History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 143

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 143

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Martin Wild, Jr. Wild & Robinson founded this business in 1869, and one year later it passed into the possession of Mr. Wild, who still carries it on. Value of annual product at beginning, $30,000; present value, $200.000 ; employs 85 hands.

A. M. Herrod & Co. This business was established by Reynolds & Herrod in 1872. In 1874 the firm changed to Herrod & Grant, which continued until 1879, when the firm became A. M. Herrod & Co. In the beginning employed about 30 persons; now employ 100. In 1872 the value of the annual pro- duct amounted to about $80,000; present annual product, $175,000.

L. M. Reynolds & Co. Business was commenced in 1831 on Montello Street, in Charles Howard & Co.'s needle-factory. occupying the two lower floors. In the fall of 1883 built a large factory on a private way off from Court Street. just east of the railroad. Size of factory, one hundred and twenty feet long by thirty wide, three stories. Employ 100 to 150 hands. Annual sales amount to $200,000.

C. F. Porter & Co. This business was established in 1865, under the firm-name of Porter & Packard, and continued until 1873, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Porter, who has since continued it as sole proprietor, retaining, however, the firm-name of C. F. Porter & Co. Value of annual product, $200,000. Employ 125 hands.

The firm of N. R. Packard & Co. was established in 1869. When starting they employed about 40 hands, and now employ, when running full force, about 250. Their product is from 40 to 50 24-pair cases daily. Capt. R. B. Grover became associated with Mr. Packard in 1872, and severed his connec- tion with him in November, 1883, and is now. one of the firm of M. A. Packard & Co.

W. S. Green & Co. Business founded by Green & Keith in 1874. In 1880, Mr. Green purchased Mr. Keith's interest, and the firm became Green, Thomas & Green, and one year later W. S. Grecn & Co., consisting of Mr. Green and Myron F. Thomas. Value of annual product, $300,000. Employ 250 hands.

Flavel B. Keith commenced business in 1873, in a factory on Montello Street, and remained there until the erectiou of his new factory, about six years ago. In 1873, employed about 50 hands ; now, 100. Annual sales at commencement, about $75,000 to $100,000; now, $250,000 to $300,000.

Nahum Johnson & Son. Nahum Johnson com- menced the manufacture of shoes about thirty years ago at South Easton. The present firm was cstab- lished in 1876. Employ 75 hands.

E. H. Reynolds commenced business in 1857, and continued until 1863, when the firm became Reynolds & Parks. In 1866 it changed to Reynolds & Co., which continued about five years, when Mr. Reynolds became sole proprietor, and has continued as such to the present time. Value of annual product at begin- ning, about $10,000; present value, $75,000. En- ploys 50 hands.

L. C. Bliss & Co. established their present busi- ness Jan. 1, 1881, and their sales the first year amounted to about $100,000. The present annual product is $125,000. Employ 60 hands.

Churchill & Alden, established in 1877, under the firm-name of Whitman, Churchill & Alden, and con- tinued for five years, then changed to present firm. At beginning of business employed about 25 hands ; now employ 175, with annual production of $400,000.

Henry M. Kingman commenced business in 1882, on Spring Street. In August, 1884, removed to his new factory near Court Street. This building is one hundred and fifty by thirty-five feet, three stories, with basement. Employs 150 hands. Capacity, 60 cases per day.

Emerson, Weeks & Co. established Dec. 1, 1881, and commenced business in Marshall's factory, on Franklin Street. In 1883 removed to their present factory on North Main Street. In the beginning employed about 50 hands, and value of annual pro- duct was $100,000; now employ 125 hands, and annual product amounts to $200,000. Charles O. Emerson, D. L. Weeks.

The firm of Stacy, Adams & Co., was established in 1875 as Stacy, Adams & Jones. In 1878, Mr. Jones was succeeded by Mr. O. B. Quimby, who had been book-keeper for the earlier firm, who associated himself with Messrs. Stacy & Adams, and the firm took its present name. They employ 225 men and women, and manufacture fully 125,000 pairs of shoes annually.

