USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 39
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
The four years of civil war from 1861 to 1865 severely tested the resources and patriotism of the town, but neither was found wanting. The population of Chicopee at that time was something under 8,000, and the military quota was small in proportion, owing to the large number of women employed in the cotton mills and similar manufacturing industries. But the town heroically responded to every call, and when recruiting stopped in 1865 had furnished forty-eight more men than were due as its quota under all the calls which had been made. The quality of its soldiers was excellent, showing that the martial spirit of the fathers, which had helped in former days to make the enviable record of Springfield, dwelt strong in the hearts of the sons. In material ways the devotion of the people was even more strikingly shown. Generous contributions were made for the assistance of sick, wounded and needy soldiers, and at the close of the war a fund of some $10,000 was still on hand for this most noble charity. By wise forethought this surplus was formed into a fund, the income of which might be applied to the relief of needy veterans and their dependent ones, and for that object it is still available, carrying gladness and cheer to many a home which otherwise must find relief through a less gracious charity.
Agricultural pursuits have never been of great importance to Chicopee in a commercial sense, though the fertile lands in the Chicopee Street section have given good returns for the husbandman, and to this fact was due the early development of that region. Elsewhere within the present city limits the soil is mostly of little value for tillage purposes.
The manufacturing interests of Chicopee naturally had their beginning on Chicopee Street and were of the simple sort
( 1
496
Digitized by Google
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
common to most of the early settlements. A saw mill was built near the south end of the Street in 1791, and a blacksmith shop was established a little later. Boot and shoe making was car- ried on to some extent for outside trade in the early part of the nineteenth century, Otis Skeele being the first manufacturer. He established a shop at Willimansett after having carried on the business on Chicopee Street, and some time later he was succeeded by A. G. Parker. Both of these establishments mar- keted boots and shoes in Hartford and New York. In 1853 Mr. Parker took his son, Josiah A. Parker, into partnership, and the business was removed to Chicopee Center a little later, where it was carried on until about 1885. Brick making was also a profitable industry, Giles S. Chapin being the pioneer and fur- nishing brick for many of the factories and other buildings at Chicopee Center, as the village there developed. The making of friction matches was started in 1835 by Chapin & Phillips, their establishment being the first of the kind in the country and perhaps in the world. The business grew to considerable proportions, and at least twenty people were employed at one time. The industry passed into other hands after a few years and was finally removed from the town. Broom making was also for a considerable time one of the active interests of the place. The Willimansett Manufacturing company was organ- ized in 1831 for the making of machine cards and small hard- ware, principally carpenters' tools. Previous to this time all such articles had been imported, and were very costly. This company developed a business which at one time employed a hundred men and did much to make a name for American hard- ware. Bemis & Sheffield were the agents, and after a time removed the industry to Springfield, where it is still continued under the name of the Bemis & Call Hardware and Tool com- pany.
The excellent water power, easily available, at the falls of the Chicopee river, early attracted the attention of manufac- turers, and gave to the locality the name of Chicopee Factory Village, by which it was long known. Metals, wood and metal in combination, and cotton goods have formed the principal
32-3
( 497 1
Dgiized by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
lines of product, and in these a large variety of articles have been turned out. Irou manufacture was the first industry to demand attention, and as early as 1786 land and water power were leased in perpetuity to James Byers and William Smith of Springfield, on the condition that they should within two years erect iron works for the manufacture of hollow ware. The ore was taken from a lean vein a short distance above the dam on the same side of the river. The property was sold to Benja- min Belcher, Abijah Witherell and William Witherell, in 1801, and four years later Mr. Belcher bought the interests of his partners and continued the business of iron founding until his death in 1833. His three sons. Benjamin B., John W., and Bildad B .. carried on the business until 1846, when John W. Belcher be- came sole proprietor, and began the manufacture of agricultural implements. During the next thirty years the firm name under- went several changes, Jonathan R. and John R. Whittemore being members of the firm from 1851 to 1875, and George L. Squier from 1852 to 1857. In 1875 the firm name was changed to B. & J. W. Belcher and so continued until June 1. 1889, when the business of the firmn was discontinued.
