USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 25
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His mother, Lueinda Dickinson Waite, was born in Hatfield, Hampshire Co., March 8, 1799. James H. is the third of a family of six children. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Leicester, Mass., where they remained until he had attained his twelfth year. While in that place he attended the common school, the Leicester Academy, and subsequently the Winchendon School. They then removed to Athol, where they resided five years, and during that time James worked on the farm, and also attended school at Shelburne Falls.
From Athol he came to Orange, where he now re- sides. There he first worked at the carpenter trade a few years, but in 1855 he commenced millwright- ing in the employ of Rodney Hunt, and was associ- ated with him seventeen years. Mr. Waite, as an employé, discharged the duties devolving upon hini with thoroughness and fidelity, winning not only the approbation of his employers and a reputation as a business-man, but better financial fortune as well.
In 1873 he established a private bank, under the
firm-name of Cheney & Waite, which in 1875 was merged into the Orange National Bank, of which Mr. Waite is cashier. He is also treasurer of the Orange Savings-Bank. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and in 1874 was a member of the board of selectmen, holding that office one year. For eighteen years he has been a member of the Congregational society, and is a consistent and faithful Christian. He is also a member of the Masonic order, and an earnest and progressive worker in that cause. He enjoys the fullest confidence of the members of the organization to which he belongs, and has been elected to nearly every office in the chapter and com- mandery, with that of high-priest and eminent com- mander. At present (1879) he is eminent con- mander of the Athol Commandery.
Mr. Waite is eminently a self-made man, and has gained his present position by improving, to the best of his ability, the opportunities offered him. He is progressive and enterprising in business and public relations, and as a man is honored and respected by all with whom he has been associated.
He was married, in June, 1854, to Amelia Brooks, of Orange, who died on the 10th of April, 1864, aged thirty years. By this union he had one child, -Lizzie Amelia, born on the 15th of Jannary, 1864.
For his second wife he married Katie P., daughter of Horace Gleason, of Chelsea, Mass. She was born on the 8th of August, 1839. To them have been born two children, viz .: Milton James, born Dec. 31, 1871, and died Aug. 11, 1872 ; and Loren Glea- son, born April 12, 1873.
PHOTO BY CH WELLS
LEVI KILBURN.
CHASE'S TURBINE
MFG CO.
OFFICE
L. KILBURN & Co. CHAIR MANUFACTORY, ORANGE, FRANKLIN CO.,MASS.
639
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
and estimated its product for 1879 at double that number. Twenty-five hands are employed in the factory, and about 250 men, women, and children are employed at their homes as seaters. Kilburn & Co. have also an interest in the Chase Turbine Manufacturing Company, and own a saw-mill in New Salem, whence they obtain material for their mann- factures.
The Chase Turbine Manufacturing Company, adjacent to the works of the Gold Medal Sewing-Machine Company, was or- ganized in 1874, as the outgrowth of the Turbine Water- Wheel Manufacturing Company, which, upon the same site, began operations in 1865. Turbine water-wheels, circular- saws, and general mill-machinery are among the manufactures of this corporation, whose capital is $30,000, and whose em- ployés number from 12 to 30.
A Co-operative Furniture Company, containing the interests of from 15 to 20 people, has recently been set in motion in the establishment originally oeeupied by J. S. Dewing & Co. for a similar industry.
Besides the manufacturing interests here named, which are located on Miller's River, at Orange Centre, there is in the same village a brick structure, formerly used as a steam fur- niture manufactory, which was erected by H. IF. Whitney, at a cost of about $20,000. Mr. Whitney failed in 1876, and since that date the establishment has been idle.
G. A. Whipple, at Orange Centre, employs many people in various parts of the town in the manufacture of palm-leaf hats, of which commodity he produces $10,000 worth annu- ally.