George G. Snow started in business about the year 1874, in the old marble-works building, corner Main and Crescent Strects. Commenced in a small way,

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

with about 15 or 20 hands. He now employs 260 hands, and the value of his annual product amounts to $250,000.

Jay B. Reynolds began business May, 1874, in a room on Pleasant Strect ; commenced in a small way, employing not over 2 or 3 hands. He now em- ploys, when running full, from 150 to 175 operatives. His annual product amounts to $250,000.

Keith Brothers commenced business in 1874, in a small way, on Chestnut Street, employing at the time 8 or 10 hands. Afterwards removed to the Mitchell factory, on Clifton Avenue, which was burned. They removed to their present location in 1881. This con- cern employs at the present time about 50 hands. The annual production at commencement of business was $25,000, and at the present time, $75,000.

The business is owned solely by Mr. Edwin Keith, although the concern continues under the name of Keith Brothers.

L. E. Keith & Co. commenced business in 1877, the firm consisting of L. E. Keith and C. V. Keith. They are located at Campello.

H. W. Reynolds & Co., founded in 1865, employ 100 hands. Capacity, 300 pairs per day.

Marcus Leach commenced the shoe business in 1847, on the old Leach homestead, in a small way, and has continued alone to the present time, except one year, 1857, when P. S. and Lucius Leach were associated with him, under the firm-name of M. & L. Leach.

Jonas Reynolds & Co. This business was established by Whitten & Reynolds about 1869. About three years later Mr. Reynolds purchased his partner's in- terest. The present firm consists of Mr. Reynolds and Charles E. Drake. Employ 25 hands, and turn out 15 24-pair cases per week. Located at Marshal's Corner.

Packard & Grover commenced business April 1, 1884, succeeding M. A. Packard & Co. M. A. Packard & Co. commenced in December, 1879. Previous to that Mr. Packard was in business alonc. Mr. Grover was formerly firm of N. R. Packard & Co. They turn out between 40 and 50 24-pair cases per day. Hands employed when running full time, from 150 to 200.

H. F. Marshall commenced business in 1867. He now employs 90 hands, and his annual sales amount to $150,000.

Howard & French. F. O. Howard commenced the shoe manufacture in 1852. In 1876 the present firm was established. They employ about 125 hands, and the annual product amounts to $150,000.

Eaton & Terry. Business established Aug. 1, 1883,

with about 20 hands employed; now employ 50; firm, Charles Eaton, L. B. Terry.

H. H. Mitchell commenced business Dce. 1, 1882, and turned out the first year about $71,000 worth of goods ; employed 50 hands ; now employs 75 hands, and the value of the annual product amounts to $130,000.

I. A. Beals & Co. Established 1882 as Bcals & Perkins ; name changed to I. A. Beals & Co. July 9, 1883, Mr. Perkins retiring from the business ; hands employed when starting, 60; now employ 150; at commencement turned out from 10 to 15 cases per day ; now from 25 to 35.

Perkins & Joyce. Over in Factory Village, a local appellation for one section of the city, Messrs. Perkins & Joyce are operating a large factory. Al- though a young firm, they have been remarkably suc- cessful. Beginning in 1878 with 20 hands, they now employ over 125 men and women, and make from 300 to 500 pairs every day. These two young men constitute oue of the young and enterprising firms of this city.

Richard M. Fullerton commenced the manufacture of shoes in 1858, being one of the oldest houses in the city. Employs 30 hands, with a daily capacity of 500 pairs.

The firm of Whitman & Keith was established in August, 1883. The present product is 90 cases per week, and the number of hands employed, 50. It is composed of W. E. Whitman and D. N. Keith.

Among other shoe manufacturers are L. C. Ward, James Means & Co., D. C. Bird, Thompson Bros., Sylvanus Keith, L. M. Leach, Hollis Bros., F. E. White, W. L. Douglass, George H. Kingman, I. S. Emerson, Houghton & Coolidge, A. W. Jones, Lilly & Brackett, D. W. Field, D. B. Closson, I. K. Snell.

CHAPTER XVII.

Mills-Manufactures-Bridgewater Manufacturing Company- Shee-Teel Manufacturers - Tanners-Blacksmiths-Tailers and Clething - Hatters-Bakers - Saddlers-Wheelwrights -Ceepers-Clecks - Watchmakers and Jewelers-Musical Instruments-Dentists - Drugs and Medicines - Furniture Manufacturers-Carpenters-Painters-Masons - Tin-Plate and Sheet-Iren Werkers-Blacking and Stain Manufacturing -Miscellaneous Manufacturing-List of Inventiens-Jesse Reed.

Mills .- During the first settlement of the North Parish the attention of the settlers was first directed to clearing the lands and preparing the same for agri- cultural purposes. They very soon, however, erected

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687

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

saw- and grist-mills, many of which are numbered among the things that were.

One of the first mills erected in the North Parish was a saw-mill on the dam south of the residence of the late Azor Packard, said to have been built by Abijah Thayer and others, and was near the main street leading from Campello to West Bridgewater. The remains of the dam are to be seen at the present time. We should judge this mill was of small power, as it is related of a'man who was passing the works, while on his way from Bridgewater to Boston, a dis- tance of over twenty miles away, the saw was going up, and when he returned it was just coming down.

Previons to 1800 there was a saw-mill a short dis- tance north of Cole's fulling-mill. late Wheeler's tack- works, which was owned by Zebedee Snell, Parmenas Packard, and others. There was another saw-mill a short distance north of the late John Tilden's resi- dence. in the west part of the town, and east of Hay- ward Marshall's residence. The mill was owned by John Tilden, Nathaniel Manly, and others, in shares. About the same time Matthew Kingman and others erected a mill where Chandler Sprague's saw-mill now stands, in the Factory Village, or Spragueville, and was known by the name of Kingman's mill, and has been owned by Luke Perkins, Abel and Eli- phalet Kingman, Parmenas Brett, John Ritchie, and lately by O. F. Cnrtis.

Col. Caleb Howard built a mill near his furnace on Pond Street, which has been owned by his heirs ever since, and is now used for sawing box-boards, shingles, etc.

The first grist-mill in the town was erected on the spot now occupied by Ellis Packard & Co. It was built by John Packard, and owned by him for many years, and afterwards changed hands, as follows : Bridgewater Manufacturing Company, Tyler Cobb, Joslyn & Keith, Bela Keith, A. B. Wheeler, Lewis Keith. and Ellis Packard & Co. Deacon Zenas Packard was miller for a long time at this mill, and was well known as the " honest miller." The present steam works were erected by Bela and Lewis Keith a few years since, and are used for planing, box- making, grist-mill, and the manufacture of shoe tools. It is situated qnite near the village, on the road leading from thence to Abington, and is a valu- able property, being near the railroad. There Was another grist-mill, erected by John Tilden, and after- wards rebuilt by John Brett, in the west part of the town, near the turnpike; the mill stood for many years, and was occupied by Lewis A. Kingman as a wheelwright-shop.

The Bridgewater Manufacturing Company owned

a grist-mill situated on the north side of Crescent Street, and near Mr. Sprague's office, which they purchased of Messrs. Abel Kingman, Nehemiah Lin- coln and others. There is another grist-mill near where Col. Caleb Howard's furnace stood, on Bel- mont Street, a short distance from the Centre Vil- lage, now owned by Thomas J. and Welcome How- ard.

In the early settlement of the parish it is said there was a windmill, the only one in town, situated on the hill north of the late Eliphalet Kingman's residence, on the locality known as " Windmill Hill," probably owned by Matthew Kingman & Co., and used as a grist-mill.

Manufactures .- One of the first manufacturing establishments in the North Parish was the forge erected and carried on by Ensign Constant South- worth, which stood on or near where Sprague's mill now stands. Mr. Southworth was a practical work- man, having served a faithful apprenticeship at the business, and did a large business at smelting iron ore for the people in that vicinity. There was a large amount of ore dug in the westerly part of the town in the early settlement of the parish, and he had as much as his power could do. A short time since, in removing the old road-bed across Sprague's Pond, quantities of cinder and iron scraps were found that came from these works. These works changed hands several times, among whom we find Alpheus and Par- menas Brett conveyed all right, title, and interest in and to the trip-hammer or water-shop to the Bridge- water Manufacturing Company July 26, 1813.

At one time Messrs. James and Luke Perkins man- ufactured muskets, small anchors, scythes, shovels, plow-points, etc., at this place. During the year 1813 the above-named manufacturing company pur- chased all the shops and mills contiguous to the forge for the purpose of erecting a large cotton- and woolen- factory. The following is a copy of the original sub- scription paper, showing the names of stockholders :

" BRIDGEWATER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

" BRIDGEWATER, May 13, 1813.

" We, the subscribers, proposing to engage in the manufac- ture of wool and cotton, do agree to form ourselves into a com- pany, by the name of the Bridgewater Wool and Cotton Manu- facturing Company ; and for carrying into effect said object we propose as a capital eight thousand dollars, to be divided into forty shares, and we severally pledge ourselves to defray the expense arising on the number of shares annexed to our.indi- vidual names :

No. of Shares.

Eliphalet Leach,

Bela Hayward .......

Martin Kingman. 1* Ellis Holmes ..

Thomas Wales

2 Joseph Silvester, Jr.

Alvan Perry 1 Daniel Ames

1 1

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1 E

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

No. of

Shares.

No. of Shares.

Charles Snell

Daniel Alden 1

Nathaniel Snell,

Packard & Porkins, Jr. 1

Jonathan Reynolds.

Davis Packard.

David Roynolds

Tiley Cary

Abel Kingman

Hosea Alden

Perez Southworth

Micah Shaw.

Ichabod Howard

Howard Packard 1

Thomas Thompson

Samuel Battles.

Isaiah Packard.

Packard & Southworth

Packard & Ames

Jeremiah Beals, Jr .....

Benjamin Keith.

John Ritchie

Perez Crocker.

Daniel Ford.

Seth Snow. 1

Joel Briggs

Alpheus Brett .. 1

Richard Thayer

Parmenas Brett

John Ritchie

Micah Faxon

Andrew Ritchie.

Joel Ames 1

The following is the aet of incorporation as granted by the Legislature of Massachusetts :

" BRIDGEWATER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

"June 14, 1813. Abel Kingman, Thomas Thompson, Isaiah Packard, Perez Crocker, Micah Shaw, Ichabod Howard, and Samuel Battles, together with such as may associate with them, were incorporated into a manufacturing company for the pur- pose of making cotton and woollen cloth and yarn, in the town of Bridgewater, with power to hold Real Estate to amount of fifty thousand, and personal estate not exceeding one hundred thousand, as may be necessary and convenient for the purposes as above named."

This company continued to manufacture until March 10, 1837, when the corporation name was changed to Ritchie Manufacturing Company.

Mr. Ritehie continued to manufacture for several years, and sold the factory, with all their power and privileges, to Chandler Sprague, Esq., who, soon after, converted the building into a manufactory of shoe- lasts and wood-turning establishment.

At the time the forge of Mr. Southworth was in successful operation, there was a furnace erected by a few individuals of the town, which stood on or near tlie works of the late Col. Caleb Howard, more re- eently known as Howard's mill, where large quanti- ties of hollow-ware were manufactured. The works were afterwards given up on account of the scarcity of wood. Mr. Bowdoin, of Boston, bought the furnace, which was successively owned by Col. Hobart, of Abington ; Mr. Perry, of Easton ; George Howard, of Bridgewater ; and later by Col. Caleb Howard and Thomas J. & Welcome Howard. The building has since been used by various parties for manufacturing purposes, mostly shoe-tools, and sawing of box-boards. This mill was near the corner of Pond and Belmont Streets.

About the year 1790, Benjamin Silvester built a mill on Salisbury River, near the residence of Galen Paekard, for a fulling-mill. He sold his interest to his brother, Seth Silvester, who was succeeded by John Wales, who established a earding-mill. Mr. Ephraim Cole bought the privilege of Mr. Wales, and

continued till 1825, when he sold out to Galen Paek- ard, who soon commenced manufacturing ship-spikes, nails, and all kinds of ship-work, using a trip-ham- mer. Mr. Packard sold out to Jefferson Bisbcc, who came from Canton, and began to manufacture hay and manure forks. B. F. Wheeler has recently pur- chased the works, and manufactured small nails, tacks, shoe-nails, and carpet tacks. Benjamin Franklin Kingman succeeded Mr. Wheeler, and the works have been successfully conducted by William W. Cross for several years.

About the year 1814, James Easton & Sons built a dam, erected a building, and commenced manufae- turing spikes, axes, adzes, plane-irons, ehisels, bar- iron, axles, etc., a short distance north on the same stream. They continued business for about six years and failed. Caleb and Sylvanus Easton continued the business for ten years longer, under the name of C. & S. Easton, when they retired.

Lower on the stream and just south of Pleasant Street, Sidney Perkins manufactured hay and man- ure-forks. He was in that business but a few years, and sold out to Hezekiah Simmons, and he was suc- cecded by Nathaniel B. Harlow in the same business. Several years since there was a mill situated on Trout Brook, a short distance south of Howard Street, that leads to East Randolph. The remains of the dam are in existence at the present day. The flowage of this meadow was for a long time a source of litigation in the county courts.

E. D. & O. B. Reynolds used a portion of this fac- tory for the manufacturing of agricultural implements till they removed to near Court Street, and became interested in the Reynolds Plow Company in 1882.

About the year 1836, William Perry was engaged in the manufacture of brassware and castings; his foundry was situated near where Faxon's awl manu- factory was located. Several years since Mr. Chand- ler R. Humphrey commenced making grave-stoues at the shop of John Wales, corner of Main and Bel- mont Streets, now owned by Rufus P. Kingman. Since that time Sidney S. Green eame to town, and was engaged for a time in that business on Centre Street. Soon after George W. Bryant, Esq., became associated with him in business, under the firm-name of Bryant & Green, in Central Bloek. Mr. Bryant continued alone in the business for a time, on the corner of Main and Crescent Streets.

In the spring of 1845, Messrs. George B. Dunbar and Oakes S. Soule became associated in business, under the firm-name of Dunbar & Soule, for the sale of all kinds of lumber, on the corner of Montello and Court Streets, near the railroad. In 1862 the firm

689

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

was dissolved, Mr. Dunbar retiring. Since that time Mr. Soule has continued in the business as before.

Barnabas Edson manufactured the best quality of log pumps at his residence, in the eastern part of the town, on Pine Street. He afterwards moved to the Centre Village.

Tanners .- Probably the first tanner in the North Parish (now Brockton) was William Shaw, who had a tannery southwest of the house now occupied by Lawrence Copeland, in the easterly part of the town. His son. Micah, succeeded him in business, which was given up many years ago. He manufactured upper- and sole-leather. Levi Keith carried on the tanning business ; also his son, Benjamin, succeeded by Capt. Ziba Keith, east of Main Street in Campello. near where Montello Street now is. Maj. Daniel Cary had a tannery south of Belmont Street, next to the river. Israel Packard was his successor. Nathaniel W. Stoddard was a manufacturer of patent-enameled leather in the north part of the village, on Montello Street.

Blacksmiths .- One of the first things done after the making of iron from the ore in this town, was the making of nails by hand. This branch of manufac- ture was one of the most prominent of any in the town. It furnished employment for a large number of boys and men. At first, they were forged singly ; and as the machines for cutting and heading were in- troduced, hammered nails went out of use. Nearly every farmer had a nail-shop for his boys to occupy their leisure time, when not engaged upon the farm. Indeed, nail-shops were as common as shoe-shops are at the present day. Upon the introduction of ma- chines for cutting and heading nails,-which were in- vented by Col. Jesse Reed, a native of the town,- the business of making nails was confined to different manufacturing companies, and were made in large quantities at a much lower price. We now find in the town only here and there a blacksmith-shop, for shoeing cattle and horses, and other job-work. Among the blacksmiths in the parish were Capt. Jesse Per- kins, who had a shop near where Col. E. South worth's store now stands. Asa Howard had a shop nearly opposite Centre Street. Capt. Anthony Dike had a shop ncar the Alva Noyes place, on the road to Abington. He made the first shovels in the vi- cinity, at about the time the " Ames" commenced in Easton. Josiah Perkins had a shop on Summer Street, opposite the residence of Nahum Perkins, who became his successor in that business. Alpheus Brett had a shop in Factory Village (now Sprague's). He manufactured bar-iron, plow-points, hames, hoes, etc. Nehemiah Lincoln was also in the same business in

that village, manufactured cart and harness trim- mings, hames, hoes, scrapers, plow-points, etc. Be- sides these, the traders of the town bought iron rods, and let them out to be made, by the pound, in the same manner as leather was let out to be made into shoes. Messrs. Ide & Trow commenced business on the spot where Waldo Bradford, who succeeded that firm, carried on business till 1845, when he sold out to Tyler Cobb, who conducted the business ten years. In 1855 he sold out to Mr. Bradford, who has con- tinued for a long time, and associated with him Mr. Allen Crocker, of East Stoughton, who at length be- came sole proprietor. Sumner A. Hayward, of Kingston, commenced on Main Street several years since. His shop was nearly opposite where the Whit- man school-house now stands, south of his dwell- ing, and on the present road-bed leading to Campello, and in the south part of the village. He sold to Charles W. Strout, of Brookline, who was succeeded by Hiram F. Peck.

There was a blacksmith-shop erected on Montello Street east of the residence of the late Capt. Ziba Keith, conducted by Patrick Donnovan, which has since been given up.

Lorenzo Wade had a blacksmith-shop in the " West Shares," or Northwest Bridgewater (now Huntington Heights, Seventh Ward), opposite the residence of the late Isaac Packard, which was after- wards removed to its present location, occupied by Orren Wade, on the turnpike leading to Stoughton. The business is now carried on by Albert R. Wade.

B. C. Snell erected a shop near Sprague's factory, about 1853, and was succeeded by A. D. Tyler, and later by S. W. Haley.

Shoe-Tool Manufacturers .- For a long time North Bridgewater has been celebrated for the excel- lence of her shoe-tools and awls, lasts, and boot-trees, shoe-knives, spoke-shaves, rolling-machines, etc.

Among the first to introduce this kind of goods in the town were Ephraim Howard & Co., who made it a special branch of business ; they occupied the build- ing now used by Messrs. Howard, Clark & Co. as a furniture wareroom, using steam-power.1 They man- ufactured hammers, presses, wheels, spoke-shaves, knives, punches, awl-handles, etc.

Charles Howard and Lewis Fisher have since manu- factured the same kind of goods under the firm-name of Howard & Fisher. J. B. Mann conducted that kind of business for several years,-since removed to Stoughton. Sidney Perkins has also made shoe- knives, hammers, and patent grindstones, etc. Tyler

1 Probably this was the first steam-engine used in the town.

690

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Cobb commenced manufacturing shoc tools in 1845, such as hammers, awls, spoke-shaves, stcel compasses, brad-awls, and chopping-knives. George Willis manufactured this kind of goods for a time, until he removed to Worcester.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 143

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706