History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 62

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 62

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The mill property and quite a tract of adjacent land came into the possession of William Adams, Esq., in part, through a descendant of John Richard- son, and an ancestor of Mr. Adams. In 1814 Mr. Adams rebuilt the grist-mill on the southerly side of the brook, on an improved plan, with three runs of stone, each run by a separate tub-whecl, each one of which was at a different height, so as to be able to run one or all, according to the height of the water in the river. The corn-mill had a fanning-wheel near the mouth of the shoe to blow out the chaff. The other had a tin sieve to let out the sand, sorrel and other small impurities. The saw-mill was rebuilt in 1815.3 Mr. Adams owned and occupied the mill until 1822, when it was sold to the Merrimack Manufacturing Company, by whom it was purchased to secure the right of flowage by the erection of the dam at Paw- tucket Falls. It was sold by the Merrimack Manu- facturing Company to the Locks and Canal Company, who leased it to different partics until 1839, when it was sold to Lincoln Drakc. In 1842 Lincoln Drake sold to Charles Blood. In 1845 Charles Blood sold one-half to William Swett. In 1848 William Swett

1 Allen's " History of Chelmsford," p. 30.

2 Transcript of town record, p. 172.

3 Allen's " History," p. 32.

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sold his half to Joel Paige. In 1861, Edward Lamson, J. E. Rogers and Warren C. Hamblet bought the mill. From 1695 to this time the privilege had been used for grinding grain and sawing lumber. Between the years 1863 and 1868 the saw-mill was taken out, an additional story put on the saw-mill building and the mill utilized for grinding and storing grain for a grain-store in Lowell.

A'spice and drug-mill was also introduced, where drugs were ground for J. C. Ayer & Co., for the com- pounding of their medicines. Large quantities of gypsum were ground at one time during their occu- pancy of the mill. For a short time a portion of the room was occupied in the manufacture of worsted yarn by Sharp & Axtell. Later the manufacture of hosiery was carried on for a time.

In 1868 James C. Dodge bought the mill, and in 1871 sold one-half his interest to John G. Sherburn, using it largely for milling purposes in connection with a grain and flour store kept by them in Lowell.

From 1872 to 1882 the premises were occupied by Gray, Palmer & Pendergast, for the manufacture of shoddy, who turned out some 250,000 pounds of shoddy a year, being very successful financially until the dissolution of the partnership in the latter year. After the removal of the shoddy business in 1882, the mill remained substantially idle, the buildings going to decay and the dam rotting and being washed away until 1887, when Mr. Geo. C. Moore bought the privi- lege, and in 1888 tore down the old grist-mill part, and in 1889 removed the last of the dam, building a substantial wall on either side of the brook from the bridge to the original site of the dam, using them as abutments for a railroad bridge, occupying the re- maining building for storage purposes.

It appears that an early date the quantity of bog ore found on the borders of the meadows in town at- tracted at ention, and was utilized to some extent, from the following, found in original town records book marked 1656, page 118:

From a transcript of town records, page 17, is the following :

" At a Gen'll Town meeting, march the 4th, 1706-7, Jonathan Richardson and John Richardson had granted the Liberty of erecting Iron works upon Stony brook with convenency of flowing provided it Damnifies none of the inhabetants." Where these iron works were located the memory of the oldest in- habitants retains no tradition.

About the year 1823, Esquire William Adams, thonght that with the growth of Lowell, then just devel- oping, the amount of iron ore in this vicinity might be advantageously used, and secured the favorable opinion of Gen. Shepard Leech, of Easton, who was then ran- ning a foundry in Easton and also in Boston. To ob- tain the necessary water-power, Mr. Adamns conceived the idea of filling the breach in the bank of the origi- nal Newfield Pond, cut out in 1709, and by cutting a canal from near the foot of the scythe factory dam at

West Chelmsford, to fill the pond to its original capacity. 1

A canal cut from the lower edge of the pond to the present foundry works would utilize the whole fall. He purchased the land necessary for the upper canal not already owned by him, and in 1824 sold to Gen. Leech the land now occupied by the upper canal, with all the original pond bottom, and nineteen acres and fifteen rods of land now included in the village of North Chelmsford, together with the right to dig and maintain a canal from the pond to the village.

The canals were dug, the pond filled, and a blast furnace was erected on the site now occupied by a part of Mr. Moore's mill. The first iron was made from ore obtained in the vicinity, in 1825.