The Belcher & Taylor Agricultural Tool company is the outgrowth of an enterprise established by Mr. Bildad B. Belcher after his withdrawal from the business inherited from his father. With two others he erected works on the south side of the river, in 1852. became sole owner in 1854, and was burned out in 1860. The works were re-established on the north side of the river, and in 1863 Mr. George S. Taylor became a partner under the firm name of Belcher & Taylor. During November, 1864, the business was incorporated under the present title, with Mr. Belcher as president and Mr. Taylor as treasurer. The latter has continued in office to the present time, but there have been several changes in the presidency. John Wells, Elijah Blake and E. O. Carter having been among the incumbents. The capital stock is $50,000, and the present board of officers consists of William P. McFarland, president : George S. Taylor, agent and treasurer; Frederick N. Witherell, secretary; Andrew Gale, superintendent.
1 1 498
Dgiized by Google
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
The Chicopee Manufacturing company was incorporated in 1822, as the Boston and Springfield Manufacturing company. with a capital stock of $500,000. The local parties in interest were the brothers Jonathan and Edmund Dwight, who pur- chased of Benjamin Belcher the entire water power and land at the Falls, the title to the water power still remaining vested in the corporation which they organized, in connection with Boston capitalists. The dam, canal and mills were begun the following year, and by 1826 three mill buildings and a bleachery had been completed. In 1828 the corporate name was changed
A View of the Dam-Chicopee Falls
to the present designation, and as the business developed the capitalization was gradually increased until it is now $1,000,000. The product of the mills has been principally cotton flannels and sheetings, and an average of more than 1,000 hands are em- ployed. The present officers of the corporation are: President, E. B. Beebe; treasurer, G. A. Silsbee, both of Boston; agent, Henry A. Bailey.
The Massachusetts Arms company was organized in 1850 with a capital stock of $70,000 for the manufacture of firearms
(
499 1
Dignzed by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
and machinery, and under the agency of Mr. T. W. Carter began the making of revolvers. After a time this was decided to be an infringement of the Colt patents, and the company took up the manufacture of other weapons, being engaged dur- ing the war period from 1861 to 1865 in turning out Maynard breech-loaders for the use of the United States cavalry. After the close of the war the business was purchased by Mr. Carter, and was carried on by him until sold to the Lamb Knitting- Machine Manufacturing company in 1876.
The J. Stevens Arms and Tool company was incorporated in 1886 with a capital stock of $40,000, to continue the business established in 1864 by J. Stevens & Co., in the manufacture of the Stevens breech-loading arms and various small tools and appliances. The present board of officers consists of Irving Page, president and treasurer, and G. E. Page, secretary.
The Lamb Knitting Machine company was incorporated in 1867 with a capital stock of $100,000; was reincorporated in 1893 as the Lamb Manufacturing company, with a capital of $500,000; and again reincorporated in 1900 with a capital of $40,000. During the first period Mr. Timothy W. Carter was the president; during the second organization, when the manu- facture of bicycle and other goods was carried on, Mr. A. G. Spalding was president. The present board of officers consists of Robert Russell, president; Frank D. Howard, treasurer and manager. A principal part of the business of the corporation has been the manufacturing of knitting machines under the patents of I. W. Lamb.
The Overman Wheel company, with a capitalization of $250,000, was organized in 1882 by A. H. Overman, at Chicopee, and a few years later built extensive shops at Chicopee Falls, where the manufacture of the Victor bicycle was carried on for a dozen years, on a very large scale. The company went out of business about 1897.
With numerous minor enterprises, these have been the cen- tral industries of the village of Chicopee Falls during the century of its existence. Most of them have been of a character to require the service of intelligent and capable workmen, and
( 500 1
Dionzed oy Google
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
the standard of the population has been well maintained, socially, morally and intellectually.
Manufacturing at Chicopee Center, then Cabotville, began about 1810, when William, Levi and Joseph Chapin erected a small mill into which were put two carding machines and two spinning frames. These proprietors purchased cotton at eleven or twelve cents a pound which they carded and spun. It was woven into cloth on the hand looms which were then to be found in many houses, and the cloth thus produced sold at thirty-five to forty cents a yard. Even the simplest of cotton fabrics were at that time decided luxuries. Another mill of similar character seems to have been operated for a short time by a Mr. Pinney, but the introduction of machinery into cotton manufacturing soon drove establishments of this kind out of business.
