Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 59

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 59

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).

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THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

chant, and Joseph Butler was a master mariner of the same place, and both had married sisters of Richard and Jefferson Borden; Holder Bor- den was the son of Mrs. Bradford Durfee by her first husband; thus all the stockholders, after the purchase of the Wilkinson interest, were related to each other by blood or marriage. At the annual meeting in August, 1829, the officers were re-elected and Jefferson Borden was appointed agent at Providence. In the summer of 1831 a stone store, 50 by 40 feet, was built "between the Annawan blacksmith shop and the wooden building owned by the Iron Works Company." At the same time was begun the construction of the dam which became that of the American Print Works. There was already at this point a small pond, largely of tide water, but also fed by springs and by a small brook; this was enlarged by the erection of the dam and the supply of water increased by digging a canal from the Quequechan River, below the Annawan mill, so that a considerable portion of the water of that river now reaches Mount Hope Bay over the dam or through the flume of the print works.

Soon after the commencement of business by the company, wharves were built, and in 1827 the steamer Hancock was purchased and a steamboat route established between Fall River and Providence. In 1832 the Hancock was superseded by the King Philip. In 1845 the Bradford Durfee was built and a few years later the Metacomet, which was followed by the Canonicus, and in 1874 by the Richard Borden. In 1833 the corporation built the marine railway, which was the first of the kind on Mount Hope Bay and Taunton River.

The American Print Works had their inception in the spring of 1833, the principal promoter being Holder Borden, who was then operating with success the print works at Globe village. At a meeting held August 6, 1833, it was voted "to erect a building at the new dam near the High Hill, suitable to print calicoes." August 13, 1834, it was voted "that the Agent be authorized to buy or build such machinery as may be necessary for printing calicoes, etc." The works were ready for operation in the fall of 1834. No capital other than that furnished by this corporatian (the Iron Works Company) was put into the print works until 1876. The owners in the Fall River Iron Works Company received their proportional interest in the Print Works, which was managed as a copartnership until 1857, when that corporation was established and the Iron Works corporation conveyed to it the land, buildings, etc., which were owned by the American Print Works, and

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

for which, up to the year of its incorporation, it paid rent to the Fall River Iron Works Company.

In 1835 a building was erected for nail making, about 80 by 40 feet, and equipped with machinery for the business; this was an addition to the old nail mill of 1821, and was operated until 1844, when the rolling and nail mills were removed to the site they afterward occupied. In 1839 the agent was authorized to build a rolling mill,1 a furnace and machine shop, and equip them with necessary power, etc. On Septem- ber 2, 1841, he was authorized to build "a new Madder Dye House, Boiler House, and Dry House for the Print Works." On May 8, 1844, the agent was authorized "to build a fire proof building 60 by 40, and two stories, and to fit up a counting-room, for use of this company and the Print Works." The height of this building was soon changed to three stories.

In 1844 it was decided to remove the old rolling mill and nail factory and erect a stone building from 170 to 200 feet by about 70 feet, for the establishment of a cotton factory; this was the inception of the Meta- comet Mill. Major Durfee had seen pillars and girders of iron used in the erection of similar structures in England and was thereby led to propose their introduction in the new mill. The death of Major Dur- fee delayed the completion of this mill for about a year; by a vote of the company it received the name, Metacomet, August 5, 1846. To enable the company to operate the new mill it was voted, January 6, 1845, "to petition the General Court to amend the charter of the com- pany so as to enable it to hold real estate to the amount of $500,000, and personal estate to the same amount to manufacture cotton yarn and cloth and to print cotton cloth." The petition was granted January 20, 1845.

In 1846 the boiler shop was erected and the repair and manufacture of boilers was added to the interests of the Fall River Iron Works cor- poration. In the same year the gas works was built and the city sup- plied with gas by this corporation In beginning the manufacture of gas the company was two or three years in advance of the city of Prov- idence and several years ahead of the erection of gas works in New Bed- ford. In 1846 the large brick edifice in Providence owned by this com - pany was built ; at that time there were only two or three buildings in that city that exceeded it in size and cost of construction. In 1849 the cor- poration took in its corporate capacity $16,000 of the capital stock of

1 This was burned in June, 1843, and at once rebuilt.

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THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

the Bay State Steamboat Company, which was subsequently, together with the interest which this corporation had in the Fall River Man- ufactory and the Troy Cotton and Woolen Company, divided pro rata among the stockholders. The brick structure known as the Meta- comet Bank building was erected by this company and subsequently sold to the American Print Works. In 1856 the department for the re- pair and manufacture of machinery was added. Up to the year 1857 the number of shares was thirty-two; in that year the stockholders voted to call the capital stock $960,000 and to increase the number of shares to 960 at the par value of $1,000 each.