A large part of the ore used in the manufacture of iron was obtained from Chelmsford and the neigh- boring towns, brought mostly by farmers with their own teams, and reduced by the use of charcoal. Ore, called stone-ore, was brought from Boston, via Mid- dlesex Canal, and mixed with native ore. The blast furnace was in use as late as 1840.

Large tracts of land within six or eight miles of the furnace were stripped of wood, which was con- verted into charcoal for this purpose. A large brick - kiln was built, for making charcoal, in the rear of the furnace, but was not a success. The brick block belonging to Silver & Gay was built, in 1842, from the bricks of this kiln.

A small cupola furnace was built about the time the works were started for melting scrap-iron, and large pieces of ore as well as pig-iron, at a later date.

In 1833, after the death of General Leech, the property came into the possession of Lincoln Drake, also of Easton, who carried on the foundry business till 1849. Williams, Boid & Co. were proprietors and carried on the business till 1857.

Mr. George T. Sheldon, president of the present Chelmsford Foundry Co., bought the real estate in 1858, and the present Chelmsford Iron Foundry Co. was organized. They have an office in Boston, and are largely engaged in preparing the iron work for building purposes, furnishing both cast and wrought- iron, much of which is finished and put in place by contract.

In 1888 a shop, eighty by forty-four feet, and two stories high, was erected in connection with their foun- dry for thefinishing and fitting up these works. An ad- dition, sixty by thirty feet, one story high, was erected in 1890. They also occupy a shop in Boston and another iu Cambridge for the same purpose. In their foundry and shops in the several places they employ about 150 hands. From 1825 many heavy castings were made for the mills erected in Lowell, Nashua and Manchester, especially in the line of heavy gears, until the burning of their pattern-house in 1875.

1 The original pond bottom was now nearly covered with a heavy growth of wood.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The stone-ore, pig-iron, hard coal, sand and other materials used in a foundry were brought from Bos- ton to North Chelmsford in canal-boats, by way of the Middlesex Canal and Merrimack River, till 1853, when the canal was given up. The boats were "poled " up from the head of the canal into the pond below the grist-mill dam, and the freights transferred to carts and conveyed to the places of their use. Castings were frequently sent to Boston by the same route.

MACHINE-SHOP .- Soon after General Leech com- menced operations in the foundry business he erected a blacksmith-shop, containing some machinery, on the site of the present machine-shop, which was burned. The brick portion of the present shop was built later, and in 1834, Lincoln Drake, successor to General Leech, sold one-fourth of the property to Mr. Ira Gay ; and in 1838 he sold one-fourth to Mr. Ziba Gay, both residents of Nashua. Mr. Ziba Gay secured the interest of his brother Ira after the de- cease of the latter. In 1842 Captain Drake sold one- fourth interest to Mr. Harvey Silver. After Captain Drake failed, in 1849, the remaining fourth part came, through several successive owners, into the possession of Mr. Silver, in 1859. Mr. Ziba Gay, Jr., succeeded his father, and the shop has been run by Gay & Silver, and Silver & Gay, for many years.

Machinists' tools, turbine-wheels and worsted ma- chinery have been extensively manufactured here ; and at present worsted machinery, ball-winders and spring-pins constitute the principal manufactures. The shop has a capacity for the employment of 100 men.

SWAIN'S MACHINE-SHOP .- In 1867 Mr. Asa M. Swain, having purchased the site of an old saw-mill on the road leading from North Chelmsford to Dunstable, built a substantial dam across Blodgetts' Brook (called in the early history of the town Deep Brook), and erected a shop, 80x43 feet, one story high, for the manufacture of a very fine turbine-wheel, patented by himself, and known as Swain's turbine-wheel. This shop was run about ten years, affording work at one time for twenty men. It was given up about 1877, and came into the possession of Dr. Simpson, remaining unoccupied till 1889, when it was taken down and the lumber removed.

BALDWIN MILL,-A mill was erected for the man- ufacture of worsted yarn and carpets in 1841, and a company was afterwards organized as the Baldwin Manufacturing Company, which was very successfully operated for several years, until near the close of the war, when, with many similar companies, they failed, and the privilege has since been unoccupied. The present proprietor is G. H. Sheldon.