The Eagle Mill Company, in Eagleville, near the Athol line, was organized in 1867 with a capital of $20,000, and has been engaged since that time in the manufacture of shoddy eloth, of which 150,000 yards are produced yearly. The com- pany's mill is 140 by 32 feet, and the average number of hands employed is 27.
At Fryville there is a small shoddy-mill, under the man- agement of Rufus Frost. At Furnaceville, Il. R. Stowell employs 20 persons in the production of furniture, and F. G. Holden 6 men in the manufacture of chair-stuff, match-woods, ete.
There are many excellent and profitable farms in the north part of the town, where agriculture is the chief interest. The soil is sandy and loamy, and yields a fair return for the labors of the husbandman. In 1878 the town raised $7500 to defray town charges, $2500 for highways, $2600 for interest on the town debt, and $4100 for schools.
BANKS.
The town has at Orange Centre
THE ORANGE NATIONAL BANK,
which was organized in 1873, by Cheney & Waite, as a private bank ; re-organized as a national bank in 1875, with a capital of $100,000. Its deposit account averages about $40,000.
THE ORANGE SAVINGS-BANK,
which was organized in 1871, has now on deposit upward of $167,000, and is one of the few savings-banks of the country that have latterly shown an increase in deposits.
NEWSPAPER.
The Journal of Industry was established by B. F. Stevens in 1871, and is still issued weekly by him at Orange Centre.
SOCIETIES, ORDERS, ETC. ORANGE LODOE, F. AND A. M.,
was organized November, 1860, and has now a membership of 170. The officers for 1879 are A. L. Shattuck, W. M .; Geo. A. Drake, S. W. ; Jos. A. Titus, J. W. ; C. P. Putney, Sec. ; Geo. IF. Brooks, Treas. ; Rev. C. L. Waite, Chaplain ; R. W. Ranel, Marshal ; W. C. Doane, S. D. ; C. L. Hubbard,
J. D .; Chas. Sawyer, S. S .; A. L. Barrett, J. S. ; C. IF. Wells, Inside Sentinel ; L. A. Chamberlain, Tiler.
THE ORANGE MASONIC BENEFIT ASSOCIATION,
organized in 1878, has officers as follows : F. L. Waters, Pres. ; Geo. A. Drake, Sec. ; John Dunbar, Treas. ; A. L. Shattuck, W. L. Thateher, R. W. Ranel, and O. S. Wheeler, Directors.
LODGE 182, I. O. O. F.,
organized October, 1878, has 50 members and the following officers : Jas. H. Wheeler, N. G .; Wm. H. Graves, V. G. ; Eugene L. Eddy, Sec. ; John Dunbar, Treas. ; A. H. Smith, Warden; IF. H. Goss, Outside Guardian ; A. H. Goddard, Inside Guardian : A. D. Horr, R. S. N. G. ; E. C. Burrell, L. S. N. G .; Wm. A. Cobb, R. S. V. G .; Jos. L. King, L. S. V. G .; A. P. Elliott, Conductor ; Marble Blodgett, R. S. S. ; Wm. Wardell, L. S. S. ; Andrew Mack, Chaplain; R. D. Chase, P. G.
MILLER'S RIVER LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS,
now numbering 56 members, was organized in 1866. The present officers are James E. Walker, W. C. T .; Miss Jen- nie Gilmore, W. V. T .; Mrs. Dan. Adams, W. S. ; Frank Foster, W. F. S .; Mrs. P. A. Whipple, W. T .; Win. A. Cobb, W. C .; Miss Josephine Mitchell, W. I. G .; Eddie King, W. O. G .; Mary Davis, W. A. S .; W. A. Loomis, P. W. C. T .; Miss Lillian Clark, L. H. S. The lodge has in good standing 51 members.
EDWARD GERRISH POST, NO. 17, G. A. R.,
was organized in 1865, and has 75 members.
CLARA BARTON POST, MATRONS OF THE REPUBLIC, is com- posed of the widows and sisters of soldiers who served in the late war.
