History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates, Part 25

Author: Daniels, George Fisher, 1820-1897
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Oxford : Pub. by the author with the cooperation of the town
Number of Pages: 916

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the spring of 1859 William and David Perry of Dudley leased the place for making stockings and stocking yarn, continuing until after May, 1861. Thereafter it was unoccupied (excepting a few months from Sept., 1861, when George Hodges used it as accessory to his mill in the manufacture of army flannels), until the spring of 1866, when Daniel Warner of Woodstock took possession and fitted it up for making cotton twine and carpet warps. This business he with his sons George and Charles and sons-in-law Joseph Dart and Albert E. Merriam, continued until 1879, when upon the settlement of Col. De Witt's affairs the property reverted to his estate, and was sold by the executors at auction to Francis L. Chapin and Calvin D. Paige of Southbridge. In 1880 the proprietors leased the mill for five years to Samuel Perry and a partner from Southbridge, who put in machinery and began cotton spinning. They retired in less than a year and were succeeded by Parley Brown of Douglas and a partner under the name of the "Oxford Yarn Company." They in turn left after a few months, removing their machinery. In 1881 the " Pioneer Rubber Company," incorporated, Edwin H. Allen, treasurer and manager, bought Perry and Company's lease, put in machinery

196

HISTORY OF OXFORD.

for finishing cotton goods for waterproof garments, and for a time did a thriving business. The lease expiring in 1885 was not renewed and the rubber business was relinquished. In 1886 the property was purchased by Nathaniel E. Taft, the present owner, who with two sets of machinery began the manufacture of fancy cassimeres under the name of "The Bernon Mills." In the winter of 1887-8 a change was made to satinets, on which the mill was operated until 26 April, 1888, when a fire occurred damaging building and machinery to a considerable extent. The mill is now, 1890, under lease and being operated on satinets by Gillespie & Sullivan. Capacity, two sets. Hands employed, 38. Production, about 300,000 yards per annum ; estimated value, $95,000.

Bug Swamp Mills. The uppermost mill on Bug Swamp stream is the saw-mill on the Hudson farm, H. 168, a little over the line in Sutton, built in 1792 by John Hudson; unserviceable in dry seasons.

At the lower end of the swamp, near Lovett's, Samuel Davis had in 1788 built on his own land a saw-mill. In 1801 he sold and removed to Eddington, Maine. David Lilley, the purchaser, soon built a shop for the manufacture of scythes, which business he followed until his death in Jan., 1815. Joab Maynard succeeded him, continuing in 1816 and 1817; later, John and Lewis Lilley, sons of David, carried on the same business until the spring of 1821. For a time the premises were unoccupied. On 8 Dec., 1827, Lawton and Joseph, sons of Baxter Pratt, bought the property and put up and operated a shingle machine and also made washing machines and other household utensils, but became involved in debt and in 1830 left for parts unknown. Later Reuben Davis and Silas S. Taft occupied each a few months. For lack of water it was unfit for any permanent business, and was abandoned and with the dwelling near went to decay, and both were removed many years ago. The property is owned by Slater & Co.

"Saccarappa." The next mill below was built prior to 1792 by Joshua Stockwell, " nailmaker," from Sutton. In July, 1792, Elijah and Learned Davis, sons of Samuel, sold to him two acres and ten rods of land on the north side of the brook, including a house, black- smith's shop and coal house, and Elisha Davis owner on the south, a half-acre adjoining, on the south side of the brook, "where Stock- well has erected his trip hammer." Stockwell (who was brother-in- law of David Lilley), and his brother Wright here manufactured scythes and nails until 1802. There were two shops and two dams ; in one forging was done and in the other scythes were ground and finished.

Nails. On 27 April, 1802, Rufus Moore became owner and car- ried on nail making until March, 1815, when he sold the upper shop to John Kenney, Jr., of Sutton, who built the house now (1890)

197

SACCARAPPA.

standing, and carried on scythe making until his decease in 1819. Moore after selling the upper shop continued nail making at a con- siderable outlay, at the lower site. The making of nails by machinery was then a new process. Previously they had been forged separately from rods; Moore began by cutting them with shears from plates and heading them by the old process by hand. A Mr. Morgan of Belchertown had invented or made machines which cut and headed at the same time, and in 1814 Moore bought and transported from that place one of these machines, Morgan coming to put it in operation. James Collier was the operator. Learned Davis, father-in-law of Moore, was interested in the business, and not far from 1822 became owner, continuing for about two years, and nail making was given up.

