History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 21

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 21

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).

E. 'S. Wheeler, Fletcher Street, makes double- knotted loom harnesses and harness-machines. Em- ploying six hands. He started the business in the present location in 1888, having previously done busi- ness on Arch Street, with Thomas F. Burgess as partner.

F. Butler, D. W. C. Farrington and others as propri- etors, and Walter H. McDaniels, as manager, com- menced operations in 1866, and have since experi- enced very little change, either in management or operation. Their mill is of brick, and is situated on Crosby Street. It has nine sets of cards, six combs, 5000 spindles, 220 looms and employs 600 hands. About 6000 pounds of wool are consumed per day. The manufactures arc bunting and worsted cloths.

The Lowell Goring Works were started in 1888, by W. F. Copson, who remains sole proprietor. He man- ufactures shoe-goring and braid, having ten em- ployees. The works are at Mechanics' Mills, Dutton Street.

Crossley Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of indigo-blue flannels, ladies' dress-goods, and fine cloakings.

This business was begun in 1864 by Wm. Walker & Sons, in a brick building at Massic Falls, on Law- rence Street, owned by C. B. Richmond. As business increased, Mr. Richmond erected for the company another building of stone. Both these buildings were used by the company until the death of Mr. Walker in 1888. The sons, after continuing the business for over a year, sold it out to W. M. Crossley, who is the present proprietor. The mills contain six sets of cards, 1600 spindles, twenty-four looms and give em- ployment to about one hundred hands.

Shaw Stocking Company .- Mr. Benjamin F. Shaw, having invented a new knitting-loom, for the manu- facture of seamless stockings, a company was incor- porated in 1877, with a capital of $30,000 for the pur- pose of putting the invention into successful opera- tion. Work was begun promptly upon the construc- tion of nine of these machines, and one of them was so far completed in the autumn of 1878 as to allow of its exhibition at the fair of the Massachusetts Charit- able Mechanic Association, held in Boston in that year.

Contrary to the predictions of experts in the hos- iery manufacture, the new knitting-loom, on actual trial, proved its superiority. The capital, therefore, was increased, in 1879, to $160,000. Six acres of land were procured for the plant, and in 1880 a new brick mill of three stories was constructed. Success fol- lowed. In 1880 the capital was increased to $240,000. The new knitting-loom was called for in Europe. Mr. Shaw spent several months in London in exhibiting his invention to knitters from almost every European country. 'A company was formed to start a manufac- tory in Leicester, England, for using the new knitting- loom.

Mcanwhile the increased demand for the "Shaw- knit " goods in America was so great, that the capac- ity of the mill was still further enlarged. The success of this enterprise is due both to the superiority of the loom and the excellence of the goods produced.

The company has now (1890) a capital of $360,000. The United States Bunting Company, with Gen. B. F. J. Dutcher is president; Josiah Butler, treasurer ;

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B. F. Shaw, manager. The company employs 500 operatives and runs 273 stocking looms, producing daily $400 pairs. They manufacture the patent Shaw- knit stockings. "Since the discovery of the remarkable dye, trade-marked Snow black by the company, a dye- house has been added to its plant, for dyeing all the variety of goods turned ont, whether wool, merino or cotton." The mill, dye-works and office are on Smith Street.

Josiah Butler, Gorham Street, manufactures batting and deals in waste, employing fifteen hauds, consuming 1500 pounds of cotton daily. He started the business in its present location in 1871.

William H. Carter, in his mill on Congress Street, in which, in former years, A. J. Richmond, and, after him, Geo. Ripley had mannfactured batting, now makes ladies' dress goods and union cassimeres. He has four sets of cards and thirty-four broad looms. He also does a wool-scouring business, using Sar- gent's latest improved scouring-machine. He em- ploys about forty hands.

