History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 224

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 224

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Benjamin Wallingford, Sr., and sou of the same name, manufactured, in a humble way, articles from leather, as saddle-bags, harness and horse-collars in their house on Andover Street. Mr. Burbank, who lived at the "Corner," was a chaise-maker before 1800. One of the chaises of that period-perhaps of his make-was called the " Ark; " doubtless the name was appropriate.

The old gambrel-roofed shop of Bnrbank, which stood in front of where Mr. Pettengill's brick black- smith shop now stands, was on the same site at the "Corner " some years after his death. There were several cooper-shops in the parish. One was where L. G. Wilson's house now is.

Charcoal-burning was common as late as seventy- five years ago. The farmers often find the remains of the charcoal pits turned up by the plough. Philip Nelson had a blacksmith shop near the "Pound " in .1750. He afterwards removed to Haverhill. Several fishing-vessels of eighteen or twenty tons bnrden were built near the meeting-house by Solo- mon Nelson and his sons, nearly one hundred years ago. These were for Chebaco (now Essex) partie=, and were hauled to the water, either at Rowley or Byfield, to be floated around. Up to about 1860 there have been those at different periods who did considerable business in cutting and roughing ship- timber and plank for the Essex and Newburyport builders.

At one time, when repairs were being made on the frigate "Constitution," some valuable timber cut on Baldpate Hill was used. Captain Eliphalet Chaplin, who kept several pairs of oxen, and em- ployed a number of men, was, in the first quarter of this century, largely engaged in this ship-stock industry, also Mr. William and Ensign Daniel Spof- ford, and, in after years, Mighill Nelson, father of the writer. The clipper-ship building of forty years ago, drew heavily on the primitive timber-growth, which had been spared up to that time.

Captain Benjamin Adams began the tanning and currying of leather at his home on the Salem road, now Central Street, about 1780. The next to begin this important industry was Captain William Perley, at the Hazen, now Kimball place, where he for some time ground bark by water-power. Deacon Solomon Nelson, on Nelson Street, and perhaps Daniel Clark, on North Street, where Henry Hilliard afterwards

carried on the business, continued by a son and a grandson, both of the same name, which at present is the only manufacture of the kind in town. Some domestic or slaughter hides (the skins of cattle killed in the vicinity) with the dressing of skins of some unusnal kind, is now the only work performed, and the business is more from pleasure, as one of the past customs of the family, than from necessity or special profit. Another yard opened was that of Noyes Pearson, on a little romantic stream which crosses North Street, near the Newbury line, having its out- let eastwardly, at Wheeler's brook. Others, estab- lished at an early day were the Westen and Phineas Hardy yards, on " Rock Brook," or Parker River, very near the site of the Harriman mill of nearly a centn- ry before. At about the same period Nathaniel Nelson began the same industry near the meeting-house.

In 1815, or near that date, Deacon Asa Nelson, who had served his three years' apprenticeship with his relative, Deacon Solomon Nelson, and had worked at the business for two or three years at the Pearson tannery, on North Street, began operations at his home on Elm St., now owned by his son, Sher- man Nelson. He conducted a large business. About 1824 or '25 Major Jeremiah Nelson, a son of Stephen M., who had also learned the trade of Deacon Nel- son, began the same business near the meeting- house, and about 1835 was the first to introduce steam as a motive power into town. This engine, with the buildings, was the property of a corporation. Nathaniel Morse had also a yard near by. Most of the young men who learned this trade in New Row- ley from 1810 to 1830 served their apprenticeship to Deacon Solomon Nelson. The privileges of the ap- prentice were to dress for himself two dozen calf-skins, one-half dozen sides of leather, and as many sheep- skins as the apprentice pleased. These were not statutes from the law-books, but were recognized as having equal authority. Colonel John Kimball, abont 1825, began an extensive manufacture of leather at the Captain Adams tannery, then owned by him. One year he tanned and curried four thon- sand South American horse-hides. Many of the im- ported skins of those days were of Russian red cattle. Besides those in town who had yards and were em- ployers of labor, there were those who, like Amos Nelson, had the use of pits and carried on an inde- pendent business of their own, and Benjamin Low, who was a currier, and worked in his own shop for many years. Patented leather splitting-machines, worked by hand, were an awkward thing, but only one could be used in a town. New Rowley manu- facturers, to evade the law, had one in Gideon Ba- ker's barn, just beyond the Boxford line. An exten- sive business in the slaughtering of cattle was carried on in town early in the present century and during the war with England. This was conducted princi- pally by Deacon Solomon Nelson and his cousin, Na- thaniel Nelson. Droves of fifty or more head were often

