History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 122

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 122

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In 1844 Mr. Childs sold the whole mill property to Charles Sweetser, Esq., for eight thousand dollars.

During all these years, with uninterrupted fidelity, Mr. Jonathan Makepeace had continued the snuff business in the mill; but now he gave up the busi- ness to Mr. Sweetser, who took out the old snuff ma- chinery and put in nine new snuff mortars and also new water-wheels. He also removed the chocolate machinery and instead put in machinery for roasting and grinding coffee.

Indeed, the whole mill was put into excellent order. Mr. Sweetser, who lived in Cliftondale, where was his business office, carried on the grinding of snuff in the mill, while he leased the rest of the mill to different parties. First to Childs & Raddin, then to Josiah

Starr for a short time, and finally, January 1, 1858, to Herbert B. Newhall, who has continued the spice and coffee business up to the present time.

Mr. Sweetser died in 1865, but some years before this he relinquished the snuff business to his two sons, Charles A. and George H. Sweetser, who did a very large business.

The mill now, in 1887, is owned by Charles A. Sweetser. About four years ago the snuff machinery was removed and the whole mill has since been occu- pied by Mr. H. B. Newhall, he adding to his business the grinding and preparation of herbs.

Almost while I am writing, a fire has occurred in the above mill, which has caused its nearly total de- struction. Very early Friday morning, July 8, 1887, a fire was discovered in the southerly end of the mill and such was its rapid spread that the whole mill was instantly enveloped in flames.

The fire department from Lynn responded at once, and were successful in preventing the further spread of the fire.

But the mill was left a wreck; only its charred outer walls are standing. It was insured for six thousand dollars.

Nothing was saved of the stock of H. B. New- hall.

So closes the eventful history of this noted old mill.

PRANKER'S MILLS .- The present dam is about five rods above the locality of the old iron-works dam.

About 1770 Ebenezer Hawkes made a rude dam upon the site of the present one, and excavated, in part, the present canal. He built a grist-mill and saw-mill.

In 1794 Benjamin Sweetser bought the mills and property. He was a chocolate manufacturer, and had carried the business on to some extent with horse power, in a building near his residence, which stood in what is now known as Cliftondale, on the Old Boston Road, where now stands the public house known as "Sunny Side House." This factory build- ing was removed, in 1797, into the Village of East Saugus, and was afterwards owned and occupied for many years by Jonathan Makepeace. It has subsc- quently been removed again into Lynn, and now stands on Hawkes Hill, located one-quarter of a mile east of the river. But to return again to the mill site. About two years after buying, Major Sweetser built a new building for a chocolate-mill about seventy feet northwest of the grist-mill. From this period, 1796, he enlarged and extended his business, and very soon became one of the most renowned chocolate makers in the country. The name of Benjamin Sweetser stamped on every cake of the glossy chocolate gave it a reputation that none other had. About 1800 Major Sweetser erected a dwelling-house north of the factory, which is now standing; here he lived until his death, in 1819. From 1816 to 1820 the chocolate

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manufacture was in a very prosperous condition, and the mill was rented to William Smith, who manufac- tured chocolate for Messrs. Chase & Page, of Salem. During this time the chocolate was made in exact imitation of the Spanish, and found a ready sale in the New Orleans market and for export.

From 1815 to 1822 the grist and saw-mills were leased to Robert Eames, who ground dye-woods, principally cam-wood. A very large business was done. Abont 1822, William Gray, of Boston, other- wise familiarly known as "Billy Gray," removed his manufacture of duck-cloth from Stoneham to Saugus. He took the Stoneham factory building to pieces and removed it to this locality, placing it between the chocolate-mill and the grist-mill, and forming but one building about one hundred and fifty feet in length. The duck was made of flax and hemp. But this business lasted only about one and a half years.

In 1824 the premises were leased to Brown & Bald- win for the purpose of bleaching and printing calico. John Haskins, of Boston, was soon associated with them under the firm-name of Brown, Baldwin & Has- kins. A large amount of money was expended in new building and further improvements, followed by business embarrassment and final suspension at the end of 1825.

In 1826 the property passed to True & Brodhead, who continned the business. They repaired and raised the dam, which led to tedious lawsuits for flowage damages. During the ownership of Messrs. True & Brodhead, in 1829, the flannel manufacture was begun by Messrs. Brierly & Whitehead, who leased a portion of the old mill. This was the begin- ning of a business which has since given to Saugus a reputation as well as permanent prosperity.

