History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 235

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 235

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).

THE WASHINGTON MILLS COMPANY .- This com- pany is now making a radical change. They have taken down the old buildings and replaced them with buildings of more modern style. One of the old mills took fire and was burned to the ground in 1887, but the new mills were so far advanced that but little de- lay ensued in continuing the operations of the com- pany. The treasurer of the new company in Fred- erick Ayer, of Lowell; Manager, Thomas Sampson, of Lawrence; Clerk of the corporation, Sidney W. Thurlow ; Paymaster, Alfred P. Clark, of Lawrence, who has been in this position through the various vicissitudes of the Bay State and Washington Mills.

THE ATLANTIC COTTON MILLS COMPANY was incorporated in February, 1846. Their original plan was to occupy the entire territory between the Bay

State and Pacific Mills. The westerly and easterly" wings of the present building were built indepen- dently, and at a later date the two were connected by the large central structure; and, as this gave all the room required, the lower part of the territory was re- linquished to the Essex Company, and subsequently sold to the Pacific Company for the Lower Pacific Mills in 1864. The first cotton arrived January, 1849, and was manufactured by the Atlantic in May following. Their second mill was manufacturing cloth in October of the same year. The Central Mill was commenced in February, 1850. These mills were built by the Essex Company, under the direction and in accordance with the plans of Captain Charles H. Bigelow, the company's engineer. The brick-work was under the direction of Levi Sprague and the wood-work under the supervision of Morris Knowles. The Essex Company also built at their machine-shop the machinery for the middle building.

These mills were constructed, as was the custom in the earlier days of manufacturing, more with a view to their practical utility than with regard to beauty, and the addition of the central structure, with its flat- roof and little wooden bell-tower in the centre, gave to the passer-by the idea of an enormous square brick bottle with short neck and stopper. The buildings were subsequently raised by the addition of mansard roofs, thereby giving additional working room, and contributing largely to the architectural appearance of the building, further improved by the removal of the old central bell-tower, and the construction of a handsome brick tower at one of the angles.

Financially, the Atlantic Mills have had their trials, as well as the others. This company, in com- mon with all others, felt seriously the depression of 1857, and in 1876 the company was reorganized; the capital stock, which was originally one million five hundred thousand dollars, was reduced to one million dollars, the stockholders surrendering five shares of old stock for one of uew and contributing seven hun- dred thousand dollars in caslı, to make up the new capital-looking to a future of promise and hope. In 1886 they were again somewhat embarrassed by the crooked proceedings of their treasurer, Wm. Gray, Jr., and are at the present time moving forward successfully, it is believed, under new auspices. The mills are well-built, substantial buildings, have al- ways been kept in thorough repair, and under the management of local agents have been models of neatness and order. The number of spindles is over 100,000 ; the number of looms is 1921; the number of persons employed, about 1100; product, 500,000 yards per week of sheetings and shirtings; motive- power, 4 turbine wheels and 1 double Corliss engine, 1000 horse-power.

The president was Abbott Lawrence, and the Treasurer, Charles S. Storrow. Mr. William Gray succeeded Mr. Storrow as treasurer, and held that position for thirty years, resigning in 1877. Henry

892

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Saltonstall served as treasurer for a short period, and was followed by William Gray, Jr., who, by the be- trayal of his trust, added one more honored name to the list of criminals that has disgraced American annals.

For the first ten years the resident agent was the late Gen. Henry K. Oliver, well-known and esteemed by all who knew him for his social qualities and for his active interest in whatever pertained to the inter- est and welfare of the city. He was succeeded by Joseph P. Battles, who had been previously cashier, who served the company with marked fidelity for twenty-nine years, till his resignation in 1887.

The present organization is as follows : President, Chas. H. Dalton, of Boston ; Treasurer, William Hooper, of Boston; Agent, William A. Sherman, of Lawrence; Paymaster, J. C. Bowker, who has been in the employ of the company since 1856, succeeding Mr. Battles as paymaster in 1858.

PACIFIC MILLS .- Incorporated 1853, with a capi- tal of two million dollars, increased, since, to two million five hundred thousand dollars. The mills and print-works buildings were built by the Essex Company nnder the direction and superintendence of Capt. Charles H. Bigelow. Large additions have since been made, and another mill for the Pacific is now in process of construction. This corporation is one of the largest textile establishments in the world, manufacturing, printing and dyeing ladies' cotton, worsted and wool dress fabrics.

