forty, and fifty years. Within the past year (1882) Charles Rob- inson and Ward M. Parker, two of the oldest directors, died ; in January last Charles R. Vickery, another of the board, and president of company many years,

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and in February last, Samuel L. Crocker, the last surviving brother, director, treasurer, and manager of the company from its organization, over half a cen- tury, died. Now a reorganization is taking place in this old-established and wealthy corporation. E. H. Bennett, who was elected president to succeed Mr. Vickery, has resigned, and some new officers will be elected to fill the places of the former board. Timothy Gordon has been connected with the copper works over forty-five years as book-keeper, clerk, agent, and treasurer; also R. Henry Hall over thirty years, as superintendent and agent, which offices they now fill as members of the company.

Leonard Co-operative Foundry .- In 1845, Deacon Lemuel Leonard built a small foundry a short dis- tance below Whittenton Mills for casting stoves and small ware. A few years later his son, Lemuel M. Leonard, was associated with him, and enlarged the furnace, continuing several years. The former died in 1868. The latter, to extend his business, built a large foundry on Wales Street and removed from Whittenton in 1865, and continued a large business until his death, in 1876. This was the origin of the Leonard Co-operative Foundry Company, organized in 1877; capital, twenty-five thousand dollars. The company has two foundries and a number of build- ings, covering an area of two acres, and do a large business. The officers are L. B. West, president ; W. H. Lindsey, treasurer ; A. J. Holt, traveling agent ; directors, Wm. N. Parker, Charles R. Mason, L. B. West, Wm. H. Lindsey, J. M. Pratt, A. W. Hewitt, Jr., J. B. Grigor, T. N. Goff, C. H. Briggs.

The Eagle Cotton-Mill Company was incorporated in 1860; capital, sixty thousand dollars ; President, Theodore Dean; F. B. Dean, clerk, treasurer, and agent; Directors, Joseph Dean, A. K. Williams, George B. Williams, F. B. Dean, Theodore Dean. Wanton Bouse, one of the directors and superinten- dents, died recently.

The Taunton Oil-Cloth Company was incorporated in 1850, with a capital of $25,000; now has a capital of $55,000. The board of directors are John E. San- ford, Enoch Robinson, Thompson Newbury, Charles T. Robinson, J. J. Whitmarsh.

The presidents have been Charles Robinson, Bay- lies Sanford, William R. Davenport, John E. Sanford; Clerks, B. Sanford, John E. Sanford, J. J. Whit- marsh. James W. Crossman was agent many years. The present officers are : President, John E. Sanford ; Clerk, J. J. Whitmarsh; Treasurer, Thompson New- bury, who has been treasurer from the organization of the company. They manufacture enameled and peb- bled oil cloths.

Presbrey Stove-Lining Company, established in 1826 ; incorporated in 1866, with a capital of $28,000; manufacture fire-brick and stove-linings. The board of directors are Henry T. Root, B. C. Pierce, J. T. Maher, William A. Miller, D. A. Trefethen. Henry T. Root, president ; B. C. Pierce, treasurer and agent.

Their present buildings cover nearly two acres of ground, having been recently enlarged.

Westville .- This pleasant village in the westerly section of Taunton was named for one of its enter- prising manufacturers, John West, over seventy years ago. Its location on Three-Mile River, prominently identified with the Baylies Iron Works a hundred and forty years ago, was, half a century previously, the site of the " Andrews' grist-mill" and Lincoln's saw- mill, the former owned by Capt. John Andrews, the latter by Rufus and Ichabod Lincoln ; in later years by Joseph Andrews, son of the above, and Isaac Lin- coln, grandfather of Deacon Lorenzo Lincoln, the respected veteran paper manufacturer, whose ances- tors resided near there.

About 1738-39, Thomas Baylies, Jr., had a forge and iron-works on the south side of Three-Mile River, for making charcoal-iron from ore mined in the vicinity and from New Jersey. He died in July, 1756, at forty-one years of age, a few months after the death of his father.

An interesting history is connected with the owners of the Baylies Iron Works. Thomas and Esther Sar- geant Baylies,1 ancestors of all of that name in this vi- cinity,-Nicholas, Hodijah, Dr. William, Hon. Francis and William, Thomas Sargeant, Dr. Alfred Baylies, and others (of whom Mr. Shove, in his "Digh- ton History," gives special account),-came from Colebrook Dale, Shropshire, England, in 1737, with his sons, Thomas and Nicholas, all "iron masters." 2 On their arrival in Boston, Thomas, Sr., proceeded to West Attleborough "Gore" (now Cumberland, R. I.), to superintend an iron-works for a firm of Boston merchants. He resided in that town some fifteen years, and was probably associated with Capt. Thomas Leonard, of Raynham, in the same business the last portion of the time.