In 1830 Mr. Brodhead withdrew, and Mr. Street entered the firm as True & Street; they continued until 1832, when their failure suspended business. It was during this time that they built a large brick fac- tory, eighty-five by forty feet, and three stories high, which is now standing, but in consequence of a fire, in 1866, the upper story and roof were removed ; it is now two stories high, with flat roof. In 1834 Whit- well, Bond & Co. were the owners ; they introduced the business of cleaning and assorting wool. In 1835 another change in ownership took place, and Messrs. Livermore & Kendall, of Boston, became possessors and managers-professedly by the New England Wool Company,-the establishment was known as Rockville. In 1836 they removed to Framingham, and all busi- ness at the mills ceased for about two years.

In 1838 Edward Pranker, Esq., bought the property and removed from Salem, N. H. The mill under- went a thorough renovation and new machinery was put in. Although a period of great financial depres- sion, yet Mr. Pranker showed energy and zeal in his business, which prospered from the first.

In 1846, finding the old brick building too small for his increasing business, he built another brick

factory adjoining the old one on the west, seventy by fifty feet, three stories high. Both factories were complete, with six sets of cards, thirteen jacks and forty looms. Each jack carried one hundred and eighty spindles.

In 1857 Mr. Pranker associated with himself in the business his son, George Pranker and John Armi- tage, the new firm being Edward Pranker & Co. Frame buildings were built on the south side of the road for wool-pulling and tanning sheepskin pelts.

In 1860 Mr. Pranker built a new brick building, one hundred and twenty-five by sixty feet, and two stories high, putting in four sets of woolen machinery. This building was placed on the east side of the road, nearly opposite the old brick mill, and extending northerly almost to the river.

Mr. Edward Pranker died in 1865. He was born in Wilton, England, in 1792; by occupation he was a weaver of woolen goods; he came to America in 1820.

After Mr. Pranker's death his son George and Mr. John Parsons continued the business up to 1877, but the death of Mr. George Pranker brought a snspen- sion of the business for about two years.

In April, 1879, six grandchildren of Edward Pran- ker associated themselves together under the name of the "Pranker Manufacturing Company," and have continued the woolen-cloth business up to the present time.

They have increased the business each year, and have constantly been adding new and improved ma- chinery. They now employ about one hundred oper- atives. They manufactured the past year goods valued at three hundred thousand dollars, requiring abont four hundred and fifty thousand pounds of clean wool.

The principal goods are all-wool shirtings and ladies' dress-goods and sackings of all colors and shades. Also plain and twilled flannels.

The fire, in February 1866, damaged the two brick mitls adjoining each other on the westerly side of the road, and caused a change in their restoration ; the older mill being lowered to two stories, while the newer mill, built in 1846, was raised to a four-story building; flat roofs were placed on both. These two buildings, together with the brick building on the east side of the road, containing six sets of ma- chinery, now make up the principal buildings in use by this company,-in all ten sets of machinery. On the east side of [the road, opposite the oldest mill, they have a large brick steam boiler building, furnishing steam for power and heat for all the mills, of about two hundred horse-power. In 1884 they built a round brick chimney, one hundred feet high and ten feet diameter at the base, adjoining the boiler building.

SCOTT'S MILLS .- About 1810 Joseph Emes, Esq.,

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then a young man of twenty-three years of age, bought this property, and in 1811 finished the dam and erected a two-and-a-half-story brick building for a morocco manufactory and other business. In 1813 Mr. Emes put in a grist-mill with one run of stones. At this time Robert Emes, Esq., his brother, united with him in business. They did a prosperous busi- ness.

In 1812 a fulling-mill for softening skins and hides was added to the establishment.

In 18I7 the grist-mill was changed into one for the grinding of dyc-stuffs, principally camwood. This business continued for about four years.

After 1821 Joseph Emes continued the business himself, manufacturing kid and morocco, with the grist and fulling-mills running as business could be obtained.

In 1834 James Brierly leased a part of the brick factory for the manufacture of hair and woolen rags.

In 1844 Mr. Emes erected a saw-mill upon the east- ern bank of the river, which was operated for about two years.