The TEMPLE OF HONOR, organized in 1873, has 50 members, and the KNIGHTS OF HONOR, organized in 1877, has a member- ship of 50.
THE SOVEREIGNS OF INDUSTRY,
with 125 members at present, was organized in 1874, and has also a branch at North Orange, where there is also a lodge of Good Templars.
A MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION at Orange Centre was organized April, 1878, and has a membership of 200.
FRANKLIN LODGE, NO. 516, K. OF H.,
was instituted March 14, 1877, and has the following officers : S. B. French, P. D .; Wm. H. Lee, D .; S. O. Wheeler, V. D .; Chas. A. Miles, Asst. D .; W. C. Doane, Rep. ; A. J. John- son, F. R .; A. W. Ballou, Treas. ; C. E. Mack, Guide ; W. Wendell, Chaplain ; G. Lunt, Guardian ; C. E. Richards, Sentinel. The lodge has 40 members, and is in a flourishing condition.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first fire-engine used in Orange was made in Proetor- ville, Vt., in 1833, and cost $200. It is alluded to by an old resident who once worked upon its brakes as " a tub-like ar- rangement operated by cranks." Voluntary subscriptions purchased the machine, and directly upon its arrival in the village of Orange a volunteer company was organized, and James M. Hill, but just then arrived in town, ehosen fore- man.
The manner of extinguishing fires was rather primitive. A line of men passing buckets of water from a well to the en- gine, and another line passing the empty buckets back, was the force required, in addition to the men who manned the brakes.
This machine and a volunteer company without special or- ganization did duty at fires up to 1850, when, more complete appointments being deemed necessary, further subscriptions were secured, and a hand-engine was purchased from one Joslin, but it failed to meet requirements, and was eventually dis-
640
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
carded. In 1863 the town purchased an engine of the Hun- nemnn pattern, and Jan. 23, 1864, a number of citizens met at the town-hall for the purpose of organizing a fire company. Previously the citizens generally considered themselves a company, and turned out en masse on the occasion of a fire.
The meeting was called to order by Rodney Hunt, Esq., and Luther P. Ramsey was chosen Chairman; Thos. E. Bridge, Sec. H. Il. Whitney, Levi Kilburn, and J. C. Felt were appointed a committee to secure names of persons that would join. Hiram Woodward, Davis Goddard, and Hol- brook Ward were chosen a committee to draft a constitution. At the next meeting, on the 27th, it was voted to accept the report of the committee and adopt the by-laws as presented. Fifty-eight names were secured to make up the company, which was called the " Orange Fire-Engine Company." The members held their first meeting Jan. 27, 1864, and elected Rodney Hunt, Chief Engineer; Levi Kilburn, First Assist- ant ; Ira Wakefield, Second Assistant; E. R. Parker, Fore- man ; First Assistant, Wm. II. Lamb; Second Assistant, Geo. W. Kilburn ; Clerk, John W. Wheeler; Treasurer, H. H. Whitney ; Steward, John L. Williams ; Standing Committee, Thomas II. White, Thos. E. Bridge, and J. C. Felt.
The first regular monthly meeting was held Feb. 2, 1864. This company has since maintained its regular organization, and has at present the following officers : Foreman, H. H. Goss; First Assistant Foreman, J. S. Bryant; Second Assist- ant Foreman, Charles Sawyer; Clerk, F. L. Waters; Trea- surer, M. C. French ; Steward, George W. Kilburn ; Assistant Steward, Geo. II. Carleton.
Orange Steam Fire Company was organized Ang. 26, 1871,
with the following officers: Foreman, Denison Chase; First Assistant Foreman, E. A. Goddard ; Second Assistant, C. W. Barber; Clerk and Treasurer, A. W. Kilburn. About two months after the company's organization, Mr. Cbase was ap- pointed to be first engineer, and JJohn L. Williams was chosen foreman. The present officers are John Dunbar, Foreman ; C. W. Barber, First Assistant ; C. L. Hubbard, Second As- sistant; A. Kilburn, Clerk and Treasurer ; John L. Williams, Steward. The company's steamer is an " Amoskeag."