The Dwight Manufacturing company is the direct successor of the first manufactory established at Cabotville. In 1830 the water power there, then known as the "lower privilege," was owned by the Chicopee Manufacturing company, who had recently begun operations at the Falls; but in 1831 the Spring- field Canal company, largely composed of stockholders in the Chicopee, organized with a capital of $90,000 and bought the interests of the parent company at Cabotville. John Chase was chosen as agent for the new corporation, and entered upon his duties with great energy and ability. During 1832 a dam was built across the Chicopee river and the canal for carrying water to the proposed mills was constructed, as well as a small machine shop for building machinery to be used in cotton manufacture. Sites and power privileges were sold to various corporations and firms as required. The Cabot Manufacturing company was the first on the ground, being organized in 1832 with a capital stock of $400,000, for making cotton goods. Their first mill was put in operation in the summer of 1834, and another mill in the year following. In 1836 and again in 1839 the capital stock was increased $50,000, making a capitalization of a half-million. The Perkins mills was incorporated in 1836 with a capital stock of $400,000, built their first mill that year and another the year following, their capital stock being likewise twice increased by
( 501 )
Dignized by Google
Dig zed by Google
.....................
.....................
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
$50,000. In 1852, by an act of the legislature, these companies were consolidated under the name of the Perkins mills. Mean- time the Dwight Manufacturing company had been incorporated in 1841 with a capital stock of $500,000, which in 1843 was in- creased to $700,000. Their first mill had already been built by the canal company, but another was added soon after the incor- poration, and a third in 1844. In 1856 the Perkins mills and the Dwight company were consolidated, retaining the name of the latter, and the seven large mills passed under one management. The company is now capitalized at $1,200,000, and the officers are: President, T. Jefferson Coolidge; treasurer, J. Howard Nichols, both of Boston ; agent, Louis Aumann.
The Ames Manufacturing company was incorporated in 1834 with a capital stock of $30,000. It was named for N. P. Ames, an edge-tool manufacturer who came from Chelmsford, Mass., to Chicopee Falls in 1829, with his sons, N. P. Ames, Jr., and James T. Ames. In 1831 they began the manufacture of swords for the United States government, in which industry they at once took a high rank. In 1834 the works were removed to Cabotville and the corporation formed, and two years later they began the manufacture of bronze cannon, for which they became equally famous. In 1841 the property of the Chicopee Falls company was bought and the works were removed to that village. the capital stock being increased to $75,000; but four years later the property of the Springfield Canal company was bought and the business returned to Cabotville, with an increase in the capital to $200.000. Prior to the war period the company had in successful operation an iron foundry, turning heavy cast- ings, machinery, and the like, as well as a plated ware depart- ment, in addition to the manufacture of swords and cannon. During the war of the rebellion its government work occupied the energies of the company, and in the succeeding years much attention was given to the production of high grade bronze work for monuments, memorial tablets, and the like. In 1881 the Ames Sword company was organized with a capital of $150,000 for carrying on the business of sword manufacture and sale; the present officers of the company being: President, John
( 503 )
Dlg ized by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
D. Bryant; treasurer, Gamaliel Bradford, both of Boston; superintendent, Charles A. Buckley. The business of brass founding is now owned and conducted by James C. Buckley, under the name of the Ames Foundries.
The Gaylord Manufacturing company was formed in 1863, at the height of the civil war, with Emerson Gaylord as president, for the purpose of manufacturing military equipments of leather. The manufacture of cabinet locks was added, and at the close of the war, when the demand for military goods fell off, the buisness of the Chicopee Malleable Iron company was bought and incorporated. About 1875 the manufacture of swords was taken up, and carried on for several years with great success, special attention being given to fine goods for society use and presentation purposes. Later on the business was discontinued and the company dissolved.