In the spring of 1847 the brick factory was burned, with all the stock and machinery therein. This led to the selling of the property by Mr. Emes to Francis Scott, Esq., a merchant of Salem, in 1848. He at once repaired the dam, and erected on the northwest side of the river a large brick factory building, eighty- five by fifty feet and four stories high, put in all necessary machinery, and commenced the manufac- ture of flannel. In 1857 his son, A. A. Scott, was takeu into the business as a partner, under the firm- name of Francis Scott & Son. In 1862 Mr. Francis Scott was thrown from a cart, severely injured and died soon after his injury, since which time the busi- ness has been carried on by his son, under the same style of firmn.

Mr. A. A. Scott now employs about fifty workmen and workwomen. He manufactures all-wool flannels and dress goods. He makes eight hundred thousand yards annually, both fine and coarse grades. Improved machinery has been put in; also a steam-engine of eighty horse-power, with which the factory can be run whenever the water power is insufficient.

NORTH SAUGUS .- In 1814 the manufacture of linen duck was started in North Saugus. A dam was built across the river at a short distance west of the New- buryport Turnpike, and about a hundred rods above the bridge through which the river flows under the Turnpike.

A company was formed under the name of the Lynn Linen-Spinning Factory Company. The active men in the enterprise were Joseph R. Newhall and Amos Binney, of Boston. A large three-story frame building, situated on the east side of the river, was built, but the peace of 1815, together with sundry lawsuits for flowage damage, soon caused a suspension of business.

In 1816 Joel Fox undertook to revive the droop-

ing energies of the concern by introducing machinery for making fine linen cloth, and also shoe-thread. After a trial of three years he sold out and removed. The building was divided and set off to different per- sons to satisfy their judgments for damages. Thus in five years arose, flourished and died the " Linen- Factory," so-called.

Let us leave this spot and go perhaps a half a mile to the north, into the present village of North Sau- gus. Directly opposite to the school-house, on the easterly side of the highway, where now are found the artificial works of the city of Lynu for diverting the water of Hawkes Brook for their own use ; it was here, on the south slope of a bluff of land that in 1816 Nathaniel Perry built a large frame building and put in machinery for spinning and weaving linen, at the same time building a dam across the brook close by. In the same year (1816) John Clark and James How- lett purchased land about ten rods northwest of Per- ry's milf, on Hawkes Brook, and built a dam and a frame building, and began the manufacture of Rappee snuff,

The effort of Mr. Perry to establish a linen-factory, after about a year's labor, proved a failure. Mr. Per- ry sold out to John Clark and James Howlett, who at once introduced the snuff business into this building. A canal was dug across the bluff of land, about fifteen rods long, so that the water of both streams could be connected into one pond when necessary.

The snuff business continued some two years, when this ceased also.

In 1828 John Clark, Esq., put into the large build- ing the necessary machinery for a grist and chocolate- mill. This business continned for about three years, when the whole was discontinued and the dams re- moved. Hardly a vestige now remaius to mark either site.

There is left but one other point in North Saugus for us to notice where business was early started.

About a half a mile westerly from the school-house, on the Wakefield road, is situated an old mill-site, on Saugus River. It is now owned by Byron S. Hone, who has a saw-mill in operation.

In ISII Dr. John Hart, David Pratt, E. Weston and others were incorporated under the name of the " Lynn Wire and Screw Manufacturing Company " at this point ; land was purchased, the dam was built and a suitable building erected in 1812. Although the business was commenced with vigor, yet misfor- tune soon attended this company, and failure and sus- pension followed. From 1816 to 1819 very little use was made of the property, and in the latter year it passed into the possession of John Clark, Esq., of Boston, who at once changed its use into a snuff-mill. This purchase influenced, in part, the removal from the two other snuff-mills, before alluded to. Eight large mortars were at once introduced into this new mill, and arrangements made for a large business.

James Howlett had charge and superintendence, but

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afterwards bought the mill, and at his death his son, John Howlett, bought ont the other heirs, and con- tinued the snuffbusiness, and the cutting of tobacco into what was called "fine-cut." A few years before sell- ing the mill to Mr. Hone, Mr. Howlett removed the snuff-mortars and tobacco-cutter and put in instead a saw and shingle-mill, which have continued in op. eration to the present time.

In 1871 Mr. John Howlett sold the mill property to Philip P. Hone. At his death it passed to his only son, Byron S. Hone, who is the present owner.