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purchased at one time. Cattle were frequently bought of Governor Colby, of New Hampshire. The deacon was also State inspector of beef. The cellar- floor under his house has at times been completely covered with barrels of beef awaiting shipment. The hides were converted into leather, and both in- dustries carried on simultaneously. The shoe busi- ness, in its manufacture outside of family use, is thought to have been begun by Deacon Thomas Mer- rill, father of I. Newton Merrill, at his home in Marl- boro'. He used to carry in his horse-cart the shoes which he had made, to Gloncester, Marblehead and Salem, for sale, as four-wheeled vehicles had not then become common.

There were cordwainers from an early day who had their patrons, and going from house to house would, in the corner of the farmer's kitchen, make the shoes needed for the family. John Bridges, in 1775, worked in this way through the west parish. After the shoe industry was started, there were many who had much of the cutting, making, dressing and other parts of the work done in their dwelling-house. It was with most a mixed industry, combined with farming or some other employment. The Brothers Little were at Solomon Nelson's, near the meeting-house, manufac- turing in 1810, and were afterwards at the " Corner," but in both places combined the business with trade in general merchandise. Richard Tenney and his son, Amos J. Tenney, began early at their home on Tenney Street. Deacon Nelson on Nelson Street, and Nath- aniel Nelson at his home, were both engaged in shoe- manufacturing before 1812. To have, as it were, " many irons in the fire" was the rule with these business men of that day. Benjamin Winter followed a few years later, and is said to have made the first boys' brogans ever made in town. Stephen Little claimed to have made the first pegged shoes; Paul Pillsbury, as has been said, the first shoe pegs. Paul Spofford was the consignee or purchaser of many goods shipped at that early period. A bill of lading before the writer while penning this, is for shoes shipped to Spofford, Tileston & Co., New York City. Deacon Asa Nelson soon added the shoe mannfacture to his tanning business. D. M. Winter began a limited business about 1830. Amos J. Tenney and his son George J., built at the Corner the dwelling-house and factory in 1829, which were burned in the first exten- sive fire in 1874. The boots made by the Tenneys soon became generally known in the boot and shoe towns of the State as a standard make both in style and quality, and the firm became known as a leading firm in the business centres of the country. Samuel Little began the same business in 1831, establishing a trade with Pittsburgh, and, as the population spread westward, with points beyond Western Pennsylvania, and finally, under the firm name of Little & Noyes (Hiram N.), afterwards Little & Moulton, became the leading business house of the town.

It is a fact worthy of record that Daniel Wood, of

Boxtord, who worked for Deacon Solomon Nelson as early as 1813, carrying home his stock and returning with his saddle-bag of shoes on horseback, as Mr. Amos Nelson, now an octogenarian, well remembers seeing him, is at ninety-five years of age, still at work on his shoemaker's bench. The business was managed loosely, as it would be thought to-day, the shoemaker sometimes taking the uncut leather, and cut, as well as made, the shoes. About every farm-house by 1830 had its shop near by. The trade was largely with Baltimore, Norfolk and Charleston, as well as with New York City. At first goods were carried over the road to Boston in medium-sized wagons, but as the business became extensive, large baggage-wagons, drawn by six horses, were in use for carrying shoes, with a return load of West India goods for the several stores. After the opening of the Eastern Railroad boots and shoes were sometimes carted to Rowley, and shipped by rail from there. By 1840 thirty or more persons in the south part of the town had been, or were to some extent, engaged in the shoe industry. Besides those already named, there were the brothers C. G. & John Baker, Benjamin Adams, John A. Lovering (continued re- cently by his son, John H. Lovering), George W. Chaplin, Mighill, Asa and Harrison Nelson, Ignatius Sargent (a partner of the last-named) and many oth- ers. There were several in Byfield, as James Peabody, near the Newbury line, the Jackmans and perhaps others. Nathaniel and Major Jeremiah Nelson did an extensive business, and something was done in Marlboro'. Somewhat later there were M. A. Tidd (who removed to Iowa), in what is now C. G. Baker's shop ; Henry P. Chaplin, in what is now Mrs. Allen G. Hood's home; G. M. Nelson and Coleman Platts, where A. B. Noyes now is, and where David Holmes, G. H. Carleton and others have carried on business in the past; W. B. Harriman, on Elm Street, continued by his son, Horace E. Harriman, John P. Coker and others. Moses Spofford did a small business in a building where G. S. Harnden's house now stands. Perhaps the first light work made in town was by Al- fred Hale, in the building, on Main Street, formerly the residence and private school of the Misses Cross. Besides these there have been Charles M. Stocker, George B. Miller, one or two Haverhill firms, who have had for a time the third floor of Odd Fellows' Block in recent years, and, in a limited way, one or two others. In addition to those named, there are at present using steam-power W. M. Brewster, on Park Street, who makes a specialty of boots, many of high grade, and has had from seventy five to ninety em- ployed ; A. B. Noyes & Co., on Main Street, largely engaged in miners' wear, and George W. Chaplin & Co., on Central Street, who make a varied stock, some miners' goods, and of late are manufacturing new styles. Those not using power are the Boot and Shoe Corporation, with E. S. Daniels, superintendent, in the Samuel Little factory, and took at their organ- ization, 1881, the trade Mr. Little had when business

