Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 17

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 17

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Prominent among the early enterprising business men of this town was Solomon Pratt, who opened a general store in the village, the first in the place. He also engaged largely in the iron business, mining the metal and delivering it to various persons who took it to their homes and worked it into hand-made nails, which were returned to him. He also bought of the makers large quantities of straw braid for hats and bonnets, which were woven by women for a distance of thirty miles around. In one year the braid purchased by him made fifteen thou- sand bonnets. In 1811 was built what was called the Middle Factory by a corporation, of which Mr. Pratt was a member, for the manufac- ture of woolen cloths. This property was later sold to Mr. Pratt who operated it with his sons, Charles and Harrison. In 1830 the factory was burned without insurance; but Mr. Pratt courageously rebuilt the mill, filling it with machinery made in Taunton, and in the first year after made sufficient money to pay for the whole. Mr. Pratt was also partner with Elkanah Bates in operating the factory which was known as the knife shop. In 1857 an association was formed for the man- ufacture of jewelry, then the leading industry of the neighboring town of Attleborough. A building was erected in the village, and soon afterward leased to a firm from Attleborough who occupied it and did a successful business several years. The property was finally sold to Merritt Brothers, manufacturers of Attleborough, who were very suc- cessful in the making of tortoise shell jewelry. Mr. Merritt subse- quently withdrew and formed a partnership with John Shepardson for the manufacture of solid and plated jewelry, which business was later moved to Attleborough. Mr. Draper then took as partner D. S. Spaulding, for making shell jewelry, and the business was finally car- ried on by Mr. Spaulding alone.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

In 1842 Robert McMoran and Robert Fulton began the manufacture of shoe knives and awls on Water street and built up a large business; the firm dissolved in 1862 and Mr. Fulton continued alone. Mr. Mc- Moran formed a partnership with George A Robinson and William N. McMoran and carried on the same business at West Mansfield. Mr. McMoran soon after died and the business was continued by the firm of George A. Robinson & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Fulton, in 1865, the works were operated three years by his executor, when Matthew George, who had married Mrs. Fulton, succeeded to the business. Later industries are noticed further on.

In the town of Somerset, adjoining Dighton, several churches have been organized since the close of the war of 1812-15. The first regular Methodist services in Somerset village were held in 1841 in a sail loft on Burgess's wharf, by Bryan Morse, a local preacher. A protracted meeting followed, resulting in a revival, and a society was organized and a meeting-house built in 1842. Rev. Levi Daggett was the first minister appointed by the conference. In 1860 there was a disruption in the church and twenty-one families withdrew to organize the Con- gregational Church.

The First Christian Church was organized in 1841, and is still in ex- istence. The First Congregational Church was formed of the twenty- one families that withdrew from the Methodist society in 1860, as before stated, and meetings were held for a time in Central Hall. A Congre- gational minister was invited and preached about a year before the formal organization of the society took place in 1861. A council was held and twenty-two members presented themselves to form the society. The hall was used for services until 1865, when a church was completed and dedicated. Among the early pastors were Revs. N. Richardson, Nelson Clark, L. S. Coan, E. J. Geddings, J. C. Halliday, and others. St. Patrick's Catholic church in this town was erected in 1875.

The business interests of Somerset were not very important until after the middle of the present century, if we except the manufacture of pottery ware. At Pottersville this industry was established many years ago by the Chase family and has ever since been continued. The Somerset Pottery Company was incorporated in 1847 with a capital of $25,000; in 1882 there was a change in the corporation and the capital was increased to $30,000 and a large product was turned out. The capital was subsequently doubled, the business greatly extended, and stove linings, fire brick, etc., added to the product. In 1891 the plant

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FROM 1815 TO 1860.

passed to the control of the Somerset and Johnsonburg Manufac- turing Company and the manufacture of enameled brick was made an important part of the business. In August, 1897, the name of the corporation was changed to the Somerset Enameled Brick Com- pany. W. H. Sanford has been at the head of the business for many years. Meanwhile, in 1893, the firm of Synan Bros., who had been connected with the above described works, began the manufacture of stoneware and in 1896 built their present pottery at Pottersville.

