History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 158

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 158

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The bonnet business which had been begun by Mrs. Lovell Eames in 1825, and enlarged by her son, Horace, who took charge in 1830, was purchased by Franklin Manson in 1840, and carried on until 1864 by him, when it was sold to Curtis H. Barber, who subsequently took his son, Thomas L., in with him. To-day this large business is carried on by T. L. Barber & Company, at a finely appointed factory on Park Street, which year by year has been extended and improved. In the busy season about four hun- dred employees are kept at work, one hundred and forty of whom are men, the rest women. The product is ladies' straw-hats in different styles, and the firm has a very high reputation for fine work. The sales- rooms are with Messrs. Gotthold & Company, 561-563 Broadway, New York.

Mr. Temple, in his " History of Framingham," has told of the connection of Alexander and Willard E. Clark in the business, also of Augustus and George Richardson, George P. Metcalf and H. K. White. The firm which succeeded these latter gentleman was (A.) Richardson & Crafts. This firm was succeeded by the new firm of Crafts, Emmons & Billings; this in turn by Emmons & Billings, with a change later on to H. O. Billings & Co., and still later, in 1888, by the present firm of Staples & Smalley. These latter gentlemen came from Westboro', leasing the factory of Mr. Billings. About the 1st of December, 1887, a large part of this factory was burned, but Mr. Billings, with great enterprise, set about rebuilding, and by dint of hard work on the part of a large force of men, night and day, in about two weeks a large and better factory than any of its predecessors stood finished. Messrs. Fales & Sons, belonging here, were the builders. This great speed was necessitated on account of the busy season at the factory. In recog- nition of Mr. Billings' enterprise and his determiua- tion to keep the business in town when outside par- ties had offered him inducements to remove elsewhere, 250 of the business men of the town tendered him a complimentary banquet, which probably has never been equaled by any other similar event in the town. This factory now employs in the busy season about 250 hands.

The largest industry in the town to-day is that of the Para Rubber-Shoe Company, of which A. L. Coo- lidge, of Boston, is president, and J. L. Stickney, treasurer. It was in 1881 that this company was formed in Boston with a capital stock of $300,000, in- creased a few months afterwards to $500,000, and still later to $1,000,000. Certain enterprising gentlemen here saw the opportunity to secure the industry for the town, and shortly the terms were arranged. By these terms a company known as the South Framing- ham Manufacturing Company was formed in town to put up the buildings and lease them to the Para Com- pany. The total cost of the land and buildings was 8101,000. They were completed early in 1882 and occupied. The officers of the building company are : Franklin Manson, president ; Sidney A. Phillips, Esq., clerk ; Willard Howe, treasurer. The plant is well located, but a few minutes' walk from the post- office and railroad station, covers fifteen acres, and is on the line of the Boston and Albany Railroad, from which a spur track runs into the factory yard and by the large store-houses. The average number of em- ployees is about 1000, divided between both sexes. Joseph D. Thomas is superintendent, and he has had a large experience in the rubber business in this and foreign countries. Until recently the company mnade rubber clothing as a part of its product, but this branch of the business has been discontinued and at- tention paid wholly to footwear. The product em- braces all grades, from the heavy lumbermen's boots to the finest and most highly-finished ladies' rubbers.

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Some of these latter are finished with fancy cloth, silk or satin and fur-tipped tops. The ordinary arctics and rubbers are made, as well as a line of fine tennis shoes. Messrs. Houghton, Coolidge & Co., of Boston, are the selling agents. The Pará pay-roll amounts to about $10,000 per week, and about 14,000 pairs of boots and shoes are made daily. There are over five acres of floor space in the establishment. The largest steam-engine is of 1000 horse-power.

