USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 78
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Border City Manufacturing Company .- The Border City Mills were organized April 29, 1872, with the following board of directors : S. Angier Chace, Stephen Davol, Chester W. Greene, E. C. Kilburn, Charles P. Stickney, A. D. Easton, George T. Hath- away, John M. Dean, William E. Dunham, James E. Cunneen, Horatio N. Durfce. S. A. Chace was subsequently elected president, and George T. Hath- away treasurer. An act of incorporation was secured under date of June 3, 1872, and the name of " Border
1 Since the above was written the corporation has decided to rebuild,
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
City Mills" adopted, a name often applied to Fall River because of its proximity to the State of Rhode Island.
Two mills were erected, No. 1 in 1873, and No. 2 in 1874. The former was 318 feet long and 73 feet wide, five stories high, and contained 35,632 spindles and 880 looms. No. 2 Mill was 329 feet long, 73 feet wide, five stories, and contained 36,512 spindles and 880 looms. Nov. 17, 1877, Mill No. 1 was totally de- stroyed by fire.
During the financial irregularities of 1879 this cor- poration passed into the hands of its creditors, and was reorganized as the Border City Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $400,000, which has been increased to $600,000. No. 1 Mill has been rebuilt, and the two mills now contain 76,000 spindles and 1850 looms. Production, print goods.
1
The present officers are as follows : President, John S. Brayton ; Clerk, Henry K. Braley ; Treasurer, Edward L. Anthony ; Directors, John S. Brayton, Charles J. Holmes, A. S. Covel, Jonathan Bourne, Jos. Arthur Beanvais, Charles E. Barney, Theo. Dean, Francis A. Foster, and George M. Woodward.
The Sagamore Manufacturing Company .-- The Sagamore Mills were incorporated in the spring of 1872, with L. L. Barnard as president, Francis B. Hood treasurer, and the following board of directors : L. L. Barnard, F. B. Hood, Josiah C. Blaisdell, James W. Hartley, Charles McCreery, Jonathan I. Hilliard, Joseph Borden, William M. Almy, D. Hartwell Dyer, and Job T. Wilson. A tract of land on the borders of Taunton River, a little north of Slade's Ferry, was purchased, and work on the foundations of the mill begun in July, 1872. The mill was completed in 1873, three hundred and twenty feet long by seventy- three feet wide, five stories high.
The mill continued under this management about four years, when it went into other hands, with new capital, with the following officers: President, James A. Hathaway ; Clerk and Treasurer, George T. Hath- away ; Directors, James A. Hathaway, Job T. Wilson, Josiah C. Blaisdell, John D. Flint, Charles P. Stick- ney, George T. Hathaway, James E. Cunneen, John M. Deane, Chester W. Greene.
In 1879 the corporation failed, and the property went into the hands of the creditors, and was reorgan- ized as the Sagamore Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $500,000. A new mill was built in 1882, and the two mills now contain 84,692 spindles and 2042 looms. Capital, $750,000. Production, print cloths.
The present officers are as follows: President, Theodore Dean ; Clerk, Henry K. Braley ; Treasurer, Hezekiah A. Brayton; Directors, Theodore Dean, Tannton ; Moses W. Richardson, Boston ; A. S. Tripp, John S. Brayton, William Lindsey, D. H. Dyer, Charles J. Holmes, Fall River ; Abram H. Howland, Jr., Jos. A. Beauvais, New Bedford.
The Shove Mills .- The honor of having been the
founder of these mills is due to John P. Slade, Esq., as it was mainly through his instrumentality that the organization was finally effected, a charter secured, and the project brought to a successful issue.
The first meeting of the subscribers, thirty-one in number, for the organization of the company, was held March 4, 1872. The act of incorporation is dated April 2, 1872. The capital was fixed at $550,- 000, and the name of "Shove Mills" assumed as the corporate name, in honor of Charles O. Shove, a prominent cotton manufacturer of the city, and the first president of the new corporation. John P. Slade was elected treasurer, with the following board of directors : Charles O. Shove, Joseph McCreery, George A. Chace, Lloyd S. Earle, William Connell, Jr., Na- than Chace, Isaac W. Howland, Josiah C. Blaisdell, and John P. Slade.