After the death of Kenney, Amasa Taft of Uxbridge made scythes for two years or more, and later Perez and Daniel Hovey for one year. On 12 Dec., 1828, the place was bought by Col. Reuben Waters, who began a brisk business at scythe making, built a new dam and shop and for several years was successful. On 18 Feb., 1833, he mortgaged to Jonas L. Sibley of Sutton who assigned to the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Worcester, which later sold to William Sigourney. Soon after Waters retired. Next a Mr. Scho- field, employing Amos Bigelow of Sutton, made hoes for a year or two, after which no manufacturing was done. On 17 March, 1845, the place having been long deserted, William Sigourney purchased it as stated and fitted up a saw-mill and a grist-mill which were leased to different parties. Silas Putnam of Sutton, Ebenezer Fitts and Israel Peters successively lived here, having charge of the mills.1 In 1859 Francis F. Sibley was lessee, and was followed in 1860 by Charles Lovett and Sumner Howard. But the business was small, the water-power deficient and the mills became dilapidated, and before the expiration of their lease the water wheel gave out and milling ended. About 1862 the buildings were removed and only ruins remain to tell of the former busy industries of the place. Mr. Slater holds the stream and by a large dam above, controls it as a valuable tributary to the Maanexit. [See Homestead 18.]

Elisha Davis' Saw-Mill. On the southerly branch of Mill Brook, coming from the "Robinson Reservoir," Elisha Davis built, probably as early as 1750, a saw-mill near his house, H. 14, which he and his son Nehemiah and the successive owners of the farm operated more than a hundred years. This mill was removed in 1881 by John W. Robinson. The last sawing there was in 1865.

Howarth's Mill. The site of this mill was sold by Abraham Skinner, the original proprietor, to Thomas Gleason in March, 1722. No mention is made of a mill in the deed. Gleason, a man of means, settled here, built a grist-mill and a saw-mill and died

1 The wife of Putnam was from Saccarappa,

is known, in honor of her old residence.

Me. He gave the locality the name by which it

e y

me red Fas ler ge il, & g B.

198

HISTORY OF OXFORD.

Jan., 1732, his estate including "mills and stream, with homestead and buildings." In March, 1734, Moses, his son, sold to James Coller of Uxbridge, who the next year conveyed to Jonathan Ballard of Andover, who with his son Ephraim owned and occupied until Dec., 1770, a period of 35 years. At the latter date Ephraim Ballard deeded to Amos Putnam of Sutton (brother of Gen. Rufus, the Ohio pioneer), who in March, 1779, sold to John Nichols, Sen., who owned until Nov., 1790, when he sold to his son John, who in 1801 conveyed one-half the same to his son David, who afterward became sole owner and sold in 1826 to the Oxford Woolen Manufacturing Company, the privilege and farm contiguous having been in the Nichols family about 47 years. This grist-mill was the second built in Oxford by the English and for many years was the only one in the south part of the town to be relied upon in dry seasons.

Power Weaving.' The first use of this water-power for manu- facturing purposes was in 1822 by Dr. Delano Pierce, son-in-law of David Nichols. During 1822 he often met Mr. Slater and discussed with him the subject of power weaving, Slater maintaining that hand looms were required for the best results, while Pierce, having knowl- edge of Dudley's operations at North Oxford, was positive as to the success of the new method. The result was a contract by which Pierce agreed to furnish first-class weaving at a certain price per yard. In November, in the old mill building, he began with eight looms, each producing at best 25 yards per day. Joseph Clark and Alfred Kingsbury were his overseers. The operation proved a success. Pierce realized a good profit, Slater was convinced as to machine weaving, declined to renew the contract which expired in 1824, bought Pierce's looms, removed them to his own mill and set them running, and hand-weaving of cotton in this region soon became a thing of the past. 1

"Oxford Woolen Company." A little later a company was formed for manufacturing woolen goods at this locality, and Pierce, Richard Olney, Stearns Witt and Samuel Dowse were the leaders in the scheme. During 1825 the real estate and water-power were secured, a new dam begun and the main factory building erected and brought well on toward completion. At the beginning of 1826 a change occurred, Dr. Pierce withdrew, and on 26 January a new company was formed under the following compact :---

" We, Richard Olney, Lyman Tiffany, Stearns Witt, Sylvanus Holbrook, Samuel Dowse and Alexander C. Witt, do severally agree to form ourselves into a company under the name of 'the Oxford Woolen Manufacturing Company' for the term of five years from the first day of January, A. D. 1826, for the purpose of manufacturing Woolen Goods in its various branches, and transacting any other business the stockholders may think proper."

[Signed by the above-named persons. ]

1 See Sigourney Mill.

HOWARTH'S-FORMERLY OXFORD WOOLEN COMPANY.

199

OXFORD WOOLEN COMPANY.