MOORE'S MILL .- In 1872, Mr. Geo. C. Moore, then a young man, bought of G. T. Sheldon the old foundry on the northerly side of the passage-way leading from the Lowell road to the old turnpike, near the brook, with the water privilege, except cer- tain riglits previously sold and certain rights reserved

by Mr. Sheldon. Machinery was put in and wool- scouring was at once commenced. In 1875 lie erccted a brick-mill, 100x70 fect, three stories high. A part of the building was rented to Mr. Richard Rhodes for the manufacture of worsted yarn, and wool-scouring was carried on in other parts. Oct. 10, 1875, this new mill, just completed, together with the old foundry boarding-house, foundry carpenter's shop, ware-dressing shop, pattern-shop and counting-room were burned.

A temporary wooden building, 100x40 feet, one story high, was soon erected and wool-cleansing re- sumed. In 1877 a new brick mill, 220x70 feet, one story high, was erected, covering the temporary wooden building, so that wool-cleansing was not interrupted during the rebuilding.

In 1885 an additional brick building, 140-76 feet, two stories high, was erected on the easterly end of the one-story building.

In 1888 a second story of brick, 120x70 feet, was put on to the easterly end of the one-story building, and a brick building, 45x56 feet, two stories high, was added to the easterly end of the mill, for a machine- shop and a carpenter's shop. The lower story of the two-story mill, now 260x76 feet, is used for sorting and drying wool, and carding and combing wool. The second story is used for spinning worsted yarn and for a counting-room.

In 1890 the old walls of the westerly end of the one- story building were torn away, and a new building, 100x70 feet, three stories high, erected, to increase the facilities for cleansing wool,

The worsted-mill is now producing 16,000 lbs. of worsted yarn per week, mostly from camel's hair. He has facilities for cleansing 30,000 lbs. of wool a day. The pay-roll contains 170 names.

In 1794 a map or plan of the town was made from a survey by Frederick French. One copy of the plan is on file in the State Archives and another is in pos- session of Mrs. Thomas J. Adams, of North Chelms- ford. From this map it appears that there were at that time two saw-mills and one corn-mill on the Merrimack River at Pawtucket Falls; one saw-mill and one set of iron works on Concord River near its mouth; one saw-mill on the canal near where it emptied into the Concord River; one clothier's mill; one saw and grist-mill upon River Meadow Brook ; these were all within the limits of the present city of Lowell. A grist-mill and saw-mill are shown upon the Stony Brook, at what is now North Chelmsford ; a grist-mill on Beaver Brook at the centre of the town, and one on Great Brook (then the Adams mill).

The clothier's or fulling-mill was erected in 1790 by Moses Hale, who came from West Newbury. It stood just below where Gorham Street crosses the River Meadow Brook. The saw and grist-inill were above the street. In 1801 Mr. Hale introdueed a card- ing machine into his mill, and carried on quite a bus- iness. The iron works were carried on by a Mr.

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Ames or Ames & Fisher. They were situated ou the Concord River at Massic Falls, near the foot of Ames Street. N. P. Ames, a son of the proprietor (born September 1, 1803), afterwards introduced many im- provements into the works. Allen says, "hoes and shovels are manufactured, aud various kinds of curious work done, and irons for machinery cast." Young Ames possessed great skill in the mechauic arts, combined with an enterprising spirit and inven- tive talent of a high order.

In 1829 he removed to Chicopee, and afterwards became the founder of the Ames Manufacturing Company the first.company to engage in the man- ufacture of swords in this country.

The success of the cotton manufactories at Wal- tham and in Rhode Island, which had been started as a result of the restrictions imposed upon commerce by Great Britain in 1812, stimulated some enterpris- ing persons to attempt their iutroduction here. Capt. Phineas Whiting and Col. Josiah Fletcher erected in 1813 a building sixty by fifty, and forty feet high, for a cotton factory.

In 1818 it was purchased by Thomas Hurd, of Charlestown, and converted into a woolen factory. One hundred and twenty yards of satinet per day were turned out from sixteen looms "worked by water." 1

In 1816 a saw and grist.mill were built by Luke Bowers & Son, at Pawtucket Falls, and a grist-mill by Mr. N. Tyler, on the " locks and canals."

In 1816 Mr. Moses Hale added a saw-mill to his other works, and two years later erected works for the manufacture of gunpowder. In 1819 Mr. William Tileston, of Boston, and Oliver M. Whipple were taken into partnership in the latter brauch of the business.

In the autumn of 1821 a scheme was inaugurated which in its importance overtopped all previous en- terprises in Chelmsford, as it resulted in creating the wonderful cotton industry of Lowell.