MILITARY. THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
Of the soldiers sent by Orange into the war of the Rebellion, 38 lost their lives ; but the town has remembered their devo- tion and sacrifice by the erection, in the beautiful cemetery at Orange Centre, of a handsome soldiers' monument, which was dedicated in 1870. It is a massive shaft of Maine granite, rising to the height of 40 feet, and bearing upon the four faces of the base the legend " Orange remembers her soldiers," and the names of those in whose honor it was erected. These names are as follows :
E. B. Cobb, 11. C. Woodward, W. A. Woodward, L. Furbush, W. L. Howe, D. Stearns, HI. L. Temple, L. Bowker, E. O. Orcutt, I. L. Spear, C. C. Harris, W. IT. Goddard, J. II. Osmand, C. H. Stafford, B. F. Ilastings, M. Il. Ward, N. W. Ward, J. Turner, E. Gerrish, A. II. Terry, J. Short, O. J. Howard, W. N. Smith, J. II. Pierce, J. L. Foster, J. H. Boyden, J. M. Adams, E. Steveus, H. Foskett, W. W. Briggs, A. Bliss, D. D. Mellen, J. A. Prescott, J. Pierce, E. S. Ward, A. Baker, 11. 11. Mayo, D. Barnes.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Appended is a list of the names of soldiers sent by Orange into the war of the Rebellion :
Samuel Adams, 2Ist Mass. Joseph M. Adams, 5th N. II. A. B. Atherton, 36th Mass. Wm. Il. Blodgett, 21st Mass. J. D. Cummings, 21st Mass.
T. D. Dexter, 15th Mass.
Dan. Bosworth, 27th Mass.
Dwight Barnes, 25th Mass.
W. W. Briggs, 361h Mass. Henry Boyden, 36th Mass.
W. C. Woodward, 36th Mass. W. A. Woodward, 27th Mass. Otis Washburn, 3d Cav.
W. H. Whitney, 52d Mass.
R. B. P. Wheeler, 52d Mass. Salmon Wakefield, 52.1 Mass. Geo. H1. Wilson, 6th Mass. Geo. P. Ward, 27th Mass.
Prescott Furbush, 3Ist Mass.
A. A. Ballon, 52d Mass.
Albert Foskett, 36th Mass.
J. H. Foskett, 52d Mass.
Henry R. Stowell, 52d Mas -. Samuel N. Slate, 524 Mass.
A. E. Bliss, 36th Mass. Win. Il. Goddard, 36th Mass. A. W. Goddard, 36th Mass. Wm. P. Huntoon, 36th Mass. Jas. E. Hills, 36th Mass. Wm. L. Howe, 36th Mass.
Austin R. Swan, 521 Mass. Daniel Stearns, 524 Mass. F. W. Shaw, 52d Mass.
John Turner, Ilth Mass.
Aug. Temple, 25th Mass.
Caleb C. Harris, 36th Mass.
Chas. Tilden, 31st Miss.
Alvin Truax, 24th Mass.
S. W. Clark, 4th Cav. Geo. W. Pratt, 7th Mass. B.t.
A. II. Dudley, 4th Cuv.
Ilenry H. Turner, 7th Mass. Bit. Chas. Blackburn, 7th Mass. Bat.
Samnel Greenhalgh, 524 Mass. Gamaliel Goddard, 52d Mass. D. J. Gilmore, 52d Mass.
C. J. Daily, 57th Mass, Franklin Hill, -. R. II. Iluntoon, 27th Mass.
M. M. Iloward, 36th Mass.
II. J. Barber, Navy.
HI. Il. Hunt, 52d Mass.
Aaron Terry, 27th Mass.