The Thorndike Manufacturing Company, on Thorn- dike Street, produces about 500 dozen pairs of sus- penders per day, employing 150 to 175 hands, rnn- ning thirty-five looms and twenty-five sewing-ma- chines. This business was started in 1870 by Day- id C. G. Field, who early received as partners Luther J. Eames, Asa C. Russell and James G. Buttrick. The company was incorporated in 1889. Mr. Butt- rick is treasurer and agent.

The Lowell Hosiery Company was started in 1869, mainly through the efforts of W. F. Salmon. A char- ter was granted to W. F. Salmon, Thomas Nesmith and Hocum Hosford May 26, 1869.

Starting with a capital of $100,000, the company afterwards increased it to $175,000, which is mostly owned in Lowell.

The plant is situated on Mt. Vernon Street. This company mannfactures annually 275,000 dozen wom- en's plain cotton hose, 150,000 dozen women's and children's fancy cotton hose, consuming 800,000 ibs. of cotton and yarn yearly, and employing 100 male and 200 female operatives.

The Pickering Knitting Company, on Tanner Street, was started by C. C. Pickering,. Edwin Lamson and E. A. Thissell in 1882. J. W. C. Pickering, son of the senior partner, was admitted into the firm in 1883, Mr. Lamson retiring at the same time. The firm manufactures knit underwear for men and women, employing 500 hands. The works are located on Tanner Street.

M. & B. Rhodes began the manufacture of worsted yarns for carpets of all kinds on Wall Street in 1886. They consume 350 to 400 pounds of wool daily and employ thirteen female operatives.

Walter Coburn & Co., dealers in cotton waste .- About 1852 Alanson J. Richmond started, on Con- gress Street, the manufacture of cotton batting. Mr. Richmond having died at the end of about eight

years, George Ripley succeeded him in 1860, aud for eleven years made wadding and batting. Mr. Ripley was succeeded, in 1871, by the Wadding and Paper Company, which held thic plant till 1877, when the larger mill was occupied by William H. Carter (men- tioned elsewhere), and a part of the building has since been used by Walter Coburn & Co. This latter company purchases and sorts cotton-waste, and sells it both in home and foreign markets, where it is used in the manufacture of yarns, grain-bags, satinets, horse-blankets and paper. The company employs about forty-eight hands.

Walsh Worsted Mills, Meadowville, manufacture worsted yarns. The new mill has ninety looms and 5000 spindles and 150 employees. The business was removed to its present location from Middlesex Street in 1882. The proprietors are M. T. Stevens & Sons, successors of John Walsh & Sons.

Lowell Worsted-Mills, James Dugdale, proprietor, on Willie Street, manufacture worsted yarns for cas- simeres, knit-goods and coatings, employing eighty- five lands. Mr. Dugdale started the business in 1860, and is a pioneer manufacturer of fine worsted yarns. He was born in England, 1820, and came to America in 1847. Since 1872 his son has been his partner.

The Lladnek Mills .- The proprietors of these mills, R. W. Kendall & Co., scem to have found a name for this manufactory by spelling the principal proprie- tor's name from right to left. Mr. Kendall's first manufactory, was a small wooden building in the yard of the Wamesit Power Company, where, for six years, beginning with 1878, he was employed simply in dyeing cotton flannel. In 1884 Kendall & Co. erected, for their business, on Lawrence Street, near the cemetery, a spacious wooden building 260 by 60 feet, and three stories high, having two large exten- sions. The work of the mill consists in printing and dyeing both cotton and woolen flannel. The firm has selling agencies in Boston, New York, Philadel- phia, Chicago and Detroit. H. D. Kendall is snperin- tendent, and Walter B. Perkins, paymaster. The firm employs about sixty hands and prints and dyes from 15,000 to 25,000 yards of cotton flannel per day.

The United States Cord Company commenced, in 1880, the mannfacture of solid braids of cotton, linen and worsted for all purposes. The works are on Lawrence Street, and employ fifteen hands and con- sume about 500 pounds of cotton per day. Among the articles of manufacture are railroad signal cords, window-sash cords, curtain cords, chalk lines, etc. The officers of the company are: Prestiss Webster, president ; Paul Butler, treasurer; Charles Gray, superintendent.