Thomas, Jr., came to Taunton and Nicholas went to Uxbridge, both to superintend iron-works. Thomas, Sr., subsequently removed from Attleborough to Taunton, probably to assist his son at Baylies Iron- Works, where soon after, his wife Esther died, May 7, 1754, in her sixty-fifth year, and he died March 5, 1756, nearly two years later, in his' sixty-ninth year. They were buried, with sons, Thomas, Nicholas, and grandson, Thomas Sargeant, and others, in the " Bay- lies Cemetery," in Taunton, below Weir village.

After the death of Thomas Baylies, Jr., above men- tioned, his brother Nicholas came from Uxbridge to administer upon the estate of Thomas, who was

1 They were Quakers, and on the day of their marriage, in Warwick- shire, England, 6th month 5th, 1706, which was a silent ceremony, a lock of hair was clipped from the head of the bride, Esther Sargeant, which has descended through lineal generations one hundred and sev- enty-six years, to a namesake, daughter of the late Dr. Alfred Baylies, of this city. It was in the possession of the late William Baylies some twenty years ago, and left by him with his former student, Ellis Ames, to be given as an heirloom to the namesake of Esther Sargeant, the maiden name of their ancestress.

2 We have the facts from a descendant, Mrs. Eliza B. Wheaton.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

single. He relinquished his business at Uxbridge, after residing there some twenty years, and removed here. He resided in Taunton near Dighton line, and conducted the forge and anchor business exten- sively, making anchors and other heavy implements for vessels and farmers' use. He purchased the grist-mill of Capt. Joseph Andrews and the Lincoln saw-mill, and was for a while associated with Capt. Sylvester Richmond, of Dighton, for several years high sheriff. Nicholas Baylies was a prominent man. At the close of the last century he represented the town in the Legislature four years (1781-82, 1786-87), and, though by birth an Englishman, he was an able supporter of the American cause in the Revolution. He was the father of Dr. William, Thomas Sargeant, Maj. Hodijah Baylies, and other children, eight in all. He died July 6, 1807, in his eighty-ninth year.

His youngest son, Hodijah, succeeded him in the iron-works, after closing an honorable career in the Revolution, having served as aid to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln (whose daughter he married), and for some time upon the staff of Washington. He enlarged the iron-works, and conducted a large business many years. During this time, among other large con- tracts, he made the anchor for the frigate "Constitu- tion," which was considered a great event in manu- facturing iron at the time. It required (as stated by his son, late Edmund Baylies) ten yoke of oxen to transport the anchor to tide-water, Dighton, thence to be taken on board "Old Ironsides," which became a terror to the English navy. During his connection with the iron-works he was appointed collector of the port of Dighton, the first under the Constitution. He continued in the iron business until 1810, when he received the appointment of judge of probate, which office he held twenty-four years. He disposed of the privilege and old mills to John West in 1809, who built the paper-mill on the opposite side of the river. Mr. West, who had been a merchant in Boston, was the first paper manufacturer in the Old Colony.

In 1823-24, Mr. West, associated with Crocker & Richmond, built a cotton-mill on the site of the old iron-works, and the business was continued by Mr. West as agent of the cotton- and paper-mill until the time of his death, in December, 1827.

The cotton-mill was then managed by Crocker & Richmond until the time of their suspension in 1837. The paper-mill was conducted by Richard Park, by Park, Lincoln & Park (Caleb M. Lincoln and Edwin Park, associates), until the death of Richard Park, senior member, in 1833. Etheridge Clarke had an interest in the property for several years then called the Westville Manufacturing Company. George and Jonathan Bliss purchased the property soon after the failure of Crocker & Richmond, continuing the manu- facture of cotton cloth for several years, and the paper-mill was conducted by Jonathan Bliss, Jr., & Co. They were succeeded by Alexander Hodges, who purchased the cotton- and paper-mill, when the

latter was discontinued for lack of sufficient water- power. The machinery was sold to C. M. and L. Lincoln for their paper-mill at North Dighton. The whole property passed into the possession of Lovering Brothers, who converted the mill into a spinning- mill to supply the yarn for consumption at their Whittenton mills.

The Most Ancient Mills in Taunton were Deacon Robert Crossman's grist-mill, below the dam at the Cohannet Street crossing, and stood in the bend of the street for a century or more. It was built soon after the settlement of Taunton in 1638-39. In 1659, " Henry Andrews and John Macomber were per- mitted to erect a saw mill," just above, on the oppo- site side of the street, "if it was not hurtful to the grist-mill." These humble mills have gone into his- tory by Mr. Baylies' researches. A hundred years later, or more, a fulling-mill stood near the site of the saw-mill, which John Sturtevant occupied in 1812, and in which Deacon Roswell Ballard commenced the business before he converted Sproat's snuff-mill into a fulling-mill, near Street's bridge.