A company of gentlemen consisting of Patrick T. Jackson, Kirk Boott, Warren Dutton, Paul Moody, John W. Boott and Nathan Appleton visited the Pawtucket Falls with a view to utilizing the vast power running to waste there, and compelling it to become the servant of human industry.

The result of their investigations was that iu the February following the Merrimack Manufacturing Company was incorporated.

A canal was built and in September, 1823, the waters of the Merrimack passed through this canal and turned the wheels of the first of the Merrimack Company's mills. Population and capital now rap- idly increased, and in 1826 the new town of Lowell was incorporated. From that time the mother town has viewed with pride and wonder the achievements of her precocious daughter, and rejoiced at everything which has contributed to her prosperity.

Although South Chelmsford has always been al- most wholly an agricultural community, some man- ufacturing was done there at one time which was very important in its relation to modern improvements. The first Lucifer matches manufacturcd in this country were made here by Ezekiel Byam, a native of the town, in 1835. Que hundred of these matches sold for twenty-five cents. They were ignited by drawing them through a piece of bent sand-paper.

Although clumsy and expensive, as compared with what we now have, they were the first practical device to do away with the old flint and tinder. The friction match was invented by A. D. Phillips, of Springfield, Mass., Oct. 24, 1836. Mr. Byam at once recognized its merits, and with characteristic enterprise he pur- chased first the right to manufacture, and soon after the whole patent, and the following year began the manufacture of the friction match. Very soon the Byam matches, with the following verse upon the wrapper, were known the country over :

"For quickness and sureness the public will find, These matches will leave all others behind ; Without further remarks we invite you to try 'em, Remember all good that are signed by

E. BYAM."

The old "match-shop," as it was called, stood on the old road leading from South Chelmsford to the centre of the town, a few rods, and on the opposite side, from the residence of Mr. Eli P. Parker. It was a small building set into the bank, with one story above the basement. The matches were put up at the Willard Byam house, which stood upon the site of the residence of the late E. P. Bean. .

After manufacturing here about a year, Mr. Byam removed his business to Boston. He resumed manu- facturing in Chelmsford again about 1845 and con- tinued three years. The favor with which the matches were received by the public was such that his facilities were now entirely inadequate to meet the demands upon them, and the business was re- moved permanently to Boston.

The old match shop, was mostly demolished several years ago; a portion of it is now used by Mr. N. B. Lapham for a carriage-house.

The manufactures upon the Stony Brook at West Chelmsford were commenced by Dea. John Farwell, who came from Fitchburg in April, 1823, and erected a factory, upon the site of the present file and knife works, for the manufacture of scythes. The little village which grew up about these works was known for many years as the "Scythe Factory Village."

From 1500 to 2000 dozen of scythes were turned out annually, from which they realized from $15,000 to $20,000. In the spring of 1844, Dea. Farwell sold out to his son, J. P. Farwell, and others, who two years later sold the real estate to Lincoln Drake, of North Chelmsford, and removed the machinery to Fitch- burg. Drake sold the property to F. T. Sawyer. Christopher Roby purchased a half-interest of Sawyer,

I Allen.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and together they at once refurnished the works and engaged in the manufacture of scythes under the firm-name of Roby, Sawyer & Co. From 2000 to 2500 dozen of scythes were annually produced by this company.

The factory was destroyed by fire, but soon rebuilt. In 1853 Mr. Sawyer retired, and the business was then conducted under the name of C. Roby & Co. The market for these goods was largely in the South- ern and border States, and when the war broke out, in 1861, this company found their trade destroycd, and in addition to that suffered the loss of inost of their goods, which had been shipped during the pre- vious winter.

The company now ceased to manufacture imple- ments of peace, and proceeded to furnish implements of war. They manufactured swords and sabres until 1865, when the company closed up its affairs. Mr. Roby continues an honored resident of the village, and by him the data in regard to the industries at that place were kindly furnished.

The Hiscox File Company purchased the scythe works, and engaged in the manufacture of files and machine knives. They discontinued business about two years ago, since which time the shops have been idle.

In 1830 a dam was built above the scythe factory pond by Mr. Nathan Oliver, assisted, perhaps, by his brother, Samuel Oliver, of Lowell. They sold the water-power and land to the " Chelmsford Company," by which a mill was erected for the manufacture of worsted yarn. Mr. William Calvert was the superin- tendent for-several years. When the financial depres- sion of 1857 came on the mill was closed. After a time it was purchased by Isaac Farrington, of Lowell, who resumed business. It was burned 1862, but at once rebuilt. Business was continued by several parties until about six years, when it was again de- stroyed by fire. The power has since remained unused.