Previous to 1850 a considerable business was done in Somerset in oysters and it has continued to some extent to the present time. About 1850 James Hood began a large ship-building business, but in 1854 a large vessel on the stocks was burned, probably by an incendiary, and the work was given up. In 1853 a company was formed for the manu. facture of ship anchors and other large forgings; its title was the Som- erset Iron Works Company and William S. Sampson was agent and treasurer. Buildings were erected and the plant fully established, but after two years of unprofitable business it was abandoned. Nails are manufactured there at the present time. In 1855 Albert Field and Job M. Leonard purchased the property and fitted it up for the making of nails and as a rolling mill, under the title of the Mount Hope Iron Company. A successful business was conducted until 1866, when most of the buildings were burned. The company at once erected larger and more convenient structures and within a year the new mill was running. In 1871 the property was sold to persons in the interest of the Parker Mills, at Wareham, and it was operated about eight years with O. W. Washburn, agent and treasurer. The later depresssion in the iron business caused a suspension of work in 1878, and in 1881 the plant of the Old Colony Iron Company, of Taunton, was purchased, the machinery of the Mount Hope Company was removed to the works of the Old Colony Co., where the business continues, with J. M. Leon- ard, treasurer. About two hundred and fifty hands are employed in making nails and iron plates.

About the year 1854 the Boston Stove Foundry was established; it was not successful financially until about 1867, when it was taken in hand by the Somerset Co-operative Foundry Company, composed mainly of practical workmen, and given new life. This company was succeeded by the Somerset Stove Foundry Company and a large business was built up and continued until early in 1897, when the plant was burned; it was at once rebuilt and the business continued.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Churches organized in Attleborough during the period under con- sideration in this chapter were as follows: The First Universalist, August 17, 1816, incorporated in the following year. The first minis- ter was Rev. Richard Carrique. A meeting-house was built in 1818 on the old post road near the First Congregational church. About 1835 some of the members began holding services at North Attle- borough and they subsequently purchased a lot and built a meeting- house there in 1841, on the site still occupied by the society. The old building at West Attleborough was sold when the society became re- duced in numbers and it was removed by the Methodists to North Attleborough; later on it was burned. In 1881-2 a beautiful new edifice was erected by the society at a cost of $30,000.

The Hebronville Church was gathered by Rev. Thomas Williams after his dismission from the Baptist Church in the West Parish in 1827. A small meeting-house was built on the line between Attle- borough and Seekonk. The Free Evangelical Church at North Attle- borough was organized in April, 1858. The existing church edifice was built in 1874. St. Mary's Catholic Church was formed at Attle- borough Falls in 1850, but later was removed to North Attleborough; where a more commodious house of worship was built and but recently completed.1

The villages in the town of Attleborogh are known all over.the United States as a great jewelry manufacturing center. There were, however, in early years, a few other industries of importance. Jewelry manufac- ture began in a small way before the close of the Revolution, but the business did not reach great proportions until about the middle of the

1 For better convenience of the reader a number of the churches of Attleborough may be disposed of here. The first services in the Episcopal faith in this town were held at North Attle- borough in 1858. On March 30, 1859, the Grace Church parish was organized and services con- tinued by various ministers in both the North and East villages. The corner stone of the present church was laid June 14, 1872, the rectory being built in the following year. The Hebronville Methodist Church was organized in April, 1875, in Hebron Hall, where services were held until their edifice was finished in 1883. Its cost was $12,000. An African Methodist Church was formed in 1871 and a small church building was erected; this burned and the present one succeeded. Attempts made at various times to form a Congregational Church at Attleborough Falls finally resulted in the organization of the Central Congregational in March, 1874, under the ministry of Rev. George H. Tilton. Simultaneously steps were taken which resulted in the erection of the present edifice. The organization of the Murray Universalist Parish took place in 1875, under ministration of Rev. Franklin C. Flint. The present church edifice was built in 1884-5. The Centenary Methodist Church was organized March 10, 1866, and the first meeting-house was built in the same year on the site of the present one. This building was burned December 23, 1883, and the present edifice was erected immediately after. St. John's Catholic Church was organized in 1883 and the house of worship was begun in the winter of the same year, and was dedicated in 1885.

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FROM 1815 TO 1860.

century. Edward Price came from England and was manufacturing buttons about the beginning of the century, first at Attleborough and later at North Attleborough. Engaging in cotton manufacture in 1811 he was unsuccessful, and was then employed by Col. Obed Robinson and Otis Robinson, who began making buttons in 1812. Firms after- wards engaged in this business were Richard Robinson & Co., making glass buttons, Robinson, Jones & Co., who in 1826 began making gilt buttons; in 1827 they built a factory at Robinsonville and brought their product to high excellence. This business is now carried on by D. Evans & Co., making fine goods, principally uniform buttons.