The Cutter & Walker Manufacturing Company .- The business of this company was started in 1852, by G. W. Walker and Dr. Stephen Cutter, and conducted by them nntil 1875, when a stock company was formed with a capital of $40,000. Mr. Walker died in 1876 and Dr. Cutter died in 1881. Jacob Nichols is now

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

president and treasurer of the company. The man- factures are shoulder-braecs, suspenders, abdominal supporters, shoe-linings and paper stock. The works are located on Middlesex Street and thirty hands are employed.

W. L. Davis, in Davis & Sargent's building on Mid- dlesex Street, manufactures elastic and non-elastic webbing. Employing twelve to fifteen hands. He started the business in 1881, and is the successor of Rollason & Sherman.

John M. Pevey, on Walker Street, manufactures cot- ton yarns, single and twisted, suspender and other yarns and suspenders to order. This business was started in 1882, the proprietor having previously been partner with his three brothers in the brass and iron foundry business. He is also the proprietor of the American Improved Foss and Pevey Cotton Card.

The Criterion Knitting Company was started by Edwin Lamson and W. C. Hamblet in 1888. Before the end of the year, 1888 the company became incor- porated, there being four stock-holders, namely, James F. Puffer, Stephen B. Puffer, Warren C. Hamblet and Edwin Lamson. The works are on Tanner Street. The company employs eighty hands, and manufacturcs ladies' Jersey vests, 100 dozen being produced daily.

METAL MANUFACTURES .- The American Bolt Company .- In 1847 James Meadowcroft and George C. Smith started the manufacture of iron bolts and nuts, in a building hired of O. M. Whipple, in what is now the Wamesit yard. It was the first bolt man- ufactory in the United States. The work was all done by hand and the process slow. In 1854 D. S. Sherman was admitted partner, and in 1855 the pres- ent main building of the company was erected. Sub- sequently Jonathan Hope, Richard Dewhurst, Robert H. Butcher and James Minter at different times be- eame members of the firm. Mr. Minter's invention of a heading-machine seems to have finally secured the success and permanency of the manufacture. In 1881 the American Bolt Company, which was incor- porated with a capital of $200,000, succeeded to the business.

Success followed. Fifteen hundred tons of iron are now consnmed annually. The manufacture consists of bolts for railroads, bridges and other purposes; also nuts, screws and washers. One hundred and fifty men are employed. The company has a high reputation and very extensive patronage.

To a novice the works are of great interest. "A hole is punched through a cold iron plate 12 inches thick as easily as if it were a slice of cheese. Every thing is done with dies. A die cuts the hole in the uut, ents the nut itself and shapes it, and gives it its thread. The bolts are headed in a machine, threaded in a lathe, and polished in an emery barrel."

The officers of this company are : James Minter, president; Percy Parker, treasurer; and Miles Bren- nan, general manager.

Kitson Machine Company, Dutton Street. - Richard Kitson came to Lowell from England in 1849, and, building a shop in what is now Broadway, started the manufacture of the first needle-pointed card- clothing in this country. He invented various ma- chines for opening and cleaning eotton fibre, on which he secured patents. From these small be- ginnings the present extensive works-probably the largest in America for a similar purpose-were de- veloped. Mr. Kitson was sole proprietor until 1874, when the Kitson Machine Company was organized, the president of which is now Jacob Rogers, and the treasurer Haven C. Perham.

The company manufactures cotton-openers and lappers, wool-washers and dyers, employing 225 men.

Parsons & Mealey, Fletcher Street, make copper stamps and stencils for cotton and woolen and hosiery mills, bleacheries, etc. This business was started in 1843 by R. J. Dewherst, Wm. Parsons becoming a partner in 1845. In 1857 the firm became Parsons & Gibby, and in 1881 Parsons & Mealey. Parsons having now retired, Mr. Mealey is sole proprietor.