Of the later incorporated industries, now in business, the following may be regarded as the more important: Overman Automobile company, manufactures of automobiles; incor- porated, 1900; capital stock, $250,000. President A. H. Over- man; treasurer, William R. Warren; secretary, D. E. Rianhard. Olmsted & Tuttle company, dealers in cotton waste and manu- facturers of mattresses, comfortables, etc .; business established in 1840, incorporated 1888; capital $100,000. Frank E. Tuttle, president, treasurer and secretary. Fisk Rubber company, manufacturers of rubber tires for bicycles, carriages and automobiles; incorporated in 1898; capital $33,000. Harry G. Fisk, secretary and treasurer. Metric Granule and Tablet com- pany, chemists; incorporated 1896; capital $20,000. President, C. W. Jordan ; treasurer and manager, Dr. Edward D. Chapman. The Taylor, Bramley company, manufacturers of knit goods; incorporated 1898; capital $20,000. President, H. Lee Mallory, Brooklyn, N. Y.,; secretary and treasurer, Albert E. Taylor. Chicopee Falls Wheel company, manufacturers of bicycles; incorporated 1888; capital stock $12,000. President, H. S. Boyd, vice-president, Francis M. Bennitt; treasurer and man- ager, C. C. Abbey. Burtworth Carpet company, manufacturers of carpets; incorporated 1893; capital stock $10,000. President,
( 504 1
Digmed by Google
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
George W. Kimball. Springfield; treasurer, F. B. Strickland. The S. Blaisdell, jr., company, dealers in cotton and waste; incorporated 1893; capital stock $5,000. President and treas- urer, C. M. Blaisdell; vice-president and secretary, G. A. Blais- dell.
The Coburn Trolley Track Manufacturing company, incor- porated in 1888 with a capital stock of $150,000, formerly doing business in Holyoke, removed to the Willimansett district of Chicopee in 1900, having purchased convenient grounds adjoin- ing the railroad tracks and erected a fine suite of buildings for the carrying on its business.
The matter of lighting the manufacturing establishments early became an important one, and in 1849 a gas company was organized at the Center, the four leading companies uniting to furnish the capital. After the absorption of the other cotton manufacturing companies by the Dwight, the ownership of the gas works rested with that company, and provision was made for supplying factories, stores, offices and dwellings with gaslight. But in 1897 a movement was made which resulted in the forma- tion and incorporation of a new company, known as the Chicopee Gas Light company, with a capital stock of $92,500. The officers are : President, Richard S. Storrs of New York; treasurer, Frank S. Butterworth ; vice-president and clerk, Luther White ; superin- tendent, Charles H. Nutting.
The electric lighting plant is owned by the city, and is under the charge of a manager appointed by the mayor, George E. Stebbins being the present incumbent.
The first general water supply was brought to the then village of Cabotville in 1845 through pipes laid from the higher ground to the south of the village by Charles W. McClallan and R. E. Bemis. Springs and wells furnished the source of supply, and this simple system was found adequate for thirty years, it having near the end of that period become the property of Mr. MeClallan, following the death of Mr. Bemis. In 1876 arrangements were made to increase the supply by taking the flow of certain pure-water brooks just east of the Chicopee line, within the limits of Springfield. In the following year a
505 ( 1
Digliced by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
company with a capital stock of $50,000 was organized as the Chicopee Water company, with Mr. MeClallan as president, and a system of pipes was laid for supplying manufacturers, resi- dents, and the fire service. The supply thus secured, which was furnished by gravitation, proved adequate until 1886, when a pumping station was erected at the junction of South and Springfield streets. In 1892 steps were taken for the inaugura- tion of an adequate water service for the entire city, to be operated under the direction of a board of water commissioners, and this innovation was carried through during that and the following years. The property of the Chicopee Water company was secured by the city, to avoid any conflict of interests, and a supply more suitable in volume and in quality was secured by damming Cooley and Morton brooks, within the city limits, an adequate system of mains and pipes being laid. A wrought-iron stand-pipe sixty feet in height and with a capacity of more than a million gallons was erected on Keating's hill, and first-class pumping engines of liberal capacity were also installed. The property of the Willimansett Water company, organized in 1892, was likwise purchased by the city, thus bringing the entire water-supply system of the city under a single management. The board of water commissioners for 1901 consists of Patrick Rourke, chairman, Frank H. Morton and Andrew Gale. George E. Carter is superintendent.