Cotton goods were made in Attleborough as early as 1809, probably, when Chester Bugbee, John Richardson, George Blackinton, David Shepard, Ebenezer Draper, Lemuel May and Samuel Lifft transformed the old Beaver Dam factory into a cotton mill with twenty looms and five hundred spindles. The financial stringency of 1817 checked the business and the factory soon passed to Lemuel May and Daniel Cobb, who continued its operation to 1828 and were succeeded by Capt. Bug- bee and William Haven; their factory was burned in 1833. The Falls factory, so called, was built and began operation in 1809 by the Falls Manufacturing Company; it was burned in 1811, but was at once re- built and a business begun that employed forty hands. The factory was enlarged in 1831 by the erection of a large stone structure, and con- nected with it was a grist mill, machine shop, saw mill, etc. At that time the business was in the hands of Jonathan and George Bliss. The electric light and power station now occupies the site of these works.

The Mechanics' Factory was erected in 1811, just below the Farmers' factory, the first firm operating it being Ingraham, Richardson & Co., who were followed by Whitaker, Richardson & Co .; it then went to the Mechanics' Manufacturing Co., and later to Samuel and Jesse Car- penter. Under their management forty looms and ten hundred and thirty-six spindles were operated. In 1854 Lewis S. Foster and John K. H. Nightingale (Foster & Nightingale) purchased the property, made extensive additions and long carried on a successful business. The building was subsequently burned, and having been rebuilt came into the hands of Watson & Newell, jewelry manufacturers, who are still in business.

The Farmers' Factory was established in 1813 by the Farmers' Man- ufacturing Co. In 1834 it was successfully operated by Jonathan and George Bliss. The so called City Factory, South Attleborough, was

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

built in 1813, burned in 1826, and was immediately rebuilt. It con- tained twenty looms and seven hundred spindles, and was operated by Daniel Reed & Co. About coincident with the establishment of these mills Ebenezer Tyler operated the Dodgeville Cotton Factory in Attle- . borough, and about 1815 sold an interest to Nehemiah Dodge, whose son, John C. Dodge, was made superintendent. In 1840 the son bought out the father and continued alone, enlarged the mill, and in 1854 it was sold at auction to B. B. and R. Knight. In 1870 Stephen A. Knight was admitted and the establishment was incorporated as the Hebron Manufacturing Company, with mills at both Dodgeville and Hebron- ville; the first of these was long known as the Atherton Factory, which was established on the Ten- Mile River in 1812, at what was known as Chaffee's Mills, where was an early saw and grist mill. There the Atherton Manufacturing Company, under lead of Thomas Harkness and Thomas J. Stead (Harkness & Stead), of Providence, operated forty-two looms. The Lanesville Mill (present Adamsdale factory) was built in 1826 on Abbott's Run, for the manufacture of print cloths ; it was burned in 1880 and rebuilt. It is now operated as a yarn mill by John Adams.

Handel N. Daggett was the first to successfully manufacture braid in this country. In 1848 he was engaged in Attleborough in making shoe lacings and candle wicking. Later he braided covering for hoop skirts. Up to 1861 good braid had not been made in this country, the goods being imported. The war created a demand for domestic braid and Mr. Daggett began its production, first at Attleborough, then at Farmers' and after 1865 at Attleborough Falls. He was associated with John C. Morse until 1869, when an interest was taken by Austin Dun- ham, of Hartford, and George S. Moulton, of New York. From 1873 to 1879 he was alone, at which date the Gold Medal Braid Company was formed, and the business is still successfully continued, with M. I. Furbush superintendent.

Col. William Blackinton began the manufacture of power-loom shut- tles at Attleborough in 1827 and continued it until his death; in 1842 the firm became Wm. Blackinton & Sons. The business is still carried on in a small way.

Manning Richards began the manufacture of jewelry about 1810 on the Cumberland road, but soon removed to North Attleborough, where he continued the business with pronounced success. He was father of H. M. Richards. In 1821 the firm of Draper, Tifft & Co. (Josiah Draper,

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FROM 1815 TO 1860.

John Tifft, Ira Richards) began this business. Everett, Dean & Co. (A. M. Everett, G. A. Dean, R. Bliss, S. L. Morse, E. S. Capron) be- gan jewelry manufacture in 1856. Their shop was burned in 1858. Mr. Morse and Mr. Capron sold out in 1858 and B. B. Day came into the firm in 1859, the style changing to Everett, Day & Co .; the firm subsequently became Day, Bliss & Dean, and later G. A. Dean & Co., who are still in business. Later jewelry manufacturers are noticed in the next chapter.