The Pevey Brothers, on Walker Street, iron and brass founders, employ seventy men, and annually use 1500 tons of iron. The four brothers, John M., George E., Franklin S. and James A. Pevey, started the business of iron and brass founders in 1871. In 1882 John A. Pevey retired from the firm to enter upon other business. The business is thriv- ing under the other brothers. Their manufac- ture includes brass, composition, copper, bronze and white metal castings, also water-works and sewer- castings, lamp-posts, grates, window-weights and rail- road supplies. They also manufacture zincs for tele- graph, telephone and fire-alarm batteries.

Union Brass Foundry, Worthen Street, produees all kinds of brass and composition castings, babbit- metals, etc., employing six men. This foundry has been in operation since 1881. Alfred L. Smith is the proprietor.

Daniel Cushing & Co., Middlesex Street, manufacture plain and ornamental galvanized iron and copper work, employing fifteen men. The company an- nually consumes twenty to thirty tons of galvanized sheet-iron, and from eight to ten tons of cast and wrought-iron.

David Cushing started this business in 1869, with G. W. and F. Smith, of Boston, as partners. He had been a partner of S. G. Mack, in the stove business, from 1835 to 1869, the firm of Cushing.& Mack being one of the best known throughout the city.

Mr. Cushing died in 1887, and his son, Joseph L., succeeds him, the old firm-name being still retained.

John Dennis & Co., Western Avenue, manufacture presses for every variety of work, roll-coverers' tools, etc., employing twelve men. The firm consists of John Dennis and his son, J. Nelson Dennis. The pres- ent firin started in 1882. The father had previously

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carried on the business from about 1866 to about 1879.

Scannell & Wholey manufacture steam boilers, stand- pipes and reservoirs, steel and iron-plate work and fire-escapes, employing thirty to fifty men, aud con- suming forty to fifty tons of iron per month. This business was started in 1880. . The works are on Tan- ner Street.

Middlesex Machine Company .- This company was started by F. G. Perkins and W. G. Wright in 1888. In 1889 the firm was changed to C. S. Shepard and F. G. Perkins. They are contractors for heating and ventilating buildings, and employ eighteen men. Their works are on Western Avenue.

A. Nourbourn, corner of Cushing and Willie Streets, manufactures steam, iron and wood-working ma- chinery, employing ten men. He started the busi- ness in 1877.

Wmn. Cleworth & Sons, manufacturers of weavers' reeds, on Middle Street, employ five meu. This business was started by Wm. Cleworth & Son at Mechanics' Mills in 1866. It was removed to Middle Street in 1868, where it is still conducted by Wm. Cleworth and his two sons, David aud Edwin Cle- worth.

Geo. W. Harris, at his mill on Pawtucket and Per- kins Streets, manufactures loom-harnesses, running one English, nine double-knot, one double machine and sixteen Harris machines, his own invention, employing thirty-five hands. In 1860 Mr. Harris started this business in a wooden building on Perkins Street. In 1880 he removed to the spacious brick manufactory which he now occupies.

In 1867 W. W. Carey started the manufacture of shafting, hangers and pulleys. Soou Geo. W. Harris was received as partner, and the firm of Carey & Harris continued the manufacture until 1879, when Harris retired from the firm. Since that time the business has been carried on by W. W. Carey. The manufac- tory is on the corner of Broadway and Mt. Vernon Streets. Number of hands employed, fifty.

Lowell Spring-Bed Company manufactures the Lowell Bed-Spring in Nesmith's Block, Merrimack Street. The proprietor, J. L. Severance, started the business in his present location in 1887.

Lowell Rubber Type Company, Nesmith Block, Mer- rimack Street, manufactures rubber stamps, etc. The business was started by J. L. Severance on Central Street in 1880. In 1884 he removed to his present location.