On the same day a deed of the real estate was executed by David Nichols running to this company. During 1826 the mill building erected by Collins and Rufus Moore of Dudley was completed, the breast water-wheel and the fulling-mills were finished by Israel Sibley, and under the charge of William F. Morgan, during the fall and winter of 1826-7, machinery was set up and put in operation. In the spring of 1827 two sets of cards were running and five houses, including the old Nichols house, were standing on the premises. In 1828 the boarding-house and other dwellings were built by Willard and Daniel Underwood of Pomfret, Conn. In the latter part of 1827 an addition was made to the mill, and early in 1828 another set of cards added, increasing the producing capacity one-third.1

On 28 Feb., 1828, the company was incorporated with power to hold real estate to the amount of $50,000, and personal property to the amount of $150,000, and on 24 Oct., 1828, the old partnership, con- sisting of Sylvanus Holbrook, Stearns Witt, Samuel Dowse, Richard Olney, Alexander C. Witt and William F. Morgan (who had bought, 3 April, 1827, one-twelfth), sold for $50,000 all their real and personal estate to the new company. The corporation organized 1 Aug., 1828, with Richard Olney President, Alexander C. Witt Clerk, Richard Olney Treasurer, and Stearns Witt Agent.2 A code of by-laws was adopted 7 Jan., 1829. On 5 Jan., 1830, a dividend was declared amounting to $2,715, being " all moneys that the shares may have cost over 1,000 dollars each." The later dividends were as follows : 1832, $7,500; 1833, $7,080; 1834, $12,720, " being the remainder of the original stock paid in, with interest "; 1835, $6,000; 1836, " 10 per cent. on the capital stock," being $6,000; 1837, $6,000, which was the last dividend recorded. Stearns De Witt was continued agent until Jan., 1836, when Sylvanus Holbrook was chosen, and continued until 1840, when DeWitt was again elected for the year. In Jan., 1841, Dexter W. Jones, having become a stockholder, was chosen agent, continuing until Nov., 1845. At a meeting of the company on the 17th of that month Peter C. Bacon was empowered to make sale of all its property, real and personal, and on 1 Jan. 1846, the mill and other real estate passed into the possession of Geo. Hodges, Jr.

Stearns De Witt was prominent among the men of this company for enterprise and executive ability. He had strong common sense, and inherited from his Scotch ancestry a shrewdness and faculty to judge of men, and to profit by their best qualities, which fitted him to organize and conduct successfully such an undertaking. H moved quietly and cautiously, and in the main, wisely, and brought together an excellent set of men as managers of the different depart- ments of a business which demanded much skill and judgment. In Mr. Morgan he had a thoroughly practical supervisor to whom he

1 A second enlargement was made after 1840 and the fourth set of machinery added.

2 See foot-note page 90.

200

HISTORY OF OXFORD.

confided all the details of the mill, and to conduct the several branches under him were found artisans, chiefly residents of the vicinity, who interested themselves in the success of the enterprise and gave to it their best efforts.1

For several years the office of the company was at the rooms over the Witt and Dowse store on the Plain, and payments to employés were made largely in goods from that establishment. In 1829 Benja- min F. Campbell bought into the store and the office of the company was removed to the village. Gradually the designs of De Witt were being realized at the mill. Robinson by his skill at carding had succeeded in producing a mixture, new and desirable, which became very popu- lar in the trade as "Oxford Mixed." At Boston and Philadelphia exhibitions medals were repeatedly awarded for these and other fine productions, their goods became well known in the market, sold freely at good profits, and the credit of the concern stood very high. An important appendage to the manufacturing was the large farm, which was for a time under the charge of Silas Cummings of Douglas, and later of Amos Johnson. Two large barns stood at the entrance to the village, and these were filled yearly with the products of the adjacent fields ; the tables of the boarding-house were furnished largely from the farm, and the fat cattle and swine produced annually won the admiration of the farmers of the town.

While affairs were thus moving in a very prosperous manner, Mr. Olney, for some reason desiring a change, proposed to buy of DeWitt his interest. DeWitt, although not wishing to sell, fixed a price at which he would do so, and at the annual meeting in Jan., 1836, a bargain was closed and he left the concern. Sylvanus Holbrook suc- ceeded him, and for a few months affairs progressed as usual. But a change soon came. The close oversight which had been bestowed on every operation was relaxed, the quality of the goods deteriorated, and the reverses of 1837 coming on they were piled up in storehouses and later sold at a loss. The finances became involved, and at the end of Holbrook's administration in 1840 the bankruptcy of the company seemed imminent. To add to the troubles it was found that during the season of prosperity the laws of the State regarding cor- porations had not been duly observed, and consequently the private

1 The late H. N. Slater of Webster once stated that in his opinion there never has been in the history of American manufactures a more effi- cient set of operatives brought together than was gathered by DeWitt at the Oxford Woolen Company's mill.