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was suspended by him, HI. P. Chaplin, on Central Street ; J. B. Giles, who occupies the D. M. Winter factory on Elm Street; H. E. Harriman, also on Elm Street, makes boots for Essex County and home trade generally, and C. G. Baker with a similar product. Mr. George W. Chaplin, now the veteran of this in- dustry, can recall more than fifty persons in this town, mostly in South Georgetown, who have at one time or another manufactured boots and shoes. From 1830 to 1850, there were two harness-shops in town, with several journeymen and apprentices ; Robert Savory had one of the establishments, Later this work was limited to one or two persons. At present T. F. Hill conducts a successful business of this kind.

Perhaps about 1843 or 1844, Moses Atwood began the manufacture of " Atwood's Bitters." This has become one of the standard patent medicines of the country. Moses Carter and Lewis H. Bateman after- wards individually eontinned this same manufacture. These three persons became to some extent manufac- ing druggists, of which the business of Mr. Carter is continued in that of Luther F. Carter, his son. Mr. Atwood removed West, and the widely known " Bit- ters," are now it is believed, the product of a New York city firm. A deposit of ochreons earth was dis- covered by Mr. Atwood at the base of the hill known by his name about 1846 or 1847, and from it many buildings in town were painted. The newspaper printing business and job work were begun in June, 1846, in Little's shoe factory, or the "Phenix Build- ing," as the advertisement reads, and the Watchtower, a semi-religious weekly, issued. This paper was also published and mailed from Newburyport ; Rev. Allen Garnett was editor, and William Cogswell, proprietor. Volume ten began March, 1848; this was sustained for about three years, when after a brief interim the Georgetown Reporter, another weekly or semi-monthly published by a Mr. Green, became the village paper, but of a lower standard than the Watchtower. This paper was continued until about 1853 or 1854. In 1867 the town had occasional newspaper ventures in the Evangelist, published by Major Moses Tenney & Son, partially for trade purposes, and in 1871 the Star, which was issued monthly throughout the year by Calvin E. Howe, and another trade sheet, the Gran- ger, in 1874.

September 23, 1874, W. B. Hammond, of Peabody, who had been running a job printing office in Odd Fellows Block for about two years, issued the first number of the Georgetown Advocate. The following year he entered into partnership with the present town clerk, H. N. Harriman, who for some time pre- viously had been a member of the State Constabulary, and located at Salem, the firm greatly enlarging the size of the paper. They print a weekly edition of about twelve hundred copies, have a well-appointed office, issue a sheet deservedly popular, from its ty- pography and general make-up, the files of which will, to the future local historian, be invaluable. A

steam-power press is used. The making of men's clothing was aneiently done by itinerating tailors going from family to family, as women tailors did half a century ago. "Tailor Thurlow " was perhaps the most noted in this town.