W. H. Bagshaw, Wilson Street, manufactures and exports comb, gill, hackle and card pins, circles for combing-machines, fallers, gills, hackles and porcu- pines, weavers' combs, and manufacturers' supplies, employing twenty-five hands. The business was es- tablished in 1873.

Charles E. Gee, Fletcher Street, manufactures worsted and wood-working machinery, employing five hande. He started the business in 1888, succeeding

Wm. Robinson, who had long done business in the same place.

Samuel E. & Thomas Stott, Meadowcroft Street, manufacture needle and diamond-pointed wood and leather card clothing, machine wool combs, circles, gills, fallers, hackles, shoddy and waste-pickers, rag- dusters, etc., employing from forty to fifty hands, This business was removed to its present location from the yard of the United States Bunting Company in 1886. Before 1881 it had been located on Market Street.

W. B. Glover, Hurd Street, stencil-cutter, engraver and lock-smith, started the business as stencil-cutter in 1853, and has since enlarged it by becoming an engraver and, later, lock-smith.

Ariston Grorer, steel letter, stamp and stencil-cutter on Market Street, has worked at the business about forty-five years. After having had his place of busi- ness on Middlesex Street for twenty-five years, lie came to his present location on Market Street in 1888. His sou, Charles O. A. Grover, is now the manager of the business.

, Lowell Steam-Boiler Works manufacture steam- boilers, bleachers and bleaching kiers, tanks for all purposes, penstocks, flumes and quarter-turns for turbine-wheel work.

These works were started on Dutton Street, by Stephen Ashton, in 1856, and sold to Wm. Dobbins in 1864. Wm. Dobbins was killed in 1873, being crushed by a boiler (which had not been properly supported in its place). In 1875 Charles Cowley purchased the works. In 1877 they came into the hands of Richard Dobbins, the present proprietor, who employs forty to seventy men and uses about fifty tons of iron and steel per month.

The New England Wire Goods Company at Holt's Mills, Belvidere, manufactures every descrip- tion of wire-ware. This business was started by J. W. Kerwin & Co., in 1882, and was then called The Lowell Wire Works. In 1889 it was purchased by W. F. Kenneson, who is the present treasurer and manager. He employes twenty men.

Wmn. & Hartley Wadsworth in 1888 started the manufacture of tempered cast-steel card wire on Bridge Street, also high grade cast-steel wires. They employ five men.

Jeremiah Clark, dealer in cotton and woolen machinery, began business in Middle Street in 1867. In 1888 he removed to his new and spacious building on Dutton Street. He has a machine-shop and store- house on Perrin Street, employs eighteen men, and uses an electric motor of ten horse-power.

A. Hallowell, Market Street, manufactures brass goods, also Hallowell's spray-nozzle, fountain stands, mill hydrants, fire department supplies, etc. This business was begun by A. Hallowell in 1863, on Middle Street, with C. L. Willoughby as partner. Subsequently it was carried on in Franklin Square by Reed & Hallowell, having been removed to Market

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Street about 1879. It is now conducted by A. Hallo -. well as sole proprietor.

M. A. Mack & Co., on Shattuck Street, manu- facture galvanized cornices, window-caps and brackets, iron and tin roof's ; they are also tin, sheet-iron, brass and copper workers. This firm succeeds to a business long since established. Sewall G. Mack came to Lowell in 1840, and, in company with Daniel Cush- ing, established the well-known firm of Cushiug & Mack, dealers in stoves, etc. On the retirement of Mr. Cushing, the firm became S. G. Mack & Co. The senior partner having retired, a new firm was formed in 1886, consisting of W. A. Mack and Geo. H. Wat- son, who started business in their new and elegant building on Shattuck Street. The firm employs eighteen men and uses sixty to seventy-five tons of galvanized iron, and twenty-five tons of black iron per year.

D. H. Wilson & Co., Cushing Street, manufacture slasher cylinders, silk and dresser cylinders, color and dye-kettles and all kinds of copper work for mills, employing seven men. The business of the firm was first on Central Street about 1872. It was removed to Cushing Street in 1889, and in 1890 it is to be re- moved to the spacious and commodious brick block erected for it on Dutton Street.