CLIFTONDALE TOBACCO BUSINESS .- That portion of the town now called Cliftondale was formerly for many years known as Sweetser's Corner. The growth and prosperity of this village is to be traced to its manufacture of tobacco in its various forms, viz., snuff, chewing and smoking tobacco, and cigars, which had its beginning at the very close of the last cen- tury.

The pioneer in this business was William Sweetser, known as William Sweetser, Jr. He manufactured snuff in a hand-mill previous to this century and sold his product principally in Salem and Marblehead.

Following close upon Mr. Sweetser was Samuel Copp. He was a native of Boston, and his mother was a sister of the wife of Landlord Newhall. Hav- ing the misfortune to lose his father at an early age, he was apprenticed to a tobacconist. During this time his mother removed to Saugus and resided in the family of Landlord Newhall, where she died before he reached his majority.

On completing his apprenticeship he at once re- paired to Saugns and commenced a very small busi- ness, first in East Saugus, then in Lynn on Boston Street near Federal Street, but after a very few years he removed to Cliftondale built him a house and shop and married for his second wife another daughter of William Sweetser who lived close by. This was about 1807. Mr. Copp's house, with the shop a few feet west, stood on the spot now occupied by the palatial residence of Mr. Charles H. Bond.

His factory was a two-story frame building and the business then consisted mainly in the manufacture of "Fig and Pig-tail," as they were then called. The upper story was wholly devoted to hand labor and spinning "pig-tail ;" in the lower story were stout wooden screws in strong oaken frames, where the man- ufactured tobacco was pressed into boxes or kegs.

Previous to the establishment of Samuel Copp only one house existed at the "Corner;" this was the house of William Sweetser, and it is now standing, having been owned and occupied for many years past by the late Charles M. Bond.

Mr. Copp continued the business till 1820, when he sold out to Charles Sweetser, son of William Sweet- ser, who added the manufacture of cigars known as " short sixes " and "long nines," and also began the manufacture of snuff, first grinding the snuff at Salem

until 1844, when, purchasing the mill-site at East Saugus, he removed his snuff-grinding thereto. It will be seen that Mr. Charles Sweetser greatly enlarged the business, and a market was found all over the United States and British provinces and to some ex- tent in foreign countries.

In 1860 Mr. Charles Sweetser gave up the business to his two sons, Charles A. and George H. Sweetser, who carried it on under the firm-name of Sweetser Brothers.

During these years many others took up the same business, viz., Charles Raddin, who was an extensive manufacturer, also S. S. Dunn, Charles M. Bond, Silas S. Trull, Thomas F. Downing, Hiram A. Raddin and John M. Raddin.

At the beginning of the Rebellion, in 1861, the cigar manufacture practically ceased, on account of the Southern market being lost and the heavy internal revenue tax placed on these low-priced goods. Pipe- smoking was resorted to.

The manufacture of snuff continued throughout and since the war with little variation until the past five years, when it began to decrease.

Now, in 1887, Joseph A. Raddin, under the firm- name of F. L. & J. A. Raddin, conducts the business of his father Charles, having also bought out the Sweetser Brothers' business in November, 1885. Mr. Raddin's business is largely in cut smoking tobacco, some brands of which have become very popular.

The other manufacturers of to-day are S. S. Trull, Edward O. Copp, grandson of Samuel Copp, M. S. Fiske and Copp & Gibbons, all of whom, excepting Copp & Gibbons, confine their business to cigars.

CROCKERY-WARE .- The road which now leads from Cliftondale to Saugus Centre, called Central Street, soon after leaving the village of Cliftondale, descends a hill and crosses a swamp or peat meadow. This was kuown as "Jackson's Meadow." It contains an inexhaustible quantity of peat, which many years ago was utilized by the inhabitants to a small extent.

Underlying this peat deposit is a deposit of very fine blue clay.

In 1808, or thereabouts, William Jackson, an Eng- lishman by birth and education, came to Saugus (then Lynn), and bought a small farm at what is now Clif- tondale, together with a part of the meadow before mentioned.

He became aware of this deposit of fine clay and its adaptability for crockery-ware.

The embargo and War of 1810 and 1812 coming on rendered the importation of crockery very difficult. Mr. Jackson at once built a large building and two smaller ones. He procured the best machinery and most skillful workmen possible at that time, but he soon found out that the clay was not adapted for the finest kind of ware, and so his manufacture was con- fined to a superior kind of brown and red earthen- ware.