The first cash dividend declared by this corporation was in 1850. Between that year and 1880, in addition to the stock dividends in the Fall River Manufactory, the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory (in which two corporations the Fall River Iron Works was a large owner), the American Print Works, and the Bay State Steamboat Company, it paid to its stockholders the sum of $3,073,600 in cash. This vast amount of property and money was the accretion of the $14, - 000 originally invested. When the change was made in the number of shares in the corporation (August, 1857), a schedule of the property showed a valuation of $1,200,206.67. Besides its ownership of the en- tire Metacomet Mill, it owned seventy-six and one-half shares of the hundred in the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory, and twenty-nine and two-thirds shares of the fifty in the Fall River Manufactory.

On August 6, 1872, in view of the age of the treasurer, Col. Richard Borden, an assistant treasurer was elected in the person of Philip D. Borden. On August 4, 1874, Philip D. Borden was elected treasurer, in place of Col. Richard Borden, who died July 25, 1874. Philip D. Borden held the office one year and was succeeded by Robert C. Brown. The present officers of the corporation are as follows: President, M. C. D. Borden; treasurer, William J. Harley; agent, James B. Harley; superintendent, Samuel E. Hathaway; directors, M. C. D. Borden, B. H. Borden, John R. Van Wormer.

In 1880 a committee was appointed to which was referred the matter of the division of the property of the Fall River Iron Works Company and the formation of new corporations. From the closing paragraphs of that report the following is condensed :

Our interests are large and varied. The competition in all kinds of business is now sharp, and in order to be successful, great and increasing care and watchfulness are absolutely demanded in every department; and in order to meet the demands

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

now made upon us, your committee are of the opinion that it is for the best interests of the stockholders, that the several departments should be constituted as distinct corporations, and for this purpose recommend that new corporations be formed as follows:

Metacomet Mills, capital $288,000; Fall River Machine Company, capital $96,000; Fall River Gas Works, capital $288,000; Fall River Steamboat Company, capital $192,000.

After describing in detail the character of the property of these com- panies, the report continued:

And your committee further recommend that when the aforesaid corporations are duly formed, the Fall River Iron Works in its corporate capacity become seized and possessed of the stock in the said corporations, and that the same be divided out to the stockholders of record at the date when the same shall be consummated as fol- lows:

To each share of stock in the Fall River Iron Works Company-three shares of stock in the Fall River Gas Works, three shares of stock in the Metacomet Mills, one share of stock in the Fall River Machine Company, and two shares of stock in the Fall River Steamboat Company.

And your committee further recommend, that when said corporations are organ- ized, as aforesaid, the capital stock of the Fall River Iron Works Company be re- duced from $960,000 to $192,000, and the shares from the par value of $1,000 to $100, and that to each share of the present stock there be allotted two shares of the new stock of the par value of $100 each.

If the recommendations of your committee are accepted and the properties divided in accordance with this report, there will be left to the Fall River Iron Works Com- pany the following properties: 776.80 rods of land west of the American Print Works, with all the buildings and machinery thereon; 88.850 feet of wharves; 70.52 rods of land on Annawan street, with the building thereon which is now used as the office of the company; 15 rods of land and buildings thereon on Spring street; stock on hand, stock in process, etc.1

This report was signed by John S. Brayton for the committee.

In the year 1886 Matthew C. D. Borden became sole owner of the American Print Works and so continues to the present time. At that time he determined to render himself independent of the print cloth manufacturers. In the year just named he purchased a controlling in- terest in the Iron Works Company and secured adjoining lands. The situation of the buildings of these two great corporations near the water front was convenient for landing coal, cotton, and other materials used for manufacturing print cloths, at the deep water docks of his own property. To carry out his purposes, Mr. Borden, in 1889, erected No. 1 print cloth mill, 380 by 129 feet, four stories high; in 1893 he

1 This account of the Iron Works properties is prepared from a paper furnished by John S. Brayton.

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THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

built No. 2 mill, 375 by 120 feet, three stories high; in 1893 he erected No. 3 mill, 309 by 140 feet, four stories high, and in 1894, No. 4 mill was built, 372 by 165 feet, four stories high. These mills combined have 840, 000 square feet of floor surface; they are equipped with four triple expansion engines of 9,000 horse power, and forty-five horizontal tubular boilers. The chimney of the plant is 350 feet high and thirty feet in diameter at the base. The combined mills have 265,000 spin- dles, 7, 700 looms, and 377 cards. The weekly product is 53,000 pieces of cloth from 1,000 bales of coton. The quantity of coal consumed weekly is 400 tons, and there are 2, 700 employees.