The Gossamer Rubber Clothing Company began work here in 1875, their plant-all brick buildings-being located on the line of the Boston & Albany Railroad. Messrs. Ira M. and Wm. H. Conant, of Boston, com- prise the company, and T. H. Videto is superintend- ent. The Boston office is at 300 Federal Street. The South Framingham plant is valued at about $75,000. The Messrs. Conant were the pioneers in this business, and this is believed to be the oldest gossamer company in the country, and the facilities are such that a larger product can be turned out than from any other rubber clothing mill. All qualities of rubber cloth for clotbing are made, from the common cotton to the richest silks. About twenty hands are employed in the coating de- partment, and some 300 girls are employed in the Boston department, making the cloth into clothing.

Gregory & Co.'s Boot Factory, which is the second largest industry in town, and one of the largest boot factories in New England, was established here in 1882. At that time the firm was known as Bridges & Co., and it was only on January 1, 1890, that Mr. D. T. Bridges retired from the head of the concern, after having been connected with it for forty-three years, and being a partner for thirty-three years. The busi- ness was originally located in Hopkinton, and had twice been burned out before it was finally decided to locate at South Framingham on account of its superior business facilities. On April 24, 1885, the new factory was half destroyed by fire, a brick par- tition wall saving the rear half. The burned part was immediately rebuilt. The factory stands on high ground, but a few rods from the Boston & Albany Rail- road, from which it has a special track; 240x40 feet is the ground size, and four stories above a high basement, the height. Store-houses and other build- ings afford additional facilities. The goods made are mostly of the heavier kiuds, although many of them are handsomely finished. The firm comprises N. P. Coburn, of Newton ; ex-Gov. William Claflin, of New- ton ; James A. Woolson, of Cambridge; D. T. Bridges, W. F. Gregory, Oliver B. Root, of Framingham. Five of the foremen have been with the concern an average of over thirty-five years, and many of the employees have worked for the firm a long time. The usual number of employees is about 400, although more can be accommodated, and are employed at times.

Williams' Box Factory was located in the "Old Stone Mill," on Howard Street, in 1870, the firm- name then being Fales & Williams. The firm car-

ried on a general building and wood-working busi- ness, but dissolved partnership in 1875, when Mr. Abner Fales continued the building business, and Mr. S. H. Williams the mill business. The box business finally outgrew the "Old Stone Mill," and Mr. Williams erected a model plant a short distance away, the Old Colony Railroad, beside which the mill stands, putting a spur track into the mill yard. This new miil, three stories high, was built by A. Fales & Sons in 1886, and occupied in January of 1887. It is fitted with the most modern machinery for sawing the logs into boards, planing them, and manufactur- ing packing-boxes for the rubber boot and shoe and other factories in the neighborhood. About thirty men are employed, and 12,000 to 15,000 feet of boards are made into boxes daily. The mill is run by steam- power.

The Framingham Box Company was started in Feb- ruary of 1889. Previous to that, about the 1st of August, 1888, Mr. S. G. Damren started a paper-box factory here, being located on the third floor of S. H. Williams' box factory. After running it for a few months he was obliged to go to Maine oo other busi- ness, and the box business was sacrificed. It had been shown, however, that such a business could live in town, and so a company was incorporated with 85000 capital, all paid in, and Mr. J. W. Jones, who had been Mr. Damren's foreman, was secured as gen- eral manager, being also a stockholder. J. J. Valen- tine is president of the company, and W. M. Ranney, treasurer. The company, which started with ten hands, now keeps thirty constantly employed, mak- ing 5000 boxes daily. While shoe-boxes are a special- ty, almost every variety of paper-boxes are made, some of them being very handsome. Mr. Jones is one of the most progressive box-makers in the coun- try, and the business is rapidly growing under his management.