Land for a mill-site was purchased on the western shore of Laurel Lake, just within the line of boun- dary between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and further purchases beyond the boundary line were made for tenement blocks.
No active steps towards building the mill were taken until the fall of 1873, when a foundation only was put in. Work was resumed in the spring of 1874, and the building carried forward to completion and filled with machinery. The mill is a handsome granite structure, 339 feet long, 74 feet wide, and five stories high, with a basement, a flat roof, and a large square tower running up at the centre.
The mill was erected in 1874, and commenced run- ning in April, 1875, with 37,504 spindles and 960 looms; about 1500 spindles have since been added. The mill is heated by steam, and lighted by gas made from petroleum and manufactured on the premises.
In 1881 the company erected a yarn-mill of 21,088 spindles just over the line in Rhode Island, making the present capacity of the mills 60,128 spindles and 1500 loomis; production, print cloths. The present officers are as follows : President, Charles M. Shove ; Clerk and Treasurer, George A. Chace; Directors, Charles M. Shove, John P. Slade, George A. Chace, Edmund Chase, Lloyd S. Earle, Isaac W. Howland, H. B. Allen, George W. Slade, and Fenner Brownell.
The mill was wound up and all the machinery in operation April 7, 1875, with a capacity of 28,400 spindles and 768 looms. This has been increased to 31,280 spindles and 808 looms. The mill structure is of granite, located in the eastern part of the city on the Quequechan River. Capital, $330,000; produc- tion, print cloths. The present officers are as follows : President, William H. Jennings; Clerk and Treas- urer, Nathaniel B. Borden; Directors, William H. Jennings, James M. Aldrich, N. B. Borden, Simeon Borden, John Campbell, Arnold B. Chace, Alphonso S. Covel, Robert T. Davis, Stephen Davol, W. H. Gifford, William Huston, Henry C. Lincoln, John W. Rogers,
The Conanicut Mills were originally built by
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Oliver Chase as a thread-mill, and after several changes the present company was incorporated in 1880, with a capital of $80,000. The mill is located at Globe village, and contains 11,072 spindles and 250 looms. Production, wide fine goods. The present officers are as follows : President, Edmund W. Con- verse ; Clerk and Treasurer, C. E. Lindsey ; Directors, E. W. Converse, Charles L. Thayer, Moses W. Rich- ardson, Boston ; James H. Chacc, Providence; Wil- liam Lindsey, E. C. Kilburn, Crawford E. Lindsey, Fall River.
The Globe Yarn-Mills were incorporated in 1881, with a capital of $350,000, for the manufacture of superior quality of yarns. The mills contain 32,000 spindles. The first and present officers are as follows : President, William H. Jennings ; Clerk and Treas- urer, Arnold B. Sandford; Directors, William H. Jennings, Robert T. Davis, Frank S. Stevens, James M. Osborn, Samuel D. Howland, A. B. Sanford ; E. S. Draper, of Hopedale.
The Bourne Mill, named in honor of Jonathan Bourne, a capitalist of New Bedford, was erected in 1881, and is one of the most complete mills in the country. It contains 43,000 spindles and 1100 looms. It is located just over the State line in Rhode Island. Capital, $400,000. The present officers are as follows : President, Edmund Chase; Clerk and Treasurer, George A. Chace; Directors, Jonathan Bourne, New Bedford ; Edmund Chase, George A. Chace, Danforth Horton, Lloyd S. Earle, Charles M. Shove, and Frank S. Stevens.