Mr. Wilson was the first man in America to make the copper slasher cylinders.

The Knowles Scale Works, on Fletcher Street, were started in 1837 by Woods & Nute, who were succeeded by John A. Knowles, Jr. Mr. Knowles died about 1883, and the business was purchased by William H. Thompson, of Salem, who is now the proprietor. These works manufacture all varieties of standard scales, and also all foreign standards. About 6000 are annually made. Twelve men are employed. Large sales are made in Southern and Western States, and in Mexico and Brazil.

The Union Iron Foundry, W. P. Edwards, proprie- tor, off Lincoln Street, consumes about 700 tons of iron annually, employing about thirty men. The company started business in 1872. In 1889 Mr. Ed- wards became sole proprietor.

A. L. Wright, corner of Rock and Fletcher Streets, has for his specialty the manufacture of engine- lathes. Mr. Wright started in business for himself eighteen years ago. His increasing business required him to move, first from Dutton to Cushing Street, and then to his present quarters, where he has a floorage of 10,500 fcet. He employs thirty to thirty-five hands.

S. C. & G. H. Smith, Broadway, manufacture cap and set-screws, employing fifteen men. In 1884 they succeeded S. C. Smith, who had commenced the busi- ness in 1868.

Benjamin Lawrence, on Broadway, manufactures engine and hand lathes, planers and shapers ; also combined index and milling machines, employing twelve hands. He started the business on Fletcher

Street in 1854. Subsequently he removed to Mt. Vernon Street, coming to his present location in 1870.

Joseph Turner, Broadway, mannfactures jack, cotton, sugar, rigger, planking, locomotive, claw-jack and large press screws, boiler-punches, turn-buckles of all sizes, &c., employing eight men. He started the business, as sole proprietor, in 1875 succeeding Thomas Atherton & Son. Mr. Turner came from England in 1854, worked nine years as engineer for the Pacific Mills in Lawrence, became partner with Atherton & Son in Lowell in 1864, and bought out his partners in 1875. The business was formerly conducted near Stott's Mills in Belvidere.

The Swain Turbine and Manufacturing Company, corner of Dutton and Willie Streets, does work by contract. The wheels of the company are well-known throughout the country, being used in many large manufacturing companies. It was established in 1864.

Frank Calvert, Jackson Street, manufactures and repairs machinery, employing three to six men.

When President Lincoln called for 75,000 men in 1861, Mr. Calvert was living in Alabama. He claims that he was the only man of that State who answered the call. He subsequently came north, and in 1864 started his present business.

His father, Francis A. Calvert, was a British sol- dier who came to Lowell in 1833, and became dis- tinguished as an inventor. He was said to have been the first man in America to make machinery for spinning worsted. Before this invention we were in- debted to England for worsted yarn. It is also claimed that he received the first patent in the world for combing wool by machinery. In his enterprises he had the aid of his brother W. W. Calvert. Like many other inventors he failed to acquire wealth. He returned to England, where he died in the city of Manchester.

D. C. Brown, on Warren Street, manufactures reeds, harnesses and patent wire heddles for cotton and woolen-mills. The business was established in 1836. He employes thirty hands and makes 60,- 000,000 leddles per year.

W. H. Hope & Co., Cushing Street, manufactures milled machines, cap and set screws and jack spool journals. The firm consists of Wm. H. Hope and Alexander Gulliland. They are the successors of Elliot & Co.

The Lowell Card Company was started as a private enterprise by a firm consisting of Jeremiah Clark, C. L. Harmon and Levi Edgell. Subsequently J. W. Whittier was admitted into the firm. An act of in- corporation was secured in 1873. The company has ninety-five machines for the manufacture of card clothing for carding wool and cotton and employs twenty- two hands. The plant is on the corner of Market and Shattuck Streets.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 21

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226