A. M. Eames & Co., wheel manufacturers. Alfred M. Eames began making wheel-hubs in the basement of Union Block in 1871, and continued that business until 1877, when he enlarged the business, going into the manufacture of wheels. His brother, Edwin A., had, in company with Geo. W. Bigelow and C. C. Esty, been manufacturing wheels in Union Block, under the firm-name of Eames, Bigelow & Co., their business being transferred to the Framingham Wheel Co. in 1874, the latter company discontinuing busi- ness in 1882. Edwin was a very fine wheel-maker, and is to-day, and became superintendent of Alfred's business, which in 1877 employed but three men but now employs about twelve, making all sizes of wheels, but making a specialty of the highest grade of light carriage wheels, supplying the best carriage-makers in New England. A large business is also done in rims, spokes and hubs. The buildings include two three-story factories, boiler and engine-house and sev- eral store-houses. Both brothers have been in the wheel business constantly from boyhood. Edwin went to

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Worcester at the age of nineteen, and in four years was foreman of the shop, in which capacity he remain- ed seven or eight years, coming to South Framingham and starting the firm of Eames, Bigelow & Co. in 1870. Alfred was superintendent of the Toledo Wheel Co., coming here in 1870 and starting business. About 1874 Edwin went to West Chester, Pa., where he was foreman for one year, then going to Elizabeth, N. J., where he was foreman for five years. In 1881 he went to Paris and fitted up with the latest improved ma- chinery one of the largest wheel concerns in Europe.

The Framingham Electric Company is now an im- portant factor in the town's economy. Mr. S. O. Daniels, a native of this town, but afterwards a busi- ness man of Natick, had established an electric light- ing plant in the latter town, and on December 23, 1886, Mr. Daniels started work on a small plant for South Framingham. The lights were started on January 15, 1887, with a power of seven arc lights. When once the ntility of the system had been de- monstrated, and more customers had been secured, Mr. Daniels bought of Gov. Wm. Claflin a lot of land in the centre of the village on the Milford Branch Railroad track, and erected a fine plant there. March 28, 1888, Mr. Daniels suddenly died at his home in Natick of apoplexy, and the electric business was left in charge of H. W. True, who had been Mr. Daniels' superintendent. The business having been put into a stock company, the controlling interest was pur- chased by the Thomson-Honston Electric Company, and Mr. True was installed as manager. Under bis wise and energetic management the business of the company has been very much extended, and the town now uses electricity exclusively for its street lights. Improvements have been made at the generating station from time to time, and at this time tlie ca- pacity of the station is 125 arc lights and 2500 incan- descents, while there are actually in use about 100 arc lights and 2000 incandescent lights. There are two engines and several dynamos, all of the latest type.

Ordway's Reed-chair Factory .-- It was in February of 1888 that Mr. A. H. Ordway, attracted by the fine rail- road facilities, removed to this place from Mattapoi- sett a comparativeiy small chair-manufacturing bus- iness. Temporary quarters were secured in the Dunn Building, on Iloward Street, but in the fall of the same year a convenient factory of three stories above the basement, 40x100 feet on the ground, was erected on land secured of Wellington H. Pratt. This fac- tory was finished and occupied in November, 1888, and this business has proved one of the most desira- ble in the town. Mr. Ordway confines his manufac- tures chiefly to one or two patterns of a base-rocker arm-chair of reed-work, and these are shipped all over the country. About forty hands are employed, and the factory is equipped with all the necessary conveniences. Besides the chairs, an elegant line of bent-wood and plush-upbolstered foot-rests is made.

Marston's Rattan Factory .- Attracted by Mr. Ord- way's business and the inducements held out by the place, Mr. H. A. Marston, of Wakefield, moved his business here in the fall of 1889, building himself a model four-story factory, 40x100 on the ground, be- sides a brick boiler and engine-house, bleach-house, ete. He located his factory directly opposite Mr. Ordway's, and between them there is a branch of the Old Colony Railroad. Mr. Marston's business is the importation of rattan from Singapore and other for- eign points, and the splitting of it up into a fine class of cane, leaving the pith or reeds for chair-man- ufacture, like Mr. Ordway's. Mr. Marston's ma- chines are of his own manufacture and patent, and he maintains a machine-shop in his factory for build- ing them. Ile lights the factories from his own electric plant, and heats them from his steam-boilers. Beside the cane and reed mannfacture, Mr. Marston is a large dealer in wooden chairs of Western manu- facture. There are about fifty employees.