Laurel Lake Mills .- This corporation was organ- ized in 1881 by John P. Slade, R .T. Davis, M.D., and Henry C. Lincoln. Mr. Slade was elected president of the corporation, and has held the position to the present time. The manufacture of cloth commenced in December, 1882. The mill contains 860 looms and 34,038 spindles. Capital, $400,000. The present offi- cers are : President, John P. Slade ; Clerk and Treas- urer, Abbott E. Slade; Agent, James E. Cunneen ; Directors, John P. Slade, William H. Jennings, Rob- ert T. Davis, Frank S. Stevens, Henry C. Lincoln, David T. Wilcox, S. H. Miller, George E. Hoar, Wil- liam Beattie, John B. Whittaker, Milton Reed, Prelet D. Conant; Lawton I. Ware, Warren.
The Barnaby Manufacturing Company was in- the manufacturer and Jesse the buyer and seller. corporated in 1882, with a capital of $300,000. The first officers were as follows: President, Simeon B. Chase; Clerk and Treasurer, Stephen B. Ashley ; Directors, Simeon B. Chase, Samuel Wadington, Robert T. Davis, George H. Hawes, S. B. Ashley, George H. Hills, J. B. Barnaby, Charles E. Berney, and William F. Draper. The officers and directors have not been changed. The mill is located in the eastern part of the city on the Quequechan River, and contains 15,000 spindles and 500 looms. Produc- tion, fine ginghams.
The Fall River Bleachery .- The founding of this establishment is due to Mr. Spencer Borden, who
started the movement for organization in 1872. After submitting his plans to various manufacturers in Fall River and New Bedford, who pronounced the project feasible, the books of the company were opened, and the stock so quickly subscribed that before a stone had been laid it was quoted at 110 in the market. Promi- nent among the subscribers were Messrs. Jefferson, Philip D., and Richard B. Borden, Stephen Davol, Frank Stevens, C. E. Lindsey, C. P. Stickney, George B. Durfee, Walter Paine (3d), of Fall River; Messrs. Thomas Bennett, Jr., William J. Rotch, Edward D. Mandell, Edward C. Jones, William W. Crapo, Charles L. Wood, Andrew G. Pierce, Joseph Arthur Beauvais, Edward L. Baker, Jonathan Bourne, Jr., Charles L. Hawes, David B. Kempton, of New Bed- ford ; Messrs. T. P. Sheperd & Co., John O. Water- man, George Bridge, and Arnold Peters, of Rhode Island ; and Mr. Dempsey, of Lewiston, and others.
At a meeting of the stockholders Jefferson Borden was chosen president; Spencer Borden, agent and treasurer; and Messrs. Thomas Bennett, Jr., Richard B. Borden, Bradford D. Davol, Crawford E. Lindsey, Philip D. Borden, George B. Durfee, and Charles P. Stickney, with the president and treasurer, directors.
The bleachery was built with twelve kiers, or a ca- pacity of twelve to thirteen tons per diem, which has been increased until the present capacity is twenty-two tons per day. Capital, $250,000. The present officers are as follows: President, Jefferson Borden ; Clerk and Treasurer, Norman E. Borden ; Directors, Jeffer- son Borden, Spencer Borden, Richard B. Borden, Bradford D. Davol, Crawford E. Lindsey, Thomas Bennett, Jr., Joseph Arthur Beauvais, William J. Rotch, and Norman E. Borden. Spencer Borden re- mained as clerk and treasurer until 1882.
Wamsutta Steam Woolen-Mill .- The manufac- ture of woolen cloth into a fabric known as satinet, made with a cotton warp and wool filling, was com- menced here in 1825 by Samuel Shove and John and Jesse Eddy, under the firm-name of Samuel Shove & Co. The firm was dissolved in 1834 by the withdrawal of Samnel Shove, and the business passed into the hands of the remaining partners, under the firm-name of J. & J. Eddy.
In the management of the business John Eddy was
The production of Eddy's satinets was largely in- creased from year to year, and they became well known in all the principal markets as the best goods of that style of fabric. In 1843, however, the satinet manu- facture was discontinued, and a fabric of all wool, called "cassimere," was commenced. Two years later business was removed to a place known as " Eagle Mill," situated about three and a half miles south of Fall River, in the town of Tiverton, R. I.