The accountants were in 1826, Alexander C. Witt; 1827 and 1828, Edmund F. Dixie from Marblehead; a few months in 1829, Benjamin F. Campbell; latter part of 1829 and for 1830, Wilson Olney; 1831, 1832, Alvan G. Under- wood; 1833, for most of the year, Charles Dowse, Underwood having bought into the store on the Plain; from Nov., 1833, to 1842, Alvan G. Underwood; and later Wilson Olney and Stearns

DeW. Harris. Evans Ryan of Sturbridge had charge of wool-sorting; William E. Stebbins, Stephen Collins and John Ryan successively were dyers; Sylvanus Robinson carder and spin- ner; Elijalı Pratt was first weaver, and Rufus Harris and Alfred Kingsbury followed him. Justin Root first fuller, succeeded by James Miller. Mr. Morgan first finisher, followed by James Miller, Henry Dilaby and Oliver Free- man, suceessively. The grist-mill was kept in operation under the charge of Amos Johnson, later miller at the City Mills, Boston. The boarding-house was kept by Alexander C. Thurston, Nathaniel Brown, Charles Lamb and Ira Merriam, successively.

201

FLANNEL MAKING.

property of each stockholder was holden to pay the debts of the con- cern. The liabilities of the company were discharged in full, but it was done at a serious loss to the individual owners.

De Witt regretted the sale of his interest. To this enterprise he had given for ten years the best of his energies. A large, thriving business and a beautiful village had arisen under his supervision ; in the corps of faithful employés were personal friends, and in the whole he had taken a befitting pride. The dropping of this from his life was a change which affected his spirits and his health suffered seriously in consequence. The year 1840, in which he was reinstated as agent, showed little improvement, and neither his efforts or those of his suc- cessor, Mr. Jones, could retrieve the ill fortunes of the past. The sale of the estate, 1 Jan., 1846, closed the operations of the company.

George Hodges carried on the single line of fine flannel making here successfully from his purchase in 1846, 35 years, until his decease in 1881. Average production at highest point, 12,000 yards per week.

Andrew Howarth became the proprietor of the establishment in 1882 and is, in 1890, continuing successfully in the same line. The present capacity of the mill is five sets ; yards of flannel produced, 2,100 per day; average value, 17 cents ; annual production, esti- mated, $110,000 ; hands employed, 52. [See Howarth.]

The following appeared in the New York Times for 1 Dec., 1884 :-

"FIRST MAKERS OF AMERICAN FLANNEL.

From the New York Dry Goods Importer.

"At various times the question has come up, Who made the first flannel in the United States? but it has never been successfully answered as yet, that it was made on hand looms and home spun there can be no doubt. And as it was not necessary to send such flannels to any mill to be finished it will be at this late day difficult to trace out who was the original maker of this material. 'Away down East' it used to be common to make and use what were called there ' woolen sheets.' They were home-made, the yarn, both warp and filling, being hard-twisted, and, when woven, they were simply washed out and worn in that condition, there being no nap raised on them. But the question now is, ' Who made the first flannel?' And in reply to this query we once received the following from a ' Veteran': 'Now it is in the memory of people living in and around North Andover, of a certain old lady who came to this country from Rochdale, England, 60 years ago or more. She went by the name of Dolly Howarth, and, if my information is correct, she was the first to weave a piece of genuine wool flannel in New England, if not in America.' If such be the case, I think it is nothing but right and just that the credit be given to her and be recorded in the archives of Massachusetts. She had a grandson living a year or so ago and he may be living yet. His name is Andrew Howarth. He has been connected with flannel manufacture all his life and the last the writer heard of him he was running a flannel mill with his son in Vermont. . If Mr. Howarth, who is now getting along in years, could be induced to write what he knows about the matter, I think he could throw considerable light upon it."

202

HISTORY OF OXFORD.

On the foregoing Mr. Howarth remarks :-

"' Dolly,' or Dorothy ' Howarth,' spoken of, was an aunt of mine by marriage, having been the wife of my uncle James Howarth. She was among the first workers at flannel making at Andover, but was only a spinner and not a weaver. The first fine finished flannels made in the country, so far as my knowledge goes, were made by my said uncle James in partnership with his brothers, Charles (my father) and Isaac. These all came, bringing skilled workmen with them, spinners, weavers and finishers, in 1826 from Rochdale, the home in England of the flannel manufacture, to Andover, where they started the first mill with 27 hand looms operated by men. Precisely who was the weaver of the first flannel probably can never be known, but the credit of the first manufacture of the article as a business belongs, I think, to James, Charles and Isaac Howarth. Another manufacturer was early at Andover, but produced only coarse goods."