R. II. Huntoon, 52d Mass. B. F. Hastings, 30th Mass.
Peter Larraby, -. Luke F. Boorker, 27th M.Ass.
Chas. L. Flint, -.
Geo. W. Taylor, Ist Bat. Walter M. Crombie, II. Art .; unattached.
Alvin King, 27th Mass. C. H. King, 521 Mass. Samuel L. Lasure, 21st Mass.
II. L. Temple, 3d Cav. Dwight S. Felton, Ist Bat.
Edward W. Morse, 4th Cav.
M. A. Lothrop, 26th Mass. Win. 11. Mellen, 21st Mass.
N. Il. Rand, 1st B.t. R. W. Rand, Ist Bat.
N. A. Cheney, Ist Bat,
J. Il. Richardson, 27th M.Ass.
F. L. Spears, Ist Bat.
G. W. Moranville, Ist Bat.
A. W. Merriam, 28th Mass. L. L. Huntoon, 12th U. S. Russell Ward, 126th III.
Jeronte Pierce, 36th Mass. Jos. II. Pierce, 36th M.Iss. W. S. Phillips, 52d Mass.
B. W. Mayo, 25th Mass. Daniel Mahanna, 24th Mass. IIenry 11. Mayo, 36th Mass. J. W. Mellen, 36th Mass. Sumner Moore, 36th Mass, Chas Maynard, 52d Mass. David D. Mellen, 52d Mass. Converse Mayo, 2Ist Mass, Henry L. Rawson, 27th Mass. Osgood Rich, 36th MI iss. Geo. W. Reynolds, 52d Mass. B. W. Reynolds, 521 Mass. T. A. Reynolds, 521 Mass. S. L. Underwood, 36th Mass. Edwin L. Spear, 12th Mass. Chas. T. Sawin, 9th Mass. Wm. N. Smith, 36th Mass. Edwin Stevens, 36th Mass.
J. F. Hartson, Ist Bat. Gen. L. Tenney, 1st Bat. Marcus HI. Ward, 25th Mass. Nathan W. Ward, 36th Mass. E. S. Ward, 36th Mass.
II. C. Woodward, 36th Mass. P. G. Woodward, 36th Mass.
E. B. Cobhi, 521 Mass. Ebenezer ('beney, 52d Mass. E. W. Eddy, 6th Bat. A. T. Eddy, 53d Mass.
llenry Foskett, 17th Mass.
T. F. Williams, IOth Mass. Moses C. French, 10th Mass. Geo. W. Barber, 9th Mass. O. J. Iloward, Navy. Orange S. Oakes, Ioth Mass. Edwin C. Reed, 2Ist Mass. Peter S. Ward, 14th Mass.
G. A. Stafford, 15th Miss. Erastus Orcutt, 34th Mass.
True L. Rice, 34th M.Iss. E. S. Russell, 4th Cav.
Jas. L. Foster, 52d Mass. Luke Furbush, 52d Mass. Dennis Goddard, 52d Mass.
Aaron F. Trim, 52d Miss. Albert L. Barrett, 3d Cav.
Joseph Young, -. John Short, 57th Mass.
Jas. H. Piper, Ist B.t. F. M. Jennison, Ist Bat. Geo. II. Carleton, Ist B.t. Frank S. Field, Ist Bat. Fred. Sherman, Ist Bat. Ward S. Harris, Ist Bat.
J. D. Ward, 21st Mass. Joranı A. Trescott, 2Ist Mass.
Frank B. Martin, 31st Mass. Geo. A. Maynard, 10th Mass. Chas. Morton, 25th Mass. J. II. Osmond, 5211 Mass.