The number of cotton spindles is 120,000; the num- ber of worsted spindles, 30,000; the number of looms, 4600; the number of printing-machines, 25; the number of mills and buildings, 23, covering 44 acres of floor space, independently of a new large mill in process of erection. For motive-power and other pur- poses, there are in use in these mills: 11 turbine wheels of 5000 horse-power, 4 large steam-engines of 3500 horse-power, 42 small steam-engines, 50 steam boilers. The annnal consumption of coal, 23,000 tons; the annual consumption of gas in 9000 burners, cost $30,000; the annual consumption of cotton, 15,600 bales ; the annual consumption of wool, 4,000,000 pounds. The annual capacity of the mills : Cottons printed and dyed, 70,000,000 yards ; worsted goods, 30,000,000 yards; to make this cloth nearly 200,000,000 miles of yarn are required ; the pay-roll for the year ending May, 1886, was $1,790,000 ; the average earnings per day were for men and boys, $1.26 ; for women and girls, 90 cents.

The Pacific Mills Library (connected with which is a reading-room containing daily papers) contains 9000 volumes, and has a fund of over $13,000.

The relief society has expended annually for several years five thousand dollars for the relief of the sick and disabled. The society has been maintained by a contribution of two cents per week from the people employed, and a weekly contribution of $2.50 from the corporation. The establishment of the Lawrence

Hospital has rendered this society less needful, and it has been dissolved.

The library was started by contributions of Mr. Lawrence and other directors, and a donation of one thousand dollars made by the Pacific Mills, and was maintained by a contribution of one cent per week from the people employed. The further increase of this library has also been relinquished, the much larger public library, open to all the citizens, affording larger and more varied opportunities for reading.

There was also a savings bank connected with the mills, the deposits amounting at one time to nearly one hundred thousand dollars. The city having now three chartered savings banks, the company bave ceased receiving deposits, and all the accounts have been closed.

Of ten prizes (of ten thousand francs each) given by the Emperor Napoleon III., at the Paris Exposi- tion of 1867, for the care of the material, intellectual and moral welfare of employees, the Pacific Mills re- ceived the second prize, out of five hundred appli- cants; and this was the only prize awarded to the United States or Great Britain.

The first treasurer and agent of these mills was Jeremiah S. Young, who was the lessee and manager of the Ballardvale Mills, at Andover. He brought with him to this new enterprise many skilled work- men, and devoted himself intensely to its develop- ment. The immense cost of so large an establish- ment, and of the expensive machinery necessary for its equipment, exhausted the capital and embarrassed its progress ; and the stock, the par value of which was one thousand dollars per share, sold at one time at as low a price as one hundred dollars and less. Mr. Lawrence, the president, resolute and enterprising, had no idea of seeing the word " Fail" inscribed upon its banner. In his own name lie raised the amount necessary to carry the enterprise forward, and was actively and earnestly engaged in its interest till his death, in 1855.

The treasurer, Mr. Young, died in 1857, and after a short interval, when the duties of treasurer were performed by Mr. George H. Kuhn, J. Wiley Ed- mands was chosen treasurer and manager. Mr. Ed- mands received his mercantile education in the firm of A. & A. Lawrence, and his thorough mercantile knowledge contributed not a little to the subsequent success. Associated with him, William C. Chapin came in 1853 from Providence to superintend the print-works, and subsequently became resident agent, while the selling agents of the manufactured goods, who also furnished the designs and patterns, were Messrs. Jas. L. Little & Co., of Boston, thus combining rare financial ability, excellent power of organization and skill in manufacture and taste in adapting manu- factured goods to the wants of the public, combined with forecast and sagacity in sales.

Under this combination the mills enjoyed a period of unusual success, the market value of the stock

893

LAWRENCE.

more than doubling in value. Mr. Chapin resigned in 1871, having been agent eighteen years, and re- turned to Providence, and Mr. John Fallen, who was his successor as chemist aud superintendent of the print-works, became acting agent. Mr. Edmands died in 1877, and was succeeded by Mr. James L. Lit- tle as treasurer. After Mr. Little's resignation and re- tirement from active business Mr. Henry Saltoustall was chosen treasurer ; Mr. Joseph Stone, superin- tendent of the Lower or new Pacific Mills, and Mr. Walter E. Parker, superintendent of the Upper or old mills.