In early years nail making was carried on extensively in this town, John Richardson, John Fuller and William Blackinton being interested in the business. Roger Farnum had a distillery about the beginning of the century on the south side of Elm street; the building was blown down in the gale of 1815. About opposite on the north side of the street was an early tannery. Near by on the east side of the river David Whiting turned hubs.

H. F. Barrows began jewelry manufacture in 1853 at Attleborough Falls, and became the senior member of the successful firm of H. F. Barrows & Co. This firm name still continues. F. G. Whitney and E. W. Davenport began in 1849 and in 1852 built a shop. Mr. Whit- ney built a large brick factory on Chestnut street in 1876, which was burned in 1882 and immediately rebuilt; he was succeeded by his sons in 1886, but subsequently went out of business.

In 1830 Richards & Price began jewelry manufacture, but continued only a few years. Dennis Everett and Otis Stanley were manufactur- ing in 1831 at South Attleborough, but removed to the north village. Harvey M. and Edmund Ira Richards began in 1833 under the style of H. M. & E. I. Richards; the next year the name changed to Ira Rich- ards & Co. by the admission of Ira Richards. There have been many changes in this firm, but mainly by the admission of new members of the Richards family. The business of the firm has always been among the most successful of Attleborough enterprises. The firm is now G. I. Richards & Co.

Stephen Richardson & Co. (Stephen Richardson and Abiel Codding) began jewelry manufacture, and in 1840 went into the factory of Calvin Richards. Mr. Codding left the firm in 1839; in 1848 Mr. Richardson built a shop, Samuel Miller having joined with him in the firm of Rich- ardson & Miller. Miller withdrew in 1856, and in 1859 Clarence H. Richardson, son of Stephen took an interest. In 1870 the factory burned and was not rebuilt. W. H. Robinson began in 1837, and soon

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

took in S. L. Daggett under the style of Daggett & Robinson. Mr. Daggett retired and William Guild came in in 1840 and in 1850 the the style of Robinson & Co. was adopted. Charles E. Hayward was one of the pioneers in this business at East Attleborough, and in 1851 located at Attleborough where, with Archibald Thompson, S. M. Lewis and S. N. Carpenter, he formed the firm of Thomson, Hayward & Co. Later Mr. Thompson took the business and C. E. Hayward started another industry under the firm name of Hayward & Briggs. Benjamin S. and Joseph J. Freeman began in 1847 at the Falls. This business is still continued by B. S. Freeman & Co. J. F. Sturdy & Co. started soon after the Freeman Brothers, organizing first as Dra- per, Sturdy & Co. in 1849 (J. F. and J. H. Sturdy and Herbert M. Draper), and beginning at Robinsonville. They introduced the man- ufacture of rolled gold plated work into this town, which attained great success. The firm of White & Shaw, of South Attleborough, was or- ganized in 1852. H. D. Merritt and J. B. Draper formed the firm of Merritt & Draper in 1855, removed to Mansfield in 1870, and returned in 1872. In July, 1854, the firm of George K. Davis & Co. (C. E. W. Sherman), began on Ten-Mile River; the firm dissolved in a few years and Mr. Sherman built a shop on Elm street and in 1875 took in his son, William W. Sherman. The business of this firm was the collec- tion and purchase of waste and sweepings for refinement. It is con- tinued as Charles E. W. Sherman & Sons.

In September, 1857, in the midst of the great financial depression, the firm of Skinner, Viall & Co., of which J. M. Bates was a member, began jewelry making over Blackinton's shuttle shop. At the end of a year Mr. Bates sold out and formed the new firm of Bates, Capron & Williams and located in the Falls factory; two years later Bates sold out to William Sherman and the company removed to Mansfield, where business was soon abandoned. Mr. Bates continued in the business until 1867 with success, and then took in George M. Bacon. The firm was successful and subsequently introduced the manufacture of watch cases, filled and solid. This business continues under the style of Bates & Bacon, although Mr. Bates is out of the firm.