Samuel Plumer, of Rowley, who had been living in Haverhill for a year or two, began the manufac- ture of clothing in town in 1838. Was in partnership with Stephen Osgood for some years, but later with H. L. Perkins. He is still in business, and alter some removals, again occupies his old stand of nearly fifty years ago. Mr. Blodgett was in the same industry, from about 1842, for some years. Had some twenty or more employees. Was of an inventive turn and devised the first sewing-machines, but it was only by the aid of a Boston machinist that it was made prac- tical. Afterwards took out patents in England ; lo- eated in Philadelphia and became wealthy. David Haskell, an ingenious earpenter of this town, invent- ed an attachment to the sewing machine, now in uni- versal use, but others secured the money-value. Ste- phen Osgood began the elothing business in 1848 ; afterwards a "Forty-niner" in the early California furore, and for many years has been extensively en- gaged as a merehant-tailor, having for style and finish of garments a very wide celebrity. He was a member of the Massachusetts Senate. H. L. Perkins, for some years in partnership with Mr. Plumer, but of late in business iu Odd Fellows' Building, recently re- moved to Haverhill. He makes a specialty of par- ticular lines of gentlemen's wear. L. H. Bateman twenty years ago manufactured eigars in the second story of the store which formerly was near Dr. Huse's residence. Shoe-pegs were made by Charles Coburn forty years ago, in a building on Chestnut Street. The tannery of Deaeon Solomon Nelson was improved by the father of the writer about 1843, a bark mill, eir- cular saws and lathe added. Shuttle stoek for the Lowell mills, carriage, laths and leneing stuff manu- factured, grinding bark for the tanneries, then doing business and threshing grain, nearly every farmer growing the small grains at that time.

The first use of steam for manufacturing purposes, was on Chestnut Street, about 1835, as has been sta- ted. Since that time, an engine was run for about two years, near the Pingree farm-house, to saw the timber into lumber, at the time of the extensive clearing of the forest; another, about twenty years ago, on West Street, by Patrick Grimes, in a wool-eleaning business, in a building just in the rear of the James Grimes (formerly the Esquire Spofford place), also one in the building on Main Street, near Pen Brook Avenue, where, a few years ago, parties from Haverhill extraeted oil from leather waste and still another in an apple-evaporating business, about five years ago, in the building on Main Street, former- ly the residence of the Misses Cross, upon the site of which the Bailey block of stores and tenements now stands. The carriage manufacture was introduced

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some years ago, by a brother of Stephen Osgood, in the large and convenient building erected for the pur- pose, at the head of School Street, but unfortunately did not prove remunerative. Here steam power was also used. George S. Weston has steam power in a cider factory, erected some ten or twelve years ago, near his residence on Main Street. Mr. Weston and his cousin Charles, run in the winter season, the old Spofford saw-mill on Andover Street. Henry Petten- gill, has in his old blacksmith shop, the engine for- merly used in the Batchelder peg-mill, in Boxford, which was burned about 1848. In 1866 a company of capitalists in Newburyport, begau the manufacture of peat at the Raynor meadows, on the west side of Central Street, not far from the Boxford boundary. A building of three stories was erected, machinery and steam power put in, upland graded for drying ground and much expense incurred. The result was not satisfactory, and after a few months, work was suspended. This locality, uow owned by Boston parties, is locally known as " Peatville."

During the silver mining excitement, in 1875 and '76, a shaft was sunk by a Dr. Taylor, on Hilliard land, near the Parker River Mills, and much experi- menting and land-bonding in that locality, and along Red Shanks and on Nelson Street, was the result. Some galena and silver was found. Recently, further mining operations have been made near C. E. Chap- lin's, on Nelson Street, on land then owned by parties in Providence, R. I.

The business of a machinist was carried on for sev- eral years by Manly Morse, son of Nathaniel Morse, and by George Hasting, the Universalist minister.

The first wind-mill erected was that of Robert Boyes, about thirty-five years ago, for wheelwright purposes, on the building in the rear of Little's shoe factory, now occupied by J. E. Messenger. Lately modern wind-mills have been in use for stabling pur- poses by Jophanas Adams and G. H. Carlton.

Soap manufacture has been carried on for some years by Charles Smith, on North Street, and John T. Hilliard, on Thurlow Street. Elisha Hood, of South Georgetown, was at one time in this business.

The shoe-box industry, at present carried on by M. F. Carter at the steam factory near the railroad sta- tion, was begun twenty or more years ago on Pond Street, by J. P. Folsom, and continued by William Sawyer, who removed here from Boxford.

The cutting of ice from Lake Pentncket was begun as early as 1853 or 1854, by Messrs. Little and Tenney, and soon after the buildings were erected. This Pentucket ice industry was afterwards the property of Sherman Nelson, but at present, and for some years past, is controlled by John A. Hoyt & Sons.