Thepresent organization is as below,-Henry Salton- stall, treasurer and general manager; Henry Daven- port, clerk of the corporation; Walter E. Parker, superintendent of mills ; Charles T. Main, assistant superintendent of Lower Pacific ; Francis H. Silsbee, assistant superintendent of Upper Pacific; Samuel Barlow, superintendent of print-works.

The cashiers resident in Lawrence have been suc- cessively Rev. Alexander H. Clapp, D.D., now treas- urer of the American Home Missionary Society, New York; Ebenezer T. Colby, who enlisted in 1862 in the Uniou Army,-captain and later lieutenant-colo- nel of his regiment, and since the war in the Custom House at Boston ; Benjamin T. Bourne from 1862 to 1866, now of Providence, R. I .; John R. Rollins from 1866 to 1879; and the present cashier, William P. Anderson. Within the past few years extensive repairs have been made, new buildings erected, and new machinery of the most modern and improved kinds furnished, to adapt the mills to the demands of the time, and the mills are in a high state of efficien- cy and prosperity.

Hon. J. Wiley Edmands was born in Boston March 1, 1809, received his education at a Boston grammar school and entered the High School when it was founded, in 1821. On leaving school he entered the employ of Messrs. A. & A. Lawrence, was gradually pro- moted and in 1830 became a member of the firm. In 1843 he retired from the firm and for several years was interested in the Maverick Woolen Mills at Ded- ham. In the fall election of 1852 he was elected to the House of Representatives in Congress and served one term of two years, declining a re-election. He was not politically ambitious, and though often sought for political positions, the only one which he accepted was that of Presidential elector in the elec- tion of 1868. In 1855, when the Pacific Mills stock was at its lowest ebb, Mr. Edmands, whose well- known energy and capacity were fully appreciated by Mr. Lawrence and the other owners, was requested to take the treasurership of these mills, and under his management, aided cordially by others associated with him, the value of the stock had advanced, until at the time of his decease it had more than doubled in value.

His counsel was sought by many institutions aside from the Pacific Mills. He was a director in the

Arkwright Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company ; aud of the Suffolk Bank; vice-president of the Prov- ideut Institution for Savings in Boston, and director and at one time treasurer of the Ogdensburg Railroad. His position also for several years as president of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers brought his knowledge into requisition and enabled him to exert a powerful influence upon national legislation. Moderate and conservative, he believed that the least protective duties should be imposed that would suffice to make our national industry independent, and it was in consequence of his advocacy of equal protec- tion to agricultural and manufacturing interests that he was as well known in other parts of the country as in New England.

Mr. Edmands was a sterling patriot at the com- mencement of the Civil War. He gave his time, in- fluence and money to the support of the government, and on the successful termination of the war he was president of the convention at Boston which nomi- nated General Grant for the Presidency.

Resolute and determined, he bore beneath a some- what stern exterior a very kind and benevolent heart. This was manifest in his management of the people in his employ, all of whom not only respected his great ability, but had equal confidence in his justice, and there were no more sincere mourners at his fn- neral than in the large delegation from the Pacific Mills.

To the city of Newton, where he resided, he gave toward the founding of a public library ten thousand dollars for the building and five thousand dollars for books, and an annual contribution of five thousand dollars subsequently.

Mr. Edmands died in the midst of usefulness, but not unexpectedly, of heart-disease, January 31st, 1877. His funeral, which took place February 3d, was largely attended by official delegations of all the organiza- tions with which he was connected, and a detachment of the Grand Army Post of Newton; the flags of Newton were placed at half-mast, the bells tolled during the funeral and business was generally sus- pended,-while at Lawrence the bells of the Atlantic, Pacific and Washington Mills were tolled from one to two o'clock.

LAWRENCE DUCK COMPANY .- This company was incorporated in 1852, with a capital of three hundred thousand ; par value of the shares, one thousand dol- lars. The original owners were Albert Fearing, Isaac Thatcher and David Whiton.

For more than twenty-five years the mill was man- aged by Isaac Thatcher, the treasurer, and Isaac Hay- den as local agent, the latter-named being a man of considerable inventive genius, to whom the company are indebted for improvements and inventions in the machinery used. The company manufactures cotton duck of several varieties, aud sail twine, the duck manufactured being of superior quality and finding

894

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ready sale. The quality of the duck for sails has been well tested on some of the favorite yachts,-"Astor's," the "Coronet" and others,-and large amounts of min- ing duck manufactured here have been used in Cali- fornia and Australia. Harvesting duck for our Wes- tern harvesting machines, paper-makers' cotton felts and tent duck are also manufactured.