Charles H. and Albert W. Sturdy formed the firm of Sturdy Brothers in 1859 and for a number of years were very successful manufacturers of plated goods. The firm sold out January 1, 1885, and were suc- ceeded by Blake & Claflin (James E. Blake, Edward P. Claflin). The firm is now J. E. Blake & Co., Mr. Blake having purchased Claflin's

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FROM 1815 TO 1860.

interest in 1896. He built a new factory in 1898. V. H. Blackinton began making jet jewelry in 1857 and built up a successful industry; it is still conducted at the Falls by V. H. Blackinton & Co. The firm of Short, Nerney & Co., started in 1862, continued a large business in the manufacture of optical goods through several changes in the member- ship of the organization ; the firm is now the Bay State Optical Com- pany. Other prominent manufacturers of jewelry in this town in past years were Codding & Smith, started before the beginning of the Civil war; J. J. & J. M. Richards, started as E. S. Richards & Co., in 1864; J. W. Luther & Co., began as James W. and John W. Luther, brothers, in 1865 and are still making pearl goods; F. S. Draper & Co., started in 1865; A. Bushee & Co., began making cheap jewelry in 1868 and still continue; W. & S. Blackinton, founded a firm in 1869 and removed to Providence; Sadler Bros., started in 1863 at South Attleborough and recently erected a new building; Horton, Angell & Co., firm organized in 1870, became very successful in the manufacture of specialties which they controlled and are still in business; Young & Bennett, firm organ- ized in 1870, North Attleborough; the firm is now Young & Stern; E. Whitney & Co., at the Falls, started at the Falls; Stanley Bros., be . gan in 1871, now in business at North Attleborough; E. N. Cummings & Co., started 1871; Hayward & Witherell, began in 1873, and were succeeded by P. E. Witherell; the business is still in existence; R. F. Simmons & Co., began about 1873 and still continue; Bliss Brothers & Everett, began in 1873, succeeded by Bliss Brothers who are still in business; Watson, Newell & Co., successors of Cobb, Gould & Co., be- gan in 1874 and still conduct a large business; R. B. McDonald, started in 1874 and is still running; Joseph J. Doyle, 1875; John Etzensperger, 1876, in North Attleborough; Nerney & Lincoln, 1876, are now in business; S. E. Fisher & Co., 1887; G. K. Webster Co .; changed to G. K. Webster in 1883; Codding Brothers, 1878; Marsh & Bigney, be- gan in 1879; S. W. Gould & Co., 1880; J. M. Fisher & Co., 1879; L. E. Sadler, 1880; W. G. Clark & Co., 1881; D. F. Briggs, 1882; Daggett & Clap, 1882; H. H. Curtis & Co., 1883; Riley & French, 1883; F. S. Gilbert, bought tools, etc. of F. G. Pate & Co., and began in 1884; J. N. Hugo & Co., successors of Knight & Berry, 1885; Bennett & Halli- day, followed by T. J. Halliday & Co., first began in 1885; Wheaton & Richards, 1886; R. Blackinton & Co., started in 1863; E. I. Franklin & Co., began in 1874; Sandland, Capron & Co., started in 1876; Dem- arest & Brady, dates from 1877; Mason, Draper & Co., began in 1870;

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Smith & Crosby, in the east part, established 1872; W. H. Wilmarth & Co., East Attleborough, began in 1872, succeeded in 1894 by the W. H. Wilmarth & Co. corporation; Streeter Brothers, began 1867; Daniel H. Smith began in 1867 in company with S. M. Carpenter, S. M. Morse and Hartford H. Capron as D. H. Smith & Co. About two years later Mr. Smith became sole proprietor, who continued successfully to 1888; E. V. Jenney, successor of C. W. Chase & Co. ; J. N. Thomson & Co., and others.

Silver ware was successfully manufactured at North Attleborough a number of years, beginning in 1866 by William D. Whiting, who or- ganized the Whiting Manufacturing Company.

The Attleborough Bank was chartered in 1836, and in 1858 removed to North Attleborough, where it has since been a successful institution, of which Edward R. Price was cashier many years. The First National Bank of Attleborough was organized in 1875, with a capital of $100,000. J. M. Bates is president; Homer N. Daggett, cashier.

In 1810 Ephraim Raymond and his son-in law, Josiah Dean, of Rayn- ham, built a cotton factory in Norton which was operated by the Nor- ton Manufacturing Company. In 1721 Mr. Raymond bought the Dean interest and between that year and 1833 sold part of it to Samuel Crocker and Charles Richmond, amounting in all to seven-eighths of the whole. In October, 1833, Albert Bowen bought a quarter interest and in 1837 the Norton Manufacturing Company was incorporated. After the failure of Crocker & Raymond this property was sold at auction.

In February, 1844, the Wheaton Manufacturing Company was incor- porated by Albert Barrows, Samuel B. King, and Laban Wheaton; the business was sold in 1865 to the Newbury Manufacturing Company, who made cotton goods until 1871, when the property was sold to La- fayette Godfrey. He sold in 1875 to the Stafford Manufacturing Com- pany, of Fall River.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 17

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company Number of Pages: 1399

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399