J. 11. Titus, Ist Bat. 11. J. Barber, Ist Bit.
E. M. Leighton, Ist Bat.
A. Baker, -. A. D. Foskett, Navy.
Juchey Sunt
Andrew J. Ilank
641
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
RODNEY HIUNT
was born in Ashburnham, Mass., JJuly 10, 1810. Ile remained at home upon the farm until seventeen years of age, and at- tended the district school five or six weeks during each winter. In 1827 he went to West Boyleston to work for Ezra Beaman, and remained with him three years. The first year he received ten dollars per month, the second year eleven, and the third year twelve. At the expiration of the three years he gave to his father three hundred dollars, the amount of his savings during that time. He then went to Berlin, Mass., to learn the mill- wright's trade, where he continued three years. In 1833 his mother died, and he returned to Ashburnham, to reside with his father. The following year he married Miss Mar- garet Parker, of Holden, Mass. About this time he also made a profession of religion, and became connected with the Open- Communion Baptist Society, of which he is still a member. He remained in the paternal home until his father's decease, in 1834, and in 1835 removed to Wilton, N. H., and com- meneed the manufacture of chairs, in partnership with John Adams. The firm were forced to suspend, and compromised with their creditors, during the crisis of 1837. Mr. Hunt lost his property, and, as an instance of his desire for honor- able dealing, he subsequently paid the full amount of their liabilities. In 1838 he removed to Ashby, Mass., his family then consisting of his wife, one child, and his grandmother, very aged and feeble, all dependent upon his efforts for sup- port. He found employment in the mills at Ashby, where he remained until 1840, when he went to what was then called South Orange, and entered the employ of Reuben Harris, and afterward worked at millwrighting for different persons, until, in 1843, he bought some mill property in Harwick, for which he paid $1431, and went in debt for the whole amount. He, how- ever, improved the property, and in 1844 sold it for $3000. IIe says it was a proud and happy day for himself and his family when they were onee more out of debt and not altogether penni- less. He then returned to Orange and purchased a farm, and besides farming did general millwrighting in different cotton-, woolen-, saw-, and grist-mills. In 1858 he began to build finish- ing machinery for woolen-mills, and employed a few workmen, and in 1859 he purchased a shop on the south side of the river, made some additions to it, and established a machine-shop and foundry for doing all kinds of mill-work. In 1862 he formed a copartnership with Jas. H. Waite, and, in 1865, D. B. Flint also became a member of the firm, which from the beginning has been very prosperous. It has greatly increased its facilities, and from year to year the business has constantly been taking a wider range. In 1873 there was formed the Rodney Hunt Machine Company, a stock company with a capital of $100,000, with Rodney IIunt as President ; D. B. Flint, Treasurer ; and Jas. H. Waite, Secretary. This company also owns one-half the stock of the Foundry Company, of which Mr. Hunt is also President, with A. J. Clark, Treasurer, and John Wheeler, Secretary. Both of these companies are doing a prosperous business, and there has always been the most hearty co-opera- tion among the members of the same. Besides other improve- ments, Mr. Ilunt has built eight dwelling-houses in the vil- lage of Orange. He is particularly conscientious and honor- able in all his dealing, and has won the confidence and affection of his associates. JIe has filled many offices of trust with credit to himself and to those whom he represented. In 1850, 1851, and 1852 he was a member of the Legislature. For twelve years he has been president of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association ; since 1865 a director of the Miller's River National Bank, and trustee of the savings-bank since its or- ganization. Mr. Hunt's wife died in 1865.
He married, for his second wife, in 1867, Mrs. Eliza P. Stote,
a sister of his first wife. By his first marriage he had two sons and one daughter, all of whom are living, married, and in prosperous circumstances.
HON. ANDREW J. CLARK,
president of the Gold Medal Sewing-Machine Company, of Orange, and owner of the largest interest therein, was born in Rutland, Mass., Oct. 9, 1835. He traces his family geneal- ogy back to Hugh Clark, who emigrated, about 1630, from England to America, and settled in Watertown, Mass.