Buffumville. The site of this village was sold unimproved in 1793 by Samuel Danforth and Elijah Dunbar to John Nichols and his grandsons, Alexander and Jonathan Nichols, " 183 acres, partly in Charlton and partly in Oxford." In 1795 John Nichols deeded his third to his son John, who in 1811 sold to his sons Alexander and Jonathan, they thus becoming sole owners. In 1812 they built a dam and a saw-mill, in 1815 the two-story house at the south end of the village, and in 1818 a grist-mill.

Scythe making. A year or two previous to the building of the grist-mill they erected a large blacksmith shop, containing two trip- hammers, which was first occupied by Sylvanus Pratt for making scythes and for custom blacksmithing. Later, Joab Maynard was proprietor and continued scythe making. In 1821 James Farwell of Douglas leased the shop and grist-mill, continuing scythe making and blacksmithing, employing Israel Moore and Ebenezer Fitts with others. In April, 1823, his lease expired. Alexander Nichols died the same month, and the following June, seven-eighths, and in Nov. one-eighth of the shop, mill, house and 29 acres of land were sold to Stearns Witt.

Thread making. In April, 1824, Witt conveyed three-fourths. of the same to his brothers, Hollis, Archibald and Alexander C., and these, under the firm of "Stearns Witt and Brothers," soon began the manufacture of cotton thread in the upper part of the grist-mill. In 1824 Witt and Brothers sold one-third of the water power, the scythe- shop and four acres of land south of the river to Farwell, who resumed scythe making, expending several thousand dollars in improvements, including the building of three houses, and the purchase, Feb., 1826, of Pierpont meadow of 58 acres and other property below it for a reservoir, and after two or three years was obliged to retire. In 1830 the real estate reverted to the Thread Company.1

Col. Reuben Waters of Sutton with one Davis, as partner, next occupied the shop as scythe makers. They remained but a short

1 The Pierpont land was conveyed to Josiah F. against Farwell. In March, 1830, Taylor con- Taylor to satisfy an execution which he held veyed it to the Thread Company.

203

THREAD MILL.

time and were succeeded by Joseph Putnam and J. Flint Taylor in partnership. In 1832 Hunt Brothers of Douglas made axes here for Waters & Davis, and were the last occupants. Soon after this date the shops were removed to make room for the enlargement of the thread factory. The main thread manufactory was erected in 1825 and contained 600 spindles, and as business increased addi- tions were made until the dimensions of the building were about 100 by 40 feet, two stories. Before June, 1832, Samuel Dowse and Benjamin F. Campbell had become part owners. About one year later Mr. Harrisson, an Englishman and a skillful mechanic, was admitted as a partner.1 . Under his management machinery for spooling, brought from England, was introduced and Litchfield brothers, of late shuttle makers at Southbridge, furnished spools.

In 1835 Elias B. Crawford came, and for a time made spools, but later was interested in the thread business which was continued under the firm of De Witt, Campbell & Co., Alexander DeWitt being agent until after May, 1836, and succeeded by Benjamin F. Campbell, who continued until 25 May, 1842, when the mill was burned and business suspended. On 20 Sept. following, Stearns DeWitt conveyed to Crawford three-fourths of the estate, including " Pierpont," with the personal property of the old company. Crawford continued the mak- ing of thread in a shop near the site of the mill, and 24 April, 1845, Dowse having deceased, his widow deeded to him the one-fourth belonging to that estate. He then began the building of the present mill of brick, and had nearly completed it 1 July, 1847, when he sold to Charles L. Harding, who fitted it up for the manufacture of broad- cloths and doeskins. This manufacture Harding continued with varied success until Dec., 1852, when he sold to Moses Buffum and Edward Thayer, both of Millville. In 1855 Thayer sold to Buffum and removed to Worcester. In 1863 Moses H., and in 1868 Charles H., sons of Mr. Buffum, were admitted as partners, and a thriving business was transacted until his death in 1874. His heirs are the present owners. In 1872 the building was much enlarged and im- proved and now contains four sets of machinery, with a capacity of 15,000 yards per month, employing 60 operatives.2

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates, Part 25

Author: Daniels, George Fisher, 1820-1897 Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Oxford : Pub. by the author with the cooperation of the town Number of Pages: 916

Author: Daniels, George Fisher, 1820-1897
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Oxford : Pub. by the author with the cooperation of the town
Number of Pages: 916