Shortly after the firm of J. & J. Eddy was dissolved, but the business continued in the above locality for a few years, until the property was destroyed by fire.
In the mean time Jesse Eddy, in connection with
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Joseph Durfee, bought and located a mill on a tract of land just above the dam, and near the outlet of the pond known as "Mosquito Island," designing to manufacture the same kind of goods produced by J. & J. Eddy, but as they were about ready to commence operations Joseph Durfee died, and it was not until January, 1849, that manufacturing was begun in the new mill. Jesse Eddy became the proprietor, and shortly after took his son, Thomas F., into partner- ship, under the firm-name of Jesse Eddy & Son, by whom the business was conducted for twenty-one years.
In 1873, upon the decease of the father, the busi- ness passed into the hands of his two sons, Thomas F. and James C., who still continue the mannfacture under the name of the Wamsutta Steam Woolen- Mill, Jesse Eddy's Sons, proprietors, the production being fine fancy eassimeres.
The Wyoming Mills .- These mills were established by Augustus Chace and the late William B. Trafford in 1845. The property subsequently passed into the possession of Mr. Chace, who is the present proprie- tor. Production, cotton twines, batts, and carpet warp.
The Massasoit Manufacturing Company was or- ganized in 1882, and occupies the edifice formerly oc- cupied by the Massasoit Flour-Mills, so famous in former years as the business home of Chase, Mason & Durfee. The new company manufactures com- fortables as a branch of an establishment in Connec- ticut, and has a capacity for turning out near a thou- sand a day, employing about sixty hands.
The officers and directors of this company are as follows: Frank L. Palmer, president; Wendell E. Turner, treasurer; Directors, Edward A. Palmer, Elisha L. Palmer, William H. Turner, Frank L. Palmer, Wendell E. Turner.
The Fall River Spool and Bobbin Company was partially organized in June, 1875, but did not perfect its organization until July 11, 1878, obtaining their charter July 13, 1878.
The first officers elected were : President, Cook Borden ; Treasurer, George S. Davol; Clerk, B. D. Davol; Directors, Cook Borden, F. H. Stafford, Wil- liam H. Jennings, Stephen Davol, Charles C. Shove, Frank S. Stevens, Walter Paine (3d), Weaver Osborn, George T. Hathaway, Augustus Chace, S. Angier Chace.
The mill and buildings were erected and occupied in December, 1875; employ one hundred and fifty men ; one hundred thousand dollars production yearly.
Present officers : President, Joseph Healey ; Clerk and Treasurer, J. Henry Wells; Directors, Joseph Healey, Augustus Chace, Stephen Davol, F. H. Staf- ford, B. D. Davol, F. L. Almy, Jerome C. Borden, J. Henry Wells.
Capital stock, originally $40,000; after perfecting its organization was reduced to $21,000. Is doing a very prosperous business, which has steadily increased since 1878.
The Fall River Iron-Works Company .- This corporation, which for so many years directed and controlled the interests of Fall River, was founded in 1821, principally through the instrumentality of Richard Borden and Bradford Durfee. The original company was organized with a capital of twenty-four thousand dollars, and consisted of Richard Borden, Bradford Durfee, Holden Borden, and David Anthony, of this town, and Joseph Butler and Abram and Isaac Wilkinson, of Providence. Soon after the capital was reduced to eighteen thousand dollars by the with- drawal of the Wilkinsons.
The works were incorporated in 1825 with a capi- tal of $200,000, which was increased in 1845 to $950,000.