From this, the early ancestor of the Clarks, hereinafter to be mentioned, descended in a lateral line Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, United States Senator from Maine, and in 1861-65 Vice-President of the United States. Ilis mother was a Livermore, whose mother was a direct descendant of Ilugh Clark.
Andrew J. Clark's grandfather, Luther, was born in Hub- bardston, Mass., and his father, Ira, in Leominster, Mass., in 1799. Ira removed to Rutland, and in 1835, as already ob- served, his son, Andrew J., was born upon his father's farm in Rutland, just over the Hubbardston line.
Ilis mother was a daughter of Nathaniel Woods, of Hard- wick, Mass., who migrated to Rochester, N. Y., in 1810, whence she, with her sister, returned to Hardwick in 1813, and in 1827 married Ira Clark. After his death, in 1845, she married Ethan Hemingway, of Hubbardston, and lives now, a widow, in East Templeton, Mass.
Besides Andrew J. there were four children, daughters, of whom Lois, the widow of Simeon G. Pomeroy, lives in East Templeton, Mass. ; Rebecca married A. M. Graves, of West- minster, and died in Dana ; Calista is the widow of Brooks E. Bixby, and resides in Templeton ; Abbie married Lafayette Williams, and died in Petersham.
In 1842, at the early age of seven, Andrew entered upon an active business life, which, from that period to the present, for a space of thirty-eight years, has been uninterruptedly pursued. His parents being in straitened circumstances, he boldly undertook to lift the burden of his own support from their shoulders, and in 1842, having in 1841 removed with his father's family to Ware, Mass., he entered the cotton- mill of the Otis Company, of the latter place, and remained until 1845, when the mill was destroyed by fire. In the spring of 1845 he removed to New England village, in the town of Grafton, Mass., and in July of that year his father died. Just previous to that event, at the age of ten years, Andrew became an employé in the cotton-mill of Smith & Pratt, at New England village, and, after serving them until 1849, again struck his tent, and with his mother and sisters took up a residence in Bramanville, town of Milbury, Mass., where he onee more renewed his experience as a cotton-mill operative, this time in the employ of - Golding. In 1852, his mother having meanwhile, in 1851, married Etban Hemingway, of Hubbardston, and removed thither, young Clark again changed his habitation to Hubbardston, where he was em- ployed in the chair-factory of George Williams, and, remain- ing with him until 1853, accepted an offer from Weller & Co., chair-manufacturers, of East Templeton, Mass., and while in their employ, in November, 1855, married Abbie B., daughter of Capt. Cummings Lesure, of Warwick. About that time he transferred his services to Parker & Sawyer, chair-manufae- turers, of East Templeton, and, continuing with them until January, 1857, removed to Orange, Mass., where, upon the south side of Miller's River, he began the manufacture of chil- dren's carriages on his own account. In 1858 he associated Mr. Jotham Lord with him in the business, which the firm con- tinued successfully until 1860, when Mr. Clark disposed of his interest and opened a store in Carpenter's block, where until 1863 be carried on a trade in flour and grain, which he then disposed of, to commence, with William P. Barker, the manu-
81
642
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
facture of sewing-machines. The firm leased a small building, now occupied by the Chase Turbine Water-Wheel Company, and began making a low-priced single-thread hand sewing- machine, known as the New England single-thread sewing- machine, in the production of which they employed at first but two men.
The business steadily expanded, and in 1865, when Mr. Clark purchased Mr. Barker's interest, the employés num- bered about forty, and the production of machines had risen to between three and four hundred per week. From 1865 to 1867, Mr. Clark conducted the business upon his individual account, and in the latter year the firm of Johnson, Clark & Co. was organized. This firm, purchasing from A. F. Johnson sewing-machine patents, etc., including a patent on a machine which took the first prize at the Mechanics' Fair, in Boston, in 1860, materially enlarged the manufactory build- ings, and began to manufacture the Gold Medal sewing-ma- chine and the llome shuttle-machine, in connection with the New England single-thread machine.
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