Returning to the earlier history of the Print Works it must be noted that in 1867 a part of the original building was removed and the erec- tion of a new granite structure begun. On the 25th of December of that year fire destroyed the nearly finished new structure and about half of the old plant. The total loss on buildings and contents of the main plant was estimated at about $1,000,000; there was no insurance. In a year and four months from the date of the fire a new granite structure was finished, the main part of which was sixty feet deep with a frontage of 406 feet, five stories high. The lower floor then accommodated twenty printing machines with a capacity of 80,000,000 yards annually. This main building was flanked by four ells, 310 feet by 80, and 173 by 41, 68 by 40, and 195 by 57 feet respectively. Besides these there were erected two boiler houses, an engine house, a dye house, carpenter shop, chemical shop, etc. In 1876 two substantial brick buildings were erected opposite the main plant, which are connected with the main buildings by a tunnel under the street ; one of these is used for packing and the other for offices. In 1886 Matthew C. D. Borden, by purchase from Thomas J. Borden, as before stated, became sole owner of these works. Under his management since that date the vast business has been remarkably successful. The reorganized corporation was given its present title, The American Print Works. The motive power of the works consists of twenty-one boilers of 2,340 gross horse power; a horizontal engine of 600 horse power, and a beam engine of 300 horse power. The bleaching capacity is 275 tons of cloth weekly, and the weekly production is 75,000 pieces. About 750 hands are employed.

The Fall River Manufactory corporation was organized in March, 1813, with a capital of $30,000, the promoters being David Anthony, Dexter Wheeler and Abraham Bowen. A mill, 60 by 40 feet, three stories, was erected on the bank of the river from which the city takes 71

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

its name. The lower story of the mill was of stone, with wood above. The structure was completed and the machinery, made by Dexter Wheeler, was in operation in October, 1813. Here was inaugurated substantially the first spinning by machinery in what was then Fall River. At first raw cotton was given to the families of surrounding farmers to be hand-picked, and the same course was followed with the yarn to be woven into cloth. A Blair picking machine, the first one used in the place and one of the first imported, was secured in 1814, and power weaving was begun in 1817. Sarah Winters started the first loom, Mary Healy the second, and Hannah Cook the third. The looms, which were the invention of Dexter Wheeler, did their work imper- fectly and the dressing was so poor that large quantities of yarn mil- dewed and rotted on the beams. The number of spindles in this mill was 1,500, with thirty looms; the number of operatives in 1819 was thirty-five. For the accommodation of these and for the agent, the company built a number of tenements at a cost of $1,500 each. In 1820 the company was incorporated with a capital of $150,000. The plant was enlarged in 1827 by the addition of a small brick mill, three stories high, which was known as the Nankeen Mill, and was operated by Azariah and Jarvis Shove in making nankeen cloth. The first structure was called " the old yellow mill," and both were demolished in 1839 to make room for the so-called "white mill," erected in that year. In 1868 this latter mill was burned and in the following year was super- seded by a granite structure 275 by 74 feet, five stories high. It was built directly across the stream and utilized the water fall by two tur- bine wheels of 140 horse power each. These were subsequently sup- plemented by a Corliss engine of 300 horse power. The number of spindles was 25,992, and of looms 600, producing annually 7,000,000 yards of print cloths from 3,000 bales of cotton. The company at that time owned thirty-eight tenement houses. In 1891 the mill was ex- tended fifty-seven feet, increasing its capacity to 37,280 spindles and 1,028 looms, the motive power aggregating 1,150 horse power; 374 operatives were employed, and 14,000,000 yards of print cloth were turned out annually, from 5,000 bales of cotton. The capital of the in- corporation is now $180,000. Dexter Wheeler was president of the company 1813-24; William Mason, 1824-32; Jason H. Archer, 1832- 33; William H. Mason, 1833-59; Richard Borden, 1859-62; David Anthony, 1862-63; Richard Borden, 1863-66; Dr. Nathan Durfee, 1866-74. John S. Brayton has been president since 1874. The treas-

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THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

urers have been David Anthony, Holder Borden, Bradford Durfee, S. A. Chace, Andrew Borden, and Horace W. Tinkham. Superinten- dent, B. H. Roberts. Directors, John S. Brayton, John S. Brayton, jr., Edward L. Anthony, Andrew Borden, H. W. Tinkham.