There are five lime-kilns-two upon the north slope of Robins Hill, and three on the north side of Beav- er Brook-where for many years lime was manufac- tured. Allen says, that from them "are annuallly drawn about a thousand hogsheads, which may be estimated at $5 per hogshead." The lime used in building the first mills in Lowell was made here. David Perham, Sr., who operated the largest kiln, continued the business till 1832. Maine lime, which was brought up the Middlesex Canal, was sold for less than it could be produced here. This led to their abandonment.

The history of manufacturing at the centre of the town is quickly told. In 1887 a brick two-story ma- chine-shop was erected by Mr. John Byfield, for the manufacture of knitting machincry. Business was

commenced in January, 1888, under the name of the Byfield Manufacturing Company. Mr. Byficld has since withdrawn from the firm, and occupies the upper story for the manufacture of knit-goods, under the name of the Beaver Manufacturing Company.

A business closely related to the farming interests has been the manufacture of cider vinegar. David Perham began to make a specialty of that in connec- tion with his farming in 1840. The business con- stantly increased. In 1872 he sold to his son, Henry S. Perham, who is of the seventh generation from John Perham, who first scttled upon this farm in 1664. From 500 to 4000 barrels of cider are made annually from apples brought to the mill from this and adjoining towns. The late Israel Putnam was also largely engaged in this business.

In order to facilitate the navigation of the Merri- mack River, and allow of an easier transportation of timber around the Pawtucket Falls to Newburyport, a canal was built beginning above the falls and emp- tying into the Concord near its mouth, the distance being one and a half miles.

The company was incorporated August 8, 1792, by the name of the "Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on Merrimack River."

The same year the first bridge was built across the Merrimack at Pawtucket Falls, then called the Merri- mac Middlesex Bridge.

A more formidable canal enterprise was in contem- plation by some enterprising spirits at this time, and in 1793 the Middlesex Canal Company was incorpo- rated.

Loammi Baldwin, of Woburn, was the superinten- dent and engineer, and under his direction the work was rapidly pushed to completion. The canal was opened for business in 1804. The business of the company continued to increase until the building of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, in 1835, when the re- ceipts soon fell below expenses, and in 1853 the busi- ness of the company was suspended.

The facilities afforded by the Middlesex Canal greatly stimulated the growth of Middlesex Village. The glass manufactory was built in 1802, upon the bank of the canal, ncar the end of what is now West Pine Street. The annual production of window glass exceeded forty thousand dollars in value. The enterprising firm of Bent & Bush first began the man- ufacture of hats at this place. There were also two stores and a public-house. The latter was kept by Mr. Timothy Clark, who, doubtless, maintaincd the reputation which it had gained under the former landlord, Col. Jonas Clark, as " the general resort for all fashionable people in these parts."

A religious society was organized in 1824 and a mecting-house built.

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CHAPTER XIX.

CHELMSFORD-(Continued).

MISCELLANEOUS.

AGRICULTURE .- Although more space in this arti- cle has been given to mauufactures than agriculture, the latter has been the occupation of the majority of the people, and an active interest has been taken in movements for the advancement of agricultural in- terests.

A society was formed at Chelmsford, January 6, 1794, for the " promotion of useful improvements in agriculture." It was composed of gentlemen living in the westerly part of Middlesex County. It was in- corporated by act of the Legislature on February 28, 1803, under the name of "The Western Society of Middlesex Husbandmen."

Its annual meetings were held alternately at West- ford, Littleton and Groton. Hon. Ebenezer Bridge, of Chelmsford, was the first president chosen after the incorporation of the society. Mr. Bridge was a son of the then late parson. . He commanded a regiment at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1781 to 1800, and was perhaps, the most influential citizen of the town at that time. He died at Hardwick, N. Y., February 9, 1814, aged seventy.

This agricultural society was afterwards merged in the Middlesex Society, which held annual exhibitions at Concord until recently.

DEATH OF GENERAL WASHINGTON .- The follow- ing action, in January, 1800, well illustrates the pat- riotic feelings of the citizens of the town : " took into consideration the death of the worthy General Wash- ington, to be observed by an oration 22d Feb: by Mat- thias Spaulding."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 62

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