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This factory was continued for about four years, wben, becoming unprofitable, it was totally aban- doned.

SHOE BUSINESS .- We will now rapidly sketch the rise and progress of the shoe business in Saugus. Let us go back to 1802, when our territory was included in the town of Lynn. It was in this year that Eben- ezer Oakman, Esq., a young man of active business talents, began the manufacture of shoes on the north- ern side of our river, about ten rods from the bridge, in East Saugus. He built a small factory, which he enlarged in 1807, and also built a new factory in the same year, and again in 1810 he built a much larger factory, connecting it with a large barn fifty feet northerly by a lower building. At that time this was undoubtedly the largest shoe factory in Lynn. Mr. Oakman's market was found largely in Philadelphia, whither his shoes were shipped by sailing-vessels from Boston. His example and zeal were contagious in the community.

During the War of 1812, it being too dangerous to send his shoes to Philadelphia by packet, he estab- lished a line of large baggage-wagons, drawn by six horses, with two skillful drivers, making the transit to Philadelphia and back in about six weeks' time. This was continned during the war, although at great expense. Among his teamsters were Captain Jacob Newhall, Jesse Rice and Captain Jacob Baird.

During this time Mr. Oakman was indefatigable in his business, both at Lynn and Philadelphia, spend- ing a part of his time at each place. He commenced, to some extent, also the manufacture of gentlemen's calf boots. After the peace of 1815 the business was not prosecuted with so much vigor, although Mr. Oakman continued it till about 1818. After that pe- riod he closed his business here and removed to Phil- adelphia for a permanent residence.

This was a great detriment to Saugus, for soon the factory buildings were ent up and removed to different parts of the town and made into dwellings. In those days shoes were manufactured very differently from what they are at this time. The leather and kid were brought to the factory and cut up in the rndest manner. The uppers, binding, soles, thread and everything necessary was counted out to the work- man, who took them away in a bag or basket to his house or a small shop near the same, and while the women folks bound the uppers, he put on the soles and finished them entirely ready for market, after which he carried them to the boss, and returned home with a new week's work.

After Mr. Oakman's removal, the shoe business was carried on in a very small way for a number of years, until about 1825. It was at this period that a number of resolute and active young men, natives of our town, took up the business and carried it on with uniform success. These were Thomas Raddin, Jr., George W. Raddin, Sewall Raddin, Jacob Newhall, Jr., Abel

Newhall and Benjamin F. Newhall. It was from this time until 1838 that these manufacturers did a large and prosperous business.

John W. Newhall began business in 1841; James C. Lockwood, Levi D. Waldron and Pickmore Jack- son in 1842; Charles W. Newhall in 1847; Harmon Hall and Charles E. Raddin in 1850. Mr. Hall was associated with John W. Newhall from 1852 to 1855, but after this he continued the business himself for many years. But from this time onward the shoe business of Saugus began to decline.

This was caused by the entire revolution of the manner of manufacturing shoes. Machinery was taking the place of hand labor. The workmen were congregated together in large factories instead of being scattered about the town and country in their little shops.

There was an advantage, as well as convenience, to the manufacturers themselves to be in a narrow local- ity. So our manufacturers, one by one, began to leave us, removing their business into the centre of the city of Lynn, or elsewhere, so that at this time (1887) there is only one shoe manufacturer, L. Waldo Collins, doing business in East Saugus. Our people, men and women, find their employment in Lynn, going down in the morning and returning in the evening, either by horse-cars or steam railroad.

But we must not forget to speak of the shoe business in the centre of the town.

Among the early shoe manufacturers in the centre of the town we will mention Moses Mansfield, who died in 1806; he lived in the Capen house. Also his brother, Thomas Mansfield, who lived in the Adam Ames house, now owned by Mr. Scott. Also Richard Mansfield, who died in 1824; he lived on Main Street, where Mr. Follett now lives. His shop was opposite.

In 1818 Benjamin Hitehings moved into town and commenced the shoe business, and continued in bus- iness until about 1850. Latterly he took his two sons, John B. and Otis M., into partnership.

Mr. Hitchings at first lived in the Davis house, on the Cinder Banks, and manufactured there until he removed to his house, and shop connected therewith, ou Main Street, near the turnpike, where he died.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 122

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538