The Troy Manufacturing Company (now Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory) was organized in March, 1813, the prominent promoters being Oliver Chace, Nathaniel Wheeler and Eber Slade. The capital stock was fixed at $50,000, which was divided into one hundred shares payable by installments. The subscribers were Amey Borden, Clark Chase, Oliver Chace, James Maxwell, Jonathan Brown, William Slade, N. H. Wheaton, Oliver Earl, Eber Slade, Joseph G. Luther, Sheffield Weaver, John Stackford for Charles Wheaton and self, Nathaniel Wheeler, James Driscoll, Benjamin Slade, Moses Buffinton, Nathan Slade, Daniel Buffinton, Hezekiah Wilson, Benjamin E Bennett, Joseph Buffinton, Wealthy Durfee, William Read, Robinson Buffinton, John Martin and Benjamin Buffinton. In this list will be recognized many names of well known pioneers in the village. At the first annual meet- of the stockholders, June 7, 1813, James Maxwell, Sheffield Weaver, Nathaniel Weaver, Benjamin Slade and Jonathan Brown were chosen a " standing committee " for the ensuing year. A charter was obtained, dated February 22, 1814, and on July 25 of that year it was voted to change the name of the company to the Troy Cotton and Woolen Man- ufactory; the capital stock was a few days earlier increased to $66,000. The building of a mill was finished in September, 1813, which began operation in March, 1814. It was situated on the Quequechan River, was of stone, 108 by 37 feet, four stories and surmounted by a low hip roof ; its capacity was 2,000 spindles. Oliver Chace was the only mem- ber of the company who had practical knowledge of cotton spinning, and he was appointed agent, receiving an annual salary of about $1,000 and "house room" until he should build a home for himself. The treasurer was Eber Slade, and he received ten shillings ($1.663) per day. It is believed that power weaving was not begun in this mill before 1820. A market for the product was sought in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and especially in Maine. Harvey Chace, a son of the agent and afterwards proprietor of the Albion Mills at Valley Falls, R. I., was put in charge of a store at Hallowell "in the district of Maine," at a salary of $300 a year and his board. Goods were also sent to Georgia in exchange for cotton. The first dividend was de- clared in 1820. In October of the next year the mill was burned and

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

was rebuilt in 1823. In 1843 an addition of stone, 75 by 47 feet, three stories, was erected, and ten years later the new part was extended eighty feet and made two stories higher. In 1860 the original mill of 1823 was removed and the part known as the new mill was erected, 296 by 70 feet, five stories. In 1897 the plant was operating 44, 144 spindles and 932 looms, and producing annually 15,000,000 yards of print cloth from 5,500 bales of cotton. In 1862 the company was reorganized and the capital increased to $300,000, in six hundred shares of $500 each. The treasurers of this company in order of succession have been as fol- lows: Eber Slade to 1824; Harvey Chace, 1824-43; Stephen Davol, 1843-60; Thomas J. Borden, 1860-76; Richard B. Borden, 1876 to date. No president was elected under the original corporation. Since 1862 the following persons have been president: Col. Richard Borden, Jef- ferson Borden, John S. Brayton. Superintendent, William E. Sharples. Directors, John S. Brayton, B. D. Davol, Thomas J. Borden, John S. Brayton, jr., Richard B. Borden. This company now has a capital of $300,000; operates 21,744 mule and 22,400 frame spindles, and a total of 1,004 looms.