New England Rattan Company .- Mr. A. H. Ord- way was chiefly instrumental in securing the location here of Mr. H. A. Marston's business, and Mr. Mars- ton in turn, aided by other citizens, induced the New England Rattan Company to move their business from Wakefield to this place, and the latter company was not slow to see the superior opportunities for transacting business here. So it followed that in March, 1889, a fine fonr-story factory with high base- ment, was finished for their occupancy, just opposite those of Messrs. Ordway and Marston. The company manufactures an elegant line of rattan and reed chairs of many patterns and styles of finish, besides tables, easels and other parlor furniture in bamboo work. The officers of the company are: President, W. E. Ryan : Secretary and Treasurer, Mathias Hollander ; Directors, H. Ryan, L. S. Mansfield, R. M. French, H. Leuchtman, Richard Cuff. About forty-five bands are employed.

The Union Publishing Company was formed and be- gan business here in April, 1884. From fifteen to twenty hands are employed. Rooms were first taken in Union Block and successively enlarged until March of 1886, when the third floor of Liberty Block was taken. These quarters having become too small, the company has now moved into the new Tri- bune Building on Irving.Street. The company docs a general job printing and newspaper publishing bus- iness, the papers published being the Framingham Tribune, Ashland Tribune, Sherborn Tribune, Southboro' Tribune, Sudbury Tribune. C. J. MePherson is presi- dent and manager, and A. P. McPherson, treasurer.

The Lakeriew Printing Company was organized early in 1889 to succeed the J. C. Clark Printing Company, which was established here in 1872, occu- pying quarters ever since in Union Block. The com- pany employs from fifteen to twenty hands, and does a general job printing and newspaper publishing business, besides being agent for certain specialties.

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The papers published are The Framingham Gazette, Ashland Advertiser, Holliston Transcript. C. F. Cut- ler is president, and W. F. Blake, treasurer and manager.

The Last-Factory of E. D. Stone was established about ten years ago, Mr. Stone coming from Auburn, Me. A superior grade of shoe-lasts is made, its prin- cipal customers being the Pará Rubber-Shoe Com- pany, near whose works it is located, and the shoe- factories in this and vicinity towns. It is well equipped with steam machinery and employs about ten hands.

A. Fales & Sons have a well-equipped steam-power plant, on the line of the Old Colony Railroad, for the manufacture of builders' finish and materials. They are large builders themselves, erecting many railroad stations and other large buildings. They employ, on an average, from forty to fifty men, although some- times having many more.

Leather Goods .- In 1886 William D. Higgins started in the village the manufacture of leather music-rolls, collar and cuff-boxes, toilet-cases and similar work, keeping a small force of men at work. Recently he has sold out to H. F. Twombly & Co., who now conduct the business. George H. Eames started in the same business last year, and has made it so successful that he has recently built and moved into a new factory off Union Avenue.

T. L. Sturtevant, who is an inventor of some note, is now building steam-yachts here on the shores of Wanshakum Pond. His latest invention is a steam- boiler with a wonderful capacity to generate steam. Its fuel is gas or petroleum, and its great generating power allows of its being of very small size. Thus a thirty horse-power engine is put into a thirty-foot boat, and the result is a remarkable speed. Among Mr. Sturtevant's other inventions are the Sturtevant Stone-Crusher and Pulverizer, a rifle and cartridge. Mr. Sturtevant has also been a large owner in the Bowker Fertilizer business, starting it with Mr. Bow- ker about twenty years ago.

The Ice Business .- The local trade has been well supplied from the ice-houses of C. C. Stevens, C. L. Foster and John Willis, but in the summer of 1889 immense ice-houses, with all the attendant machinery, stables, dwelling-house, etc., etc., were built near the shore of Waushakum Pond by the Drivers' Union Ice Company of Boston. This plant, which is situated on the Milford Branch Railroad, cost about $50,000, and in it can be stored 50,000 tons of ice, which is gathered here of purest quality.