Treasurer, Aaron Hobart; agent, William A. Bar- rell; paymaster, W. L. S. Gilchrist.

The Everett Mills Company was incorporated in 1860, and commenced operations in the summer of 1861, having purchased the large stone building for- merly owned by the Lawrence Machine-Shop Co. The company was formed through the efforts of Mr. Samuel Batchelder, one of the pioneers in the Lowell enterprise, and who, in the early days of Lowell, was the first agent of the Hamilton Manufacturing Com- pany at Lowell, 1825 to 1831. The capital stock of the company is $800,000 ; the number of employees, 1050 (małe, 400 ; female, 650); goods manufactured, ginghams and a general variety of colored fabrics of cotton, cottonade, cheviots, denims and dress goods.

The agents have been Daniel D. Crombie, who was subsequently treasurer, 1871-78; John R. Perry ; Da- vid M. Ayer, who has retired to the independent life of a farmer; Charles D. McDuffie, now in Manchester; and his son, the present agent, Fred. C. McDuffie. The paymaster for a long period was William A. Bar- rell, who resigned in 1880 to accept the agency of the Lawrence Duck Company. The mill has 33,280 spin- dles, 1014 looms, 1050 employees, and the product amounts to over 10,000,000 yards per annum, using upwards of 3,000,000 pounds of cotton. Incorpora- tors, James Dana, Samuel Bab and Charles W. Cart- wright.

The power is furnished by three turbine wheels driven by water from the Essex Company's canal, the raceway discharging into the Spicket River near its entrance into the Merrimack. The present manage- ment,-Eugene H. Sampson, treasurer ; Fred'k C. McDuffie, agent; Isaac Wynn, superintendent ; George M. Doe, paymaster.

Mr. Samuel Batchelder, a native of Jaffrey, N. H., was born June 8, 1784, died February, 1879, at the age of ninety-four years, seven months and twenty- eight days. For a large part of his life he had been connected with cotton manufacturing interests as a proprietor and inventor. As early as 1807 he helped to establish and took charge of a cotton-spinning mill of five hundred spindles in New Ipswich, N. H., and soon became known as a skillful manufacturer, eager to discover and apply improved methods in what was at that time the infancy of manufacturing in America. In 1825 he was called upon to assist in the establish- ment of the second factory, on the site of the present city of Lowell, the Hamilton Manufacturing Compa- ny, and was agent of the same until 1831. In 1837 he united with gentlemen in Boston in the purchase of the water-power and in laying the foundations of

another manufacturing city at Saco, Me. He resign- ed in 1846 and retired to his home in Cambridge, but not for the quiet retirement that he anticipated. He soon became interested as one of the proprietors in the new enterprise at Lawrence in 1847, and in 1855 again took charge of the York Mills at Saco, and continued treasurer and manager of these mills and of the Everett at Lawrence as long as he was able to attend to active business, after he had passed his eightietlı year.

THE PEMBERTON MILL COMPANY was incorpor- ated in 1853, and the mill was built the same year. The architecture of the mill varied from the old style of mill-buildings, and on its completion was consid- ered a model of beauty for a building of that charac- ter ; it was built, however, at an unfortunate period, and owing to the growing depression in manufactur- ing interests, which culminated in 1857, its early years were unsuccessful, and it remained idle from 1857 to 1859, when Mr. David Nevins and George Howe pur- chased the entire property for three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, and operated the new organization under the name of the

PEMBERTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY. It con- tinued under the new owners until the 10th of Janu- ary, 1860, when, without a moment's warning, the main building fell, burying beneath its rnins about six hundred persons, of which a fuller account is else- where given.

THE PEMBERTON COMPANY, of which David Nev- ins,1 George Blackburn and Eben Sutton 1 were con- trolling owners, rebuilt the mill upon the old founda- tions in 1860, and commenced operations in 1861. The capital stock of this company is four hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The resident agent of the original company was John E. Chase, who continued in the service of the company until after the fall of the mill, and was suc- ceeded by the present agent, Frederick E. Clarke, who was the first paymaster. Mr. Clarke was followed as paymaster by Samuel M. Newhall, who died in the service. The present company has been quite suc- cessful, interrupted only by a fire, which destroyed the dye-house in 1886.