Very much of the early history of the Pocasset Manufacturing Com- pany has already been given in a preceding chapter. Its progressive and active enterprise was a powerful stimulant to the cotton manufac- turing business in Fall River in early years. It will be remembered that it was incorporated in 1822 with eight original stockholders as follows: Samuel Rodman, Abraham Bowen, Oliver Chace, Clark Chase, William Slade, N. B. Borden, Nathaniel Wheeler and Edward Bennett. The original capital was $400,000, which was increased in 1849 to $800,000; the present capital is $600,000. The Quequechan Mill was built by this company and began operation in 1826. The Pocasset Mill began operation in 1847. It is a stone structure, 208 by 75 feet, five stories high; this was the first of the so called wide mills. It orig- inally contained about 20,000 spindles, the motive power being steam and water. At the present time the mills of the corporation contain 77,220 spindles and 1,951 looms, turning out annually 25,000,000 yards of cloth from 10,000 bales of cotton. The number of employees is 720. Thomas E. Brayton has been president of the corporation since 1891; W. Frank Shove is clerk and treasurer. The directors are Samuel W. Rodman, B. R. Weld, of Boston; Joseph F. Knowles, Thomas S. Hath- away, of New Bedford; B. D. Davol, Thomas E. Brayton and Edward L. Anthony. Superintendent, Daniel Gilligan.

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THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

The Annawan Manufactory was incorporated February 8, 1825, with a capital of $150,000. This enterprise has been already alluded to in the account of the Fall River Iron Works, which sold the water privi- lege to the Annawan corporation. The mill was erected under super- vision of Major Bradford Durfee, who was chosen the first agent. The thirteen original stockholders were Abraham and Isaac Wilkinson, Bradford Durfee, William Valentine, Joseph Butler, Richard Borden, Holder Borden, Benjamin Rodman, Francis Rotch, William B. Rotch, Thomas Swain, William Swain and Charles W. Morgan. After the division of the interests of the Fall River Iron Works Company, in 1880, this corporation became a separate industry. The original cap. ital has been increased to $160,000 and the number of spindles to 10,064, and of looms to 232. President, John S. Brayton; treasurer, W. Frank Shove; directors, John S. Brayton, Richard B. Borden, Holder B. Dur. fee, John S. Brayton, jr., W. Frank Shove. Superintendent, Thomas F. Connors.

Conanicut Mills .- In 1840 Oliver Chace, son of the pioneer of the same name, built a mill in what was then Tiverton, just over the line of Fall River, in the territory since absorbed in the city of Fall River. The mill was situated on the outlet of Cook Pond (Laurel Lake). It is of stone, 193 by 45 feet, four stories. Mr. Chace operated it as a thread mill about twenty five years and in 1866 it passed to possession of the American Print Works. A stone addition, 108 by 50 feet, four stories, was erected and the plant equipped for the manufacture of print cloth. In 1880 the property was purchased by Crawford E. Lindsey and others, and a company was formed with the above title, and incorporated in February of that year, with capital stock of $80,000; this was increased in 1882 to $120,000. The new organization added a weave shed, 88 by 48 feet, one story, and raised the engine house ell two stories for the further accommodation of carding and spinning machinery. The capacity was at first about 9,000 spindles and 190 looms, and the num- ber of hands employed about 100. By the additions mentioned and subsequent improvements the number of spindles has been increased to 16,388 and of looms to 370; operatives to 160. The annual product is 2,500,000 yards of cloth from 1,500 bales of cotton. An electric plant, one of the first in the city, was added in 1880. The first board of direc- tors, elected February 9, 1880, was as follows: Edmund W. Converse, of Newton, Mass., Charles L. Thayer, of Boston, and William Lindsey, James S. Anthony, Elijah C. Kilburn and Crawford E. Lindsey, of

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Fall River. Mr. Converse was elected president, and Crawford E. Lindsey, treasurer. Mr. Converse died January 6, 1894, and was suc- ceeded by his son, Edmund W. Converse. The original stockholders numbered fourteen and are now twenty-three. Present directors, E. W. Converse, C. E. Lindsey, J. H. Chace, C. E. Barney, C. A. Brown. Superintendent, George F. Tryon.

The Metacomet Mill was erected by the Fall River Iron Works Com - pany in 1847, below the lower fall. It is of stone, 247 by 70 feet, five stories high, with basement. It was designed and equipped for the manufacture of print cloths. It contained 23,840 spindles and 591 looms, carried by a single Corliss engine of 375 horse power. The company built also fifty-six tenements. When the great changes took place in the property of the Iron Works Company in 1880, as before described, this corporation was organized as a separate industry. Its capacity has since been increased to 29,712 spindles, and it now has 716 looms. John S. Brayton has been president of the corporation since 1880. W. Frank Shove is the present clerk and treasurer, and the directors are John S. Brayton, R. B. Borden, Robert C. Brown, Clark Shove, John S. Brayton, jr., W. Frank Shove. Superintendent, Thomas F. Connors. About 9,000,000 yards of cloth are made annually from 3,500 bales of cotton.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 59

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