The banking interests of the city of Chicopee are embodied in one national bank with moderate capitalization and two savings banks-one of the latter located at the Center and the other at the Falls. All of these are in good condition, and the amount of savings on deposit speaks well for the thrifty charac- ter of the working men and women of the city. This trait is still more strongly shown by the fact that much of the financial business of Chicopee is done with Springfield institutions, owing to the size and strength of the latter and the proximity of the two cities.
The First National bank of Chicopee was chartered under Massachusetts state laws as "Cabot Bank." JJanuary 24, 1845. and organized on the first of March of that year with John
( 506 )
Djonzed by Google
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
Chase as president and Gilbert Walker as cashier. The capital stock was fixed at $150,000, and has remained unchanged to the present time. It was reorganized as a national bank, under the present title, in 1865. The bank's surplus now amounts to $78,400, and the present board of officers comprises : President, Joseph A. Carter; cashier, Frederick B. Doten; directors, Thomas C. Page. James L. Pease, Frederick B. Doten, Joseph A. Carter, Luther White, John B. Wood, Irving H. Page.
The Chicopee Savings bank was organized in 1854. Jerome Wells was the first president, and served for twenty years, being succeeded by George D. Robinson in 1874, and by Emerson Gay- lord in 1878. With all of these Henry H. Harris served as treasurer. The bank has now in round numbers $1,100,000 in deposits, representing the accounts of 2,400 depositors, being an average of nearly $460 each. The officers are: President, John B. Wood : vice-presidents, Joseph A. Carter, Frederick B. Doten, Albert J. Jenks, George A. Edgerton; secretary, Luther White; treasurer, Russell L. Scott.
It was not until March 20, 1875, that the Chicopee Falls Savings bank was incorporated, on the petition of forty-one prominent citizens of that village. Josiah W. Osgood was chosen the first president, with George S. Taylor, Thomas C. Page and William J. Sawin as vice-presidents, Edgar T. Paige as secretary, and Andrew P. Chapin as treasurer. The bank now has de- posits of about $619,000. The present board of officers com- prises : President, George S. Taylor; vice-presidents, Thomas C. Page. William P. McFarland, Andrew Gale; clerk and treasurer, Henry J. Boyd.
While the early history of educational matters within the limits of the present city is very meager, it is evident that but little attention was given to the establishing of public schools until after the commencement of the nineteenth century, and even during the first quarter of that century the educational interests of the common people seem to have received but little consideration. In 1812 two school districts were laid out by the Springfield town authorities, and were designated as No. 3 and No. 5. The latter included the settlement of Skipmuck.
( 507 )
Dgiized by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
and there a school house was built about this time, twenty by thirty feet in size, having two small windows for lighting pur- poses, and a large stone fireplace for warming the room in winter. A board attached to the wall at an angle and faced by a rude bench on which the scholars sat served as desk for the older pupils, while the younger children sat on similar benches in the middle of the room, without the desk attachment.
With the construction of the large manufacturing plants came more practical measures for schooling, whose importance was fully realized by the manufacturers. In fact, we find some
Old High School-Chicopee Falls
of the noted men of the community of later years giving thei: services as teachers during the early portion of the manufactur- ing development. Among the men who thus served appear the names of John W. Belcher, Ezekiel Adams, Bildad B. Belcher. Elihu Adams, Samuel Alvord, and a little later George D. Rob- inson. In the fall of 1845 the Boston and Springfield Manuf&e- turing company build a brick school house on Church street a: Chicopee Falls, which they presented to the district. It was originally of one story, but another was added a little later. giving a seating capacity of 150. This was near the site now
( 508 )
Din .ceo by Google
-
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
occupied by the Church street grammar school, originally erected twenty years later. A little later a school house was built on the north side of the river at the Falls for the use of the children of district No. 3, which was torn down and replaced by a brick building in 1846. This in turn gave place to the commodious building now in use in that portion of the city. The first building at Cabotville, or Chicopee Center, was erected about the same time as that at Skipmuck, and was of a similar
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.