The Framingham Gas Fuel and Power Company, which hokls a franchise from the town, was organized in 1888, under Massachusetts law, with $75,000 capital. It proposes to furnish gas for all domestic and manufacturing purposes, such as for illuminating, heating, cooking, for gas-engines, making steam, forging, etc. Land has been bought on Irving Street, and at this writing the construction of the system is

nearly completed. C. J. McPherson is president of the company and H. S. Jackson treasurer.

Grain Elevator .- Sprague & Williams, who, in addi- tion to their grocery business, have done a large grain business, erected in the spring of 1890 a grain- mill and elevator, ou Hollis Court, adjacent to Mil- ford Division of the Boston & Albany Railroad track. It is supplied with every requisite labor-saving con- venience.

The Beef Refrigerator of Geo. E. Fitch & Co. was established in the village in 1884, being connected with Armour & Co.'s great Chicago establishment. The next year a convenient new building was built with a large ice capacity and overhead railroads for handling the more than $100,000 worth of annually dressed meat which comes to it in refrigerator cars and is disbursed. John J. Anderson manages the business, another branch of which is cared for at Westboro' by Mr. Fitch.

H. L. Sawyer, in addition to his large tin, piping, stove, hardware and plumbing business, has for several years manufactured japanned powder-flasks and fish- bait boxes at his Howard Street factory.

Thomas Wise & Co., machinists, manufacture the Wise steam motor, which has been used somewhat in the United States Navy. Mr. Wise is also, the maker of a storage system of incandescent electric lights ..

E. E. Crandall & Co. manufacture and deal in all varieties of carriages, besides conducting a general repair-shop for all branches of the business.

F. F. Avery manufactures an extensive line of mat- tresses for shipment to other cities as well as neighbor- hood trade.

N. B. Johnson makes a superior grade of harness dressing under the name of the Perfection Harness Dressing. He employs a number of selling agents.

A. H. H. Warren & Co. conduct the book-bindery which was moved here from Cambridgeport in the summer of 1889. Excellent work is turned out, cus- tomers coming from other towns and cities.

Express Business .- With the business growth of the place, the express companies have kept pace. Of these there are now seven, all well equipped for business. These are the Adams, American, New York and Boston Despatch, Boston & Worcester, Farrar's, Davis, Dart & Co's.

Among the industries conducted here the past few years may be mentioned the Sterling Rubber Works, manufacturers of gossamer rubber clothing, which were removed to Readville about four years ago; the Framingham Wheel Works, Charles E. Bradley's carriage-works, the J. M. Anthony machine-shop, the three latter concerns going out of business.

Cutler & Company's grain mills did a good business until about 1879, when they were destroyed by fire, and the business removed to their mills at North Wil- braham, although the business office is still retained at South Framingham. A spring-bed business, con- ducted by a Mr. Frail, of Hopkinton, employed about

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

fifteen men. The factory was located off South Street, but was burned about ten years ago, and the busi- ness was discontinued.

PROFESSIONAL MEN .- In addition to the clergy- men, mentioned among the churches, there are -

Physicians : J. J. and J. S. Boynton, L. M. Palmer, J. J. McCann, E. A. Hobbs, O. W. Collins, F. W. Patch, Anna Wilkin.

Dentists : C. F. Beard, George F. Beard, W. I. Brigham, W. C. Chamberlain, J. A. Hayes.

Lawyers : W. A. Kingsbury, Sidney A. Phillips, Walter Adams, L. H. Wakefield, George C. Travis, C. C. Estey, Ira B. Forbes, F. M. Esty, John W. Allard, Charles S. Forbes, J. L. O'Neil, John M. Merriman, T. W. Barrelle.

Civil Engineer : J. J. Van Valkenburg.

Architects : J. W. Patston, George L. Nichols.