A few years ago two brothers by the name of Ab- bott, who are in the business elsewhere, began cutting ice from Rock Pond. They cut and store wholly for shipment, while much of the Pentucket product is for local consumption. Besides the blacksmith shops

uamed there was, as early as 1740, that of Amos Pillsbury, on Pillsbury Plain, near Humphrey Nel- son's, later, another Dresser shop near Library Street, afterwards occupied by Captain Asa Bradstreet and D W. Perkins. Fifty years ago South Georgetown had Goodrich and Richards in this industry, and dur- ing work on the road-bed of the Danvers Railroad, a shop was built at the corner of Chaplin Court, after- wards burned. Byfield had one or two on Warren Street, and has at present, on North Street, a very en- terprising establishment, in the carriage and smith shop of Morse & Poor. At the village there have been the shops of J. A. Illsley, James Cogswell, now Charles Holmes, also that of MeKenney, Morrill and the vet- eran Henry Pettengill, now of nearly sixty years labor in this town. One curious feature of the early times was, that before the use of "slings" when oxen were to be shod they were turned upon their backs, a custom still in use in Syria.

Many of the earlier house-builders have been al- ready named, as several of the Spoffords, eminent in this especially honorable avocation, also two or three of the Hazens, and others. Captain John Kilham was, for about half a century, a skillful artisan, and many of the dwellings in town are the results of his steady and painstaking industry. Isaac Wilson, residing on Spofford hill, William George, who died recently at the age of ninety-six, Sylvanns Nelson, S. Eustace Clark and others, now gone to join the silent majority, were always busy in the duties of their calling.

The Kimball brothers, of which John, survives, were active for many years in their chosen work, and is now repeated in their sons also; also John W. Pin- gree in South Georgetown, Chauncey O. Noyes, Caleb S. Chaplin, in Byfield, George B. Poor and James E. Messenger, of whom the last-named has a business var- ied with carriage repair (assuming the work laid aside by Joseph Currier and Robert Boyce) are, with per- haps others not named, the active members of the fraternity in the town to-day. A few contractors have, at times, resided here, but in most cases their labor was not as productive of good to the community, as was anticipated.

One industry to be added to the foregoing is that of heel-making, which is connected naturally with the shoe and leather interests. This business is of consid- erable importance in towns near by, but from some cause has not been successful in this town. Recently an attempt was made to conduct this industry on a large scale, but all work, after several months of trial, has been suspended. Previously the Cokers, father and son, for a time did a moderate business. Another quite important industry to be added is the manufac- ture of lasts by Cyrus Dorman, who conducted this business at the head of Mechanics' Court for several years.

A bakery was established by John Hale in a build- iug erected for the purpose, near Peabody Library,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ten years or more ago. The public demand hardly warranted the outlay, and the business was not a suc- cess. Later J. S, Hilliard carried on the same busi- ness in Little's Block, selling out some three years ago to S. D. Bean. Nearly, or quite, forty-five years ago William Boynton, now of Melrose, conducted quite a trade in, and some manufacture of, furniture on Central Street. He was also undertaker for the town. The Farmers' Mutual Company, of Georgetown, or- ganized about forty years ago, had its office under his roof, an institution of which he was treasurer. This company has been extinct for about twenty years.

CHAPTER LIX.

GEORGETOWN-(Continued).

THE MILITARY HISTORY.

IN examining the early history of New England towns for their military records, one fact impressed on the mind by all investigators is the frequent use of military titles in the records both of the parish and towu, and especially from about 1700 down to 1850, while with us some of the captains, majors and colonels are still living, and are familiarly so called. A pride in military duty parade seems to have been a trait in some families, and in this vicin- ity, for a century or more, in the Spofford family, more than in any other. Perhaps the first names found in active service as Indian fighters, are those of the Stickneys on Long Hill, one of whom was called out for a short campaign against the Indians at the eastward about 1707. Jonathan Wheeler was on duty at Fort Independence, Boston harbor (then Castle William), at some date not later than 1735. He was probably the Marlboro' resident. Lieutenant Benjamin Plumer, perhaps Ensign Benjamin, who was prominent in parish work, was on the eastern frontier in 1754. Two or three from this part of Row_ ley were at Lake George in 1755 with the Rowley Company. . At this early period of the French war, our soldiers wore their homespun clothing, and car- ried their own muskets, blankets only provided. The militia was organized, and, in the prospect of a pro- longed war, were frequently drilled. In 1757 Ebenezer Burpee, the parish clerk, was lieutenant, and Deacon Stephen Mighill was clerk of Capt, Pearsons' company of cavalry. In the return of militia for 1757 Cap- tain Richard Thurston's train-band, or West Parish Infantry, had fifty-four men. The crisis in our country's history, when the French were victorious in every important encounter, brought the realities of war to the homes of these West parish farmers. The contest at this time had peculiar features all its own. The Fort William Henry massacre soon followed, and as the wearied and disheartened soldier returned

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 224

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