In the organization of the Fall River Iron-Works Company, that " earliest germ of the wealth of the city," Col. Richard Borden took an active part, and was appointed treasurer and agent, a position which he filled ably and satisfactorily up to the day of his final withdrawal from business, a period of over fifty years. The Iron-Works Company, meeting with as- sured success almost from the start, soon turned its attention to the improvement of its landed estate, water-power, etc., and as part owners became largely interested in enterprises somewhat foreign to its own legitimate sphere of work. The agent of the com- pany as its representative thus became an active par- ticipant in all these schemes, and the business tact and skill of Col. Borden were brought into fullest exercise. The Iron-Works Company became owner in the Watuppa Reservoir Company, organized in 1826; in the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory ; in the Fall River Manufactory; in the Annawan Mill, built by it in 1825; in the American Print- Works, whose buildings were all erected by the Iron- Works Company in 1834, and leased to the Print- Works Company ; in the Metacomet Mill, built in 1846 ; in the Fall River Railroad, opened in 1846; in the Bay State Steamboat Line, established in 1847 ; in the Fall River Gas-Works, built in 1847, as well as in the erection at various times of buildings which were leased to individuals for the establishment of business or private manufacturing enterprises.
Up to the year 1880 the Iron-Works Company owned and operated the Fall River Gas-Works, the Fall River and Providence Steamboat Company, and the Metacomet Mill. In that year a division of this large interest occurred, and the following corpora- tions were organized as separate corporations : the Fall River Gas-Works, with a capital of $288,000; the Fall River and Providence Steamboat Company, capital, $192,000; the Fall River Machine Company (new), capital, $96,000; the Metacomet Manufactur- ing Company ; and the Fall River Iron-Works Com- pany.
The present officers are as follows : President, Jef- ferson Borden ; Clerk and Treasurer, Robert C. Brown ; Directors, Jefferson Borden, John S. Brayton, William
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B. Durfee, R. B. Borden, H. B. Durfee, R. C. Brown, D. A. Brayton, Jr.
The Fall River Machine Company, successor to Marvel, Davol & Co., was organized in 1880, with a capital of $96,000.
The present officers are as follows : President, Jef- ferson Borden ; Clerk, A. S. Covel ; Treasurer, Wil- liam B. Durfee ; Directors, Jefferson Borden, John S. Brayton, A. S. Covel, Nathaniel Lindsey, David A. Brayton, Jr., H. M. Barnes, of Bristol.
The Fall River Merino Company, for the manu- facture of knit goods, is among the later industries started here, and is the only manufactory of the kind in this vicinity. The mill is a fine brick edifice of two full stories and attic, in which last are a few mules to do the spinning needed. The concern was well wound up from the first, and the most improved knitting-machines in use obtained, so that work was turned out with great celerity. The productions of this factory have always found a ready market, and maintained their rank among all descriptions of home work or imported fabrics. The present superin- tendent, Mr. Charles E. Bean, is an accomplished manager of this sort of manufacturing interest.
The present officers are as follows : President, Frank S. Stevens ; Clerk, Seth H. Wetherbee ; Treas- urer, Charles E. Bean ; Directors, Frank S. Stevens, Foster H. Stafford, Robert T. Davis, William Mason, Samuel Wadington, S. H. Wetherbee, Charles E. Bean, Matthew C. Yarwood; Jason P. Stone, Jr., Providence; Charles Weil, Boston.
chicken feed, three thousand pounds of pigs' feet, four thousand pounds of tripe, etc. Reuben Har- graves, Thomas Hargraves, John W. Hargraves, clerk, and Alfred D. Butterworth, agent.
The Fall River Gas-Works were erected in 1847 by the Iron-Works Company, and were operated by that company until 1880, when they were organized as a separate corporation, under the name of the Fall River Gas Company, with a capital of $288,000. The present officers are as follows: President, Jefferson Borden ; Clerk, William B. Durfee, Jr .; Treasurer, George P. Brown; Directors, J. S. Brayton, R. B. Borden, Jefferson Borden, A. S. Tripp, William B. Durfec, D. A. Brayton, Jr.
The Manufacturers' Gas-Light Company was incorporated in 1866. The present officers are as fol- lows: President, Thomas F. Eddy ; Clerk and Treas- urer, Joseph A. Baker; Directors, Thomas F. Eddy, Foster H. Stafford, Simeon B. Chase, Charles M. Shove, Joseph A. Baker, David A. Brayton, Jr.
Manufacturers' Board of Trade. - President, Frank S. Stevens: Vice-President, Charles M. Shove; Secretary and Treasurer, Simeon B. Chase.