This mill manufactures a large variety of cotton goods, running twenty-eight thousand spindles, eight hundred and twenty-five looms and employs about eight hundred and fifty persons.

Present organization,-Heury S. Shaw, treasurer ; Frederick E. Clarke, agent; Miss E. L. Gleason, cashier.

January 10, 1860, is memorable in the annals of Lawrence for one of the most appalling calamities that had ever occurred in New England-the fall of the Pemberton mill. There were in the employ of the company at this time nine hundred and eighteen persons. In the main mill about six hundred were

1 Deceased.

895

LAWRENCE.

industriously employed at their work, when, at about 5 o'clock P. M., in less time than it takes to record the fact, the entire mill was a mass of ruius, with the six hundred buried in the wreck. But very few moments elapsed before the whole city was in commotion ; crowds rushing to the scene in au agony of fear and suspense to learn the fate of friends aud relatives, and the ruius were as rapidly covered with volunteers equally anxious and earnest to rescue. Many suc- ceeded in working their way ont unaided. Others were saved by herculean efforts. As darkness closed in, lanterus and bonfires became necessary (fortunately the gas-lights were all extinguished by the fall of the mill) and the work continued far into the night, and the larger number had either escaped or had heen rescued, when the cry of fire in the ruins sent a thrill of horror through all, as it was known that several yet remained, unable to escape. Determined and al- most superhuman efforts were made in their behalf; a deluge of water was poured into the ruins from the Washingtou Mills, the Fire Department and a steam fire-engine from Manchester, even the women taking turns at the brakes to relieve the wearied firemen, but all efforts were nnavailing. Fourteen perished in the flames. Eighty-seven in all were killed or died from injuries, forty-three others were severely injured, and of these, two were disabled for life. The remainder escaped unhurt, or with slight wounds.

The City Hall was immediately opened for the re- ception of the dead and wounded, and not only the physicians of the city, but those of neighboring towns, and others passing through in the cars, volun- teered their services and worked with unceasing energy for the relief of the sufferers.

Equally prompt were the tokens of sympathy and pecuniary aid that began to pour in from all quarters. The very next morning the New England Society of Manufacturers started a subscription, and before night two thousand dollars were placed hy J. Wiley Ed- mauds in the hands of the mayor, on the next day three thousand dollars more came, and the society continued tosend till their donation amounted to over nineteen thousand dollars. Other clubs and citizens of Boston increased the amount to nearly twenty-eight thousand dollars ; the chords of sympathy were touched throughout the land, and from many. neighboring towns and cities, not only in Massachusetts, but in the New England States, from New York and Phila- delphia, and from the distant States of Indiana, Ala- bama, Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky, from old and young, from Jew and Gentile, came words of sympathy and contributions of money, until, the thirteenth day after the event, the mayor and trus- tees issued a circular requesting that no more should be sent. The total amount of gifts sent amounted to $65,579.29.

The committee in charge of the funds were the mayor, Hon. Chas. S. Storrow, Henry K. Oliver, Wm. C. Chapin and John C. Hoadley. They organized on

the 15th, with the mayor, Hon. Daniel Saunders, Jr., as chairman ; Chas. S. Storrow, treasurer ; and Pardon Armington, clerk, appointed an inspector for each ward of the city, who should devote his entire time to looking after the wants of the sufferers in his district, -Sylvester A. Furbush for Ward 1, J. Q. A. Batchel- der for Ward 2, Wm. D. Joplin for Ward 3, Heury Withington for Ward 4, Elbridge Weston for Ward 5, and Daniel Saunders for Ward 6.

On the 16th of January the committee requested of the Pemberton Company the use of one of their boarding-houses for a hospital for those who could not be properly cared for at their own lodgings. While they were debating the method of managing this, a letter was received from Mr. James M. Barnard, a Boston merchant, proposing to come with a corps of nurses and physicians at his own expense, and to ap- ply his aid wherever it would be most efficient. Mr. Barnard conducted the "Home" for more than three months, assisted by Dr. J. H. Morse as attending phy- sician, and ladies from Boston and Lawrence, at an expense to himself of nearly one thousand dollars.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 235

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