Elizabeth Pool Mills, situate on the bank of Mill River, below Hopewell Mills, organized in June, 1877, capital $75,000. The main mill is two hundred and eighteen by seventy feet, another one hundred by forty, each two stories. Two additional since built, one, one hundred and nineteen by seventy, another one hundred and fifty-five by forty-eight, one story each ; manufacture cotton flannels of fine quality as a specialty. The officers are Ira F. Lawry, president; Albert E. Swasey, treasurer; Charles A. Lawry, clerk; Directors, William C. Lovering, I. F. Lawry, A. E. Swasey, H. M. Lovering, C. A. Lawry.

Another Ancient Iron-Works stood nearly two hundred years ago near the site of the Dighton Fur- nace Company upon Three-Mile River, which divided the towns of Dighton and Taunton, two miles below Westville. Richard Stephens, one of the early set- tlers of Taunton, with his son and others, in 1702, had a forge for making iron and a grist-mill there. His sons, Nicholas and Josiah Stephens, and Nicholas, Jr., afterwards owned the forge and iron-works. In 1739, Bollan and Laughton, Boston merchants, having purchased a portion of the privilege, they "leased the falls, dam, land," etc., of said Stephens in 1740 to erect an iron-works and refinery thereon, Stephens reserving the right to run the grist-mill. In 1748, Bollan and Laughton conveyed the privilege and iron- works to Henry Laughton, Jr., nephew of the former, and the business was continued many years. Bollan and Laughton were wealthy merchants (Englishmen), and had purchased large tracts of land and farms in this vicinity. In 1776 they proved to be "loyal- ists," or Tories. The property they had not conveyed away was confiscated and sold by the State commis- sioners, Capt. Israel Washburn, of Raynham, Judge Tobey, of Berkley, and Capt. Henry Hodges, of Taunton, including several farms and the large tracts

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of land, according to the records, in the adjoining towns they had purchased.

This location, the last employed for manufacturing purposes on Three-Mile River, was owned by the sons and descendants of Richard Stephens, -- the last one, Elijah H. Stephens (great-grandson of Richard), who formerly owned a portion of the forge, mills, and other adjacent property, but, as tradition says, was defrauded out of a large portion of it by Boston parties.

The Dighton Cotton Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1806, and built a cotton-mill, and afterwards went into the foundry and cotton-machine business. The machine-shop was afterwards leased to T. S. Dunlap in 1843, who converted it into a woolen-mill, occupying it a few years. He then re- moved to a new mill, a short distance below, built by the Dighton Manufacturing Company for them as a woolen-mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1848. After Mr. Dunlap's removal from the old machine- shop C. M. and L. Lincoln leased it for a paper-mill, which they fitted for the purpose. After the death of the senior partner, Caleb M. Lincoln, in 1836, the firm was changed to L. Lincoln & Co., and has re- mained so for twenty-seven years. Their mills were destroyed by fire in 1881. They soon rebuilt a fine brick establishment, much enlarged, and with im- proved machinery, for the manufacture of various kinds of paper, and are doing a prosperous busi- ness.

William L. Hathaway, and others of the Dighton Furnace Company, who occupied the old furnace buildings in 1858, removed to the Taunton side of Commerce of Taunton .- The commercial interests of Taunton were comparatively small two hundred years ago, yet the coasting trade was inaugurated soon after the settlement of the enterprising pioneers, and their small shallops and sloops of ten to twenty tons were plying with cargoes of iron, brick, and other arti- the river, built a large foundry and shop for the manufacture of iron tubing, called the Dighton Tube-Works, which were discontinued several years since. After the death of Mr. Hathaway, June 15, 1870, he was succeeded by George F. Gavitt as man- 1 ager and treasurer many years. For the last twelve : cles to and from Providence, New York, and Newport, years James H. Codding, who succeeded Mr. Gavitt in the Dighton Furnace Company, has done a large business in the range and stove line of manufacture, the largest in the city, has extended the works, cov- ering an area of about three acres, has a capital of $75,000, and employs over a hundred hands.