EMPLOYING MECHANICS .- The following individ- uals and concerns are all in business in the place, and some of them employ quite a number of hands :

Builders : A. Fales & Sons, Wells & Tuttle, James Daisley, Avery Daisley, John P. Kyte, J. R. & R. P. Clark, James H. Combs, James McMahan, N. T. Ab- bott, John Butland, Edward Damon, W. E. Fay, Rice Brothers, C. R. Harding, Edward P. Simpson, all car- penters ; and A. D. Swan, C. P. Haskell, masous.

Plumbers, Gas and Steam Pipers : H. L. Sawyer and James Sheldon ; Thomas Wise, piper.

Wheelwrights, Blacksmiths, Carriage-builders and Horse-shoers : Thomson Brothers, W. J. Arbuckle, E. E. Crandall & Co .; M. McNamara, shoer.

Painters : Gilman Fuller, H. R. Mockler, J. E. Vollmer, Joseph Hamil, J. F. Roach, E. E. Crandall & Co., W. T. Wright, Roht. McCann, J. H. Randall.

Roofers and Concrete-pavers : French Brothers, M. E. Balcome & Co., Drury & Co.

Stone-masons : John Gallagher, D. Mclaughlin, Peter Teabean, Jesse Bryant, William Green.

Lather : Edwin Hamblin.

Shoe-makers : Thomas Rimmer, John Slater, John J. Slattery.

Harness-makers : D. C. York, Joshua Smith.

Hair-cutters : John A. Morse, Alonzo Sackett, Geo. Gaudig, Henry Taylor, Frank Farnsworth.

Marble and Granite-worker : J. B. Whalen. Granite-worker : James O'Connor.

TRADESMEN .- Dry Goods : Clifford Folger & Co., A. M. Lang, A. J. Wood & Co.

Clothiers : E. B. McIntyre & Co., F. C. Hastings, C. H. Whitcomb & Co., The Wardrobe.

Boots and Shoes : Geo. E. Fowler, Geo. A. Carr & Co., J. F. Mctilennan, A. J. Hemenway, Clifford Fol- ger & Co.

Gentlemen's Furnishing Goods, other than those named : O. S. Buttolph.

Furniture : A. R. Newton & Son, J. J. McCloskey.

Grocers : Sprague & Williams, Stearns Brothers, Adams & Morse, Slattery & Flynn, C. S. Oaks, M. E. Hamilton, Whitmore & Daboll, Robt. McGlory.

Marketmen : E. H. Kittredge & Co., L. F. Eames, F. H. Hunt, Coburu & Hooker, W. H. Greeley, W. F. Ward, Hawkes & Hemenway.

Fish-Markets : Fitts Brothers, Bennett & Gerrish. Butter, Eggs and Cheese: Wellington H. Pratt, Geo. M. Amsden.

Junk-dealer : Samuel Falkner.

Bakers : Wm. Stratton, T. H. Abbott, J. G. Klier. Coal and Wood : Willis M. Ranney, HI. C. Kingman, Otis Cutting.

Lumber and Building Material : W. M. Ranney, Fales & Sons.

Lime, Sand, Cement, Hay, Etc. : H. C. Kingman.

Grain and Flour : Cutler & Co., Sprague & Wil- liams, Eastman Brothers.

Milliners : Mrs. E. E. Teague, Miss A. J. Wood, Miss Grace Lee, Miss E. B. Fuller.

Dressmakers : Mrs. Withington, Mrs. A. Page, Miss Hill.

Jewelers and Watch-makers : Cyrus N. Gibbs, W. W. Haynes, J. M. Bacon, A. W. Edmonds.

Druggists : Charles L. Curtis, G. W. Cutler, Geo. Rice, I. A. Lombard.

Confectionery : F. M. Wilbur, Geo. J. Masterson, besides grocers and druggists.

Hardware and Paints: W. E. Harding & Co., H. L. Sawyer.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 158

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278