Watuppa Reservoir Company was incorporated in 1826. The stock of this corporation is held by the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company, Pocasset Manufacturing Company, Fall River Print- Works, Fall River Manufactory, Annawan Manufac- turing Company, and the Fall River Iron-Works Company.
American Printing Company .- The pioneer in calico-printing in Fall River was Andrew Robeson, of New Bedford, who began this industry in a very small way in 1826 in the north end of a mill owned by the Pocasset Manufacturing Company, the other portion of the building being occupied by J. & J. Eddy in the manufacture of satinets.
Hargraves Manufacturing Company .- In 1851, Cornelius Hargraves commenced the manufacturing of soaps and glue substitute on the site now occupied by the Hargraves Manufacturing Company, com- mencing in a very small and limited way, the capa- city of the works being only one small kettle in which to make soap and prepare the glue substitute; but In 1827 he erected works especially for this busi- ness, the capacity of which was increased from time to time until the year 1836 by the erection of new buildings. The enterprise continued with marked success until 1848, when the depression then prevail- ing caused the suspension of the works. by perseverance and strict attention to business he succeeded in increasing the business from year to year, it being a success from the start, and as the time rolled by he was enabled to add some de- cided improvement, and in 1871 he organized the Hargraves Manufacturing Company, consisting of It is said that the first calico-printing machine in the United States was constructed in these works, and first operated in 1827, soon after which two sons of the founder, William R. and Andrew, Jr., became as- sociated with him, under the firm-name of Andrew Robeson & Sons. Cornelius Hargraves, Reuben Hargraves, and Thomas Hargraves, the two latter being his sons ; and after continuing two years the senior member of the firm sold his interests to James S. Anthony, who con- tinued in the business four years, then sold out to Reuben and Thomas Hargraves, the present pro- After the suspension of the Robesons in 1848, the establishment passed into the hands of a corporation organized by Andrew Robeson, Jr., under the name of the Fall River Print-Works, which continued the business of calico-printing for about twelve years, the product being chiefly indigo-blue prints, when print- ing was discontinued and the works converted into a cotton-mill for the manufacture of print cloths. prietors of the Hargraves Manufacturing Company, who still continue to manufacture soaps of various brands, glue substitute, fertilizers, tripe, pigs' feet, and neat's-foot oil, also dealers in tallow, bones, grease, rosin, chemicals, etc., and from the small beginning have grown to its present condition, now having the capacity to turn out every week sixty thousand pounds of soap, fifteen thousand pounds of glue substitute, The second calico-printing establishment within ten tons of fertilizer, three thousand pounds of the present territory of Fall River (but then in Tiver-
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ton, R. I., and since brought within the limits of Fall River by a change of the boundary line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island) was located at Globe village, one and a quarter miles south of the Fall River stream, upon a stream flowing from Laurel Lake to Mount Hope Bay, which has been utilized for manufacturing purposes since 1811, when a small cotton-mill was built there by Col. Joseph Durfee.
The American Print-Works was established by Holder Borden in 1834, there being associated with him in the ownership most of the stockholders of the Fall River Iron-Works Company.
The requisite buildings were erected by the Iron- Works Company on land owned by them, their owner- ship continuing until 1857, when the print-works, which had rented the land and buildings from 1834 to 1857, was organized as a corporation, and purchased the real estate from the Fall River Iron-Works Com- pany. The works were started in January, 1835, with four printing-machines, producing two thousand to two thousand five hundred pieces of prints per week.
Mr. Holder Borden held the management until Feb- ruary, 1837, when, in consequence of ill health, he resigned, and Jefferson Borden was elected agent and principal manager, which position he held until Feb- ruary, 1876, a period of thirty-nine years, when Thomas J. Borden was chosen agent and treasurer.
in progress, but not consummated, a fire broke out on the 15th of December, 1867, in one of the old build- ings, which destroyed the whole of the new part of the establishment and about one-half of the old, causing a loss to the corporation of more than one million dollars.
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