The Industries of Taunton, Products, etc .- In Taunton there are 152 manufacturing establishments of all kinds, employing 6160 persons. Capital in- vested, $4,324,134; stock used, $4,292,917; value of products, $7,663,656 ; annual wages paid, $2,090,690. We quote from last census report: The above includes one for making agricultural implements, capital, $1000; product, $1350. Of artisans' tools, 2; capital, $4000; product, $8000. Of boots and shoes, 7; cap- ital, $2350; wages paid, $4200; stock, $4325; product, $12,350. Of brick-makers, 6 establishments ; capital, $98,000 ; stock, $11,500; wages paid per year, $21,800 ; product, $45,000. In building, 13; capital, $18,900; stock, $29,300; wages paid, $24,360; product, $70,950. Of burial-caskets, etc., 2; capital, $19,000; product, | Capt. Sylvester Jones; sloop "Sally," Capt. Jacob

$17,000. Of buttons, 2 establishments; capital, $40,- 000; product, $75,000. In carpetings, 1; capital, $70,000; product, $166,800. Of carriages and wagons, 11; capital, $42,300; stock, $20,000; wages paid, $22,100; product, $61,250. Of clothing, 4; capital, $22,500; stock, $27,200; wages paid, $10,750; product, $44,600. Of cooking, lighting, and heating apparatus (stoves, etc.), 12; capital invested, $365,500; wages, $204,906; stock, $188,137; product, $517,500. In cotton goods, eight establishments ; capital invested, $1,000,000; stock used, $995,200; wages, $391,195; product, $1,856,884. Crucibles, 2; capital, $60,000; product, 868,450. Of earthen and stoneware, 1; cap- ital, $10,000 ; product, $6500. Of food preparations, butchers, etc., 11; capital, $62,500; wages paid, $20,198 ; stock used, $296,900; product, $363,000. Of furniture, 2; capital, $900; product, $7200. Of leather, 5; capital, $5600; wages, $6250; stock, $4950; prod- uct, $11,800. Of lumber, 4; capital, $34,000; stock, $22,100; wages, $16,900; product, $50,500. Of ma- chines and machinery, 8; capital, $843,800; stock, $698,950 ; wages, $522,276; product, $1,309,700. In metals and metallic goods, 33; capital, $1,722,650; stock, $1,750,800; wages paid yearly, $755,493 ; prod- uct, $2,864,313. In models and patterns, 2; capital, $4500; product, $2900. Of stone, 3; capital, $5880 ; wages, $5942; stock, $3900; product, $14,598. Of wooden goods, 3; capital, $27,700; stock, $11,075; product, $23,900. Of liquors and beverages, 1; capital, $6000; product, $20,000. Blacksmiths,. capital em- ployed, $13,000 ; annual product, $30,000.

where a large trade was established. Sloops were built on the banks of Taunton River as far up as Tit- ticut by the Pratts and Holmeses, and at Richard Wil- liams' landing by Capt. Joseph Hall and others. At the commencement of the present century there was a small fleet engaged in the articles of commerce of Taunton. Iron, hollow-ware, and brick were then the chief articles of export. Capt. Job Smith, a large dealer in West India and dry goods, had a large store at Neck of Land, where Capt. Job Godfrey and others landed their cargoes; the wharf may now be seen. Schooner " Raynham," built at the Dean Street land- ing, by Capt. Joseph Hall, for Hon. Josiah Dean, who then conducted the iron-works; the sloop " In- dustry," owned by Capt. Perez Hall and his father; sloop "Sally," Capt. Benjamin Cooper, Josiah Dean, and Col. George Williams owners ; sloop "Ranger," Capt. William Presbrey, owned by Capt. Seth Presbrey, Samuel Leonard, and John Presbrey ; sloop "Peace and Plenty," Capt. Seth Presbrey ; sloop " Union,"

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Phillips ; sloop "Hannah," Capt. David Vickery ; the owners of these were Samuel Leonard, Jonathan Ingell, James Hart, Capt. David Padelford, Col. Noah Hall, Capt. Abiathar Williams, Capt. Jonathan Ingell, and others, were employed in the coasting trade nearly a century ago. Sloop "Dove," owned by Eliphalet Williams, John West and others, for freighting grain from New York for their distillery at Weir village, was captured during the embargo of the war of 1812-14. A British seventy-four was lying off the Sound, under Commodore Harvey, to seize the Taunton sloops as they plied their trade, and the "Dove" with six or eight hundred bushels of corn attempted to run the gaunt- let up the Sound, but was seized about off New Lon- don, and the owners were required to pay a heavy ransom in specie to recover her. Many of the shal- lops were so small that they could slip into the inlets with twenty tons, and make their way by night unmo- lested.

At the period we mention the aggregate tonnage of the Taunton fleet would not exceed four hundred tons.

We now append the following list of vessels of the Taunton fleet of 1883, to show the increase of our commerce in a hundred years :

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 201

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