USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 55
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In 1862 the increased business required a larger manufacturing capac- ity. To meet this demand they purchased the " Mason Property " and erected a building forty-two by one hundred and four feet, four stories high, adding at the same time an engine and boiler to furnish power and
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heat. This new factory was first occupied in January, 1864. By these improvements and with the addition of valuable room and machinery adapted to power, they made a radical change both in mode and facility of doing business. The firm early became convinced that machinery was eventually to be an important factor not only in cheapening the cost of manufactured goods, but also in enabling the manufacturer to produce a greater quantity in a given time, and they were foremost to introduce such machines as promised good work and quick results. The father lived to see the enterprise outgrow these accommodations and to plan for further enlargement of the factory. But while in the midst of these improvements he was taken sick with pneumonia, and died after an illness of seven days. Five days later his son, Lewis W., died also of the same disease.
Isaac Prouty was rated as a careful and shrewd business man. He gave to his entire business his individual attention, watching closely every detail, and scanning as closely the economy of the various depart- ments. He believed in the old maxim "economy is wealth," and his practice of it was one of the important distinguishing features of his life, as well as the corner-stone of the business which he planned with such care. His customs and habits were those of the New Englander of an earlier date, and although he clung tenaciously to the social and domes- tic habits formed in early life, in his business he was decidedly modern and progressive. He died at the age of seventy-three years, but re- mained vigorous and attentive to the demands of business up to the be- ginning of his last illness.
By the death of his father and brother Charles N. Prouty was sud- denly confronted by great business responsibilities. He had, however, been carefully trained for the work, and was well prepared successfully to carry it forward. During his boyhood he lived at home attending the public schools and working about home and in the factory. At the age of seventeen he was employed for a year as a clerk in the country store of Grout, Prouty & Co., and the experience he gained by the con- tact with people and matters pertaining to business he has always re- garded as a favorable one. From eighteen to twenty years of age he attended school at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. At the close of his last school year, 1862, he returned home, and in January, 1864, was made a partner in the firm of Isaac Pronty & Co. For four years previous to the death of his father and brother, which occurred early in 1872, he acted as superintendent of the labor department of the factory,
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employing the help and having the general charge of the manufactur- ing interests. The death of these two members of the firm following so closely upon each other, were events of extraordinary importance to the surviving partners, and how to meet the situation and overcome it was their first care and thought. It is true that each had ably filled a position in the prosecution of the business thus far, but to the knowl- edge of the markets for buying and selling, the financial management, and relationship between manufacturer and customer, they were stran- gers, as these duties had been exclusively under the attention of the father and older brother.
A new partnership, composed of George P., Charles N. and Jason W., a younger brother, was at once formed, retaining, however, the old firm name of Isaac Pronty & Co. Each entered upon his duties fill of confidence and hope. and each took a position in the manage- ment of the business where he thought he could best promote the in- terest of the firm. Many of the important details were assumed by George P. and Jason W., while, by common consent, the general man- agement fell to the lot of Charles N. Under the circumstances this was a difficult task for him to perform, but as time passed on, and he became more familiar with the new duties, he gave evidence by his management that he was abundantly able to assume the trust so sud- denly imposed upon him.
The business received a fresh impetus under the new order, and in a short time it became necessary to increase the facilities by additions and extensions, both in buildings and motive power. These have been made from time to time, until at present the building containing the boot and shoe departments measures 615 feet in length by 42 feet in width, and is six stories high. There are also two large brick storehouses for leather and other materials and for manufactured goods, and still another one, of brick, used for the manufacture of boot and shoe boxes, paper cartons, lasts, etc. The main building is divided into four fire- proof sections, and the whole establishment is provided with the latest improvements for protection against fire, by being thoroughly fitted with automatic sprinklers and two good supplies of water, also a one thousand gallon underwriters' steam fire pump, run by a quick steam- ing boiler of one hundred and fifty horse-power. These are required by the Mutual Insurance Company, who demand that the buildings shall be self-protecting from fire. The factory is lighted by incandes- cent electric lights, and the motive power for the whole establishment
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is supplied by a three hundred horse-power engine and four one hun- dred horse-power boilers. In 1822 the firm manufactured 20, 000 cases of boots, valtied at $500,000; in 1886 the combined value of the boots and shoes was more than $2,000,000; while in 1892 the product amounted to 125,000 cases, or 1,500, 000 pairs of boots and shoes, valued at $2, 250,000.
Mr. Prouty married, May 25, 1864, Jennie A., daughter of Selby Richardson, of Spencer. They have three sons and two daughters. The sons are being educated with the idea in view of aiding in main- taining this vast industry, which fully sustains the claim of being the largest and most complete boot and shoe industry in the world.
IV. H. WHITE.
AMONG the manufacturers of leather, William Henry White holds a unique place. His personal efforts in this important industry have been largely along original lines, and the success he has achieved has given him deserved prominence. He was born in Woburn, Mass., Oc- tober 26, 1829, and is a son of the late Col. Samuel B. White, of that town. His ancestry on both sides was of the pure New England type, and possessed in a marked degree the energy, courage and inflexible principles that characterized the earlier settlers of this country. His father was the first treasurer of the town of Winchester, and also took a prominent part in establishing a public library in that town. He was the first commander of the Woburn Mechanics' Phalanx, a military organization of prominence for the past sixty years. He was a man of strong character, and from him our subject inherited many of the traits which have made his life a success.
Mr. White was educated in the public schools and the Academy of Woburn. Upon leaving school, at the age of sixteen, he entered the employ of Joel Whitney, and served an apprenticeship of four years at the machinist trade. After thoroughly mastering his trade he secured a position in the locomotive shops of the Boston and Lowell Railroad at East Cambridge, and was soon after promoted to engineer, running an engine between Boston and Lowell. Later on he was made over- seer of the locomotive repair shops of the Western Division of the New York and Erie Railroad at Hornellsville, N. Y. At the age of twenty-
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two he was appointed to the responsible position of assistant master mechanic of the same road at Dunkirk, N. Y. While in this position he was indneed to return to Woburn (now Winchester) to engage in the manufacture of mahogany and other fancy woods, which was then a thriving and profitable business in that town. He accepted a part- nership in an established concern, and for three years did a profitable trade, at the end of which time his mill was destroyed by fire, entailing a heavy loss.
In 1855 Mr. White turned his attention to the work of tanning and manufacturing of leather. He built a tannery at Winchester, but had barely gotten his enterprise under successful way when the financial crisis of 1857 forced him to suspend operations. The following year he went to Montreal, Canada, where he planned and constructed large leather works for a Boston firm, and for some years served as principal manager of this enterprise. Preferring, however, to reside and edu- cate his family in New England, he gave up his position and returned to Lowell in 1863. He was at this period of his busy life still a young man, full of resources and with a valuable experience in the line in which he was later on to achieve such a high degree of success. For several years he had made the manufacture of glove leather a careful study, and upon his return to Lowell he embarked in this line of work, and speedily gained an enviable reputation for the quality of his pro- duction. He later on increased his business by manufacturing gloves from leather prepared by himself. Up to this time Mr. White had conducted the business alone, but in 1864 his brother became associated with him as partner, and later on a Mr. Kilburn joined the firm, which then became known as the White Bros. & Kilburn. The gloves manu- factured were of the highest quality, and coming into the market at a time when, in a measure, imported goods of this character had been cut off by the civil war, a large business was established. The quality of their product not only took the highest rank with the best New England trade, but was considered the best grade of goods manufac- tured in the country. After eight years of successful operation in manufacturing gloves this line of work was relinquished and the man- ufacture of fancy leather was undertaken, at which time the firm was reconstructed as White Brothers & Sons. This style continued until 1884, when the firm was again reorganized, this time under the name of White Brothers & Co., which included the senior partner and his three sons, Edward L., Henry Kirke, and William T. White. Edward
71
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L., the eldest son, had already been a partner in the old concern. He, as well as the other sons, has had practical experience in every part of the business, and all three not only understand every detail of the business, but are men of superior business qualifications and ably sup- plement their father in carrying on the business. The goods they manufacture are of extraordinary delicacy of finish, and are made in various grades and colors under a process known only to their house. They have introduced several specialties which originated with them- selves which have opened a wide field for the use of leather in direc- tions never before applied. They have established agencies in the leading centers of Europe, viz. : London, Northampton, Paris, Frank- fort, Vienna, and in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. At home their productions are in demand, not only for boots and shoes, but for pocket-books, piano and organ manufacturers, upholsterers, decorators, and are adapted to many of the art industries. This firm was the largest producers in this country of alligator and lizard skins at the time when these skins were popular, and among their latest novelties has been their ooze leather, produced in various colors and finish, much resembling silk plush or velvet. The success which has been attained with their various productions has been remarkable. It can, however, be easily accounted for. From the start only the best has been made, quality, not quantity, has been the motto of the house, and to-day their productions are unsurpassed by any concern of its kind in the world.
They have two factories in Lowell, the old factory, known as the Bellevue Factory, and one recently completed, known as the Fort Hill Factory. The latter is, beyond a doubt, in appointments and construe- tion, the most complete factory of its kind in the world. It is a brick structure, 400 by 125 in dimensions, and five and six stories in height. Large sums were expended in procuring an unrivaled supply of water of the best quality for the purposes required, and no expense was spared in every other direction to make it a model factory. In ventilation, in means for protection from fire, and in convenience for handling pro- duets and material, it is unsurpassed. The construction of this factory was largely carried out on plans outlined by Mr. White, and all the details of the work was closely supervised by him, a work for which he was admirably qualified, both by experience and natural mechanical abilities. Their two factories cover an area of eight acres, giving facilities for handling five thousand skins per day, the manufacture of which necessitating the employment of 600 hands. The sale of their
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product extends all over the civilized world and is constantly increas- ing. That they are not only the largest producers in their special lines in the United States, but practically without rivals in the peculiar quality and high finish of their goods, is freely acknowledged. Mr. White, the creator and founder of this now extensive business, is still the vigorous head of the house. He has always enjoyed remarkable good health and has the appearance of a man much younger than his years. He has led a very busy life, but it has made but little inroad upon a naturally robust constitution, and he has every promise of many years of active usefulness. He possesses in a marked degree inventive genius and has decided tastes for work requiring constructive ability and original investigation. He is of a mechanical turn of mind, and the specialties of the firm were largely the result of his own inventions. He is of retiring, modest disposition, but a man of refined and cultured tastes and of generous and philanthropic spirit. He has little fondness for public life or for positions which would bring him prominently be- fore the public, and outside of having served as a member of the Lowell city government, has held no political position. He commands and enjoys the good will and esteem of his townsmen, and finds his chief pleasures in the retirement of home and the felicities of domestic life.
Mr. White was married in 1855 to Miss Maria Theresa Towle, of Winchester, a woman of the highest graces of heart and mind, who died in 1883. She was the mother of Mr. White's three sons, already men- tioned, and one daughter, Maria Theresa White. In 1888 Mr. White married Mrs. Maria C. Lyon, daughter of the late Judge Nathan Cros- by, of Lowell. Their home, formerly owned and occupied by Judge Crosby, is located upon the hillside over-looking the city, and is one of the most delightful residences of Lowell.
WINCH BROTHERS.
THERE is probably no commercial concern in New England which for the last thirty years has been so uniformly successful as the boot and shoe jobbing house of Winch Brothers. Starting with limited capital against strong and active competition, its trade has steadily in- creased from year to year until, at the present time, its annual sales equal in volume that of any establishment in the same line in the
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United States, if not in the world. It is truly a representative house of a business which has grown to large proportions in New England.
The founder of the house was Joseph R. Winch, who is still the senior member of the firm. He came to Boston in 1858, having pre- viously served an apprenticeship in the making of boots and shoes, and had thus acquired an experience of great value in his later business career. Upon his arrival in Boston he entered the employ of Henry Damon, a boot and shoe jobber, with whom he remained until 1862, when, with George Hosmer, he started in business for himself, under the firm name of Hosmer & Winch. Of the two partners, Mr. Winch alone had practical knowledge of the business, and the real work of the firm devolved solely upon him, and to his efforts the early success of the enterprise was alone due. He earnestly applied himself to the task, and, practically without assistance did a business of $192,000 dur- ing the first year, a result, under the circumstances, highly creditable for the new concern. The success of the enterprise thus auspiciously inaugurated has been continued with constantly increasing degree of success from that time to the present.
In 1868 the firm was strengthened by the addition of Mr. Winch's brother. John F. Winch, who had already achieved marked success in the same line, and was well equipped both by experience and great natural business qualifications to advance the interests of the firm. The firm name at this time was changed to Hosmer & Winch Brothers. The first year after the reorganization of the firm the sales amounted to $865,000, an increase of nearly $600,000 over the preceding year, and the largest up to that time ever done by a jobbing house in the same line in Boston. From this time on the growth of the business was substantial and rapid. In 1875 Mr. Hosmer retired, when the present firm name of Winch Brothers was adopted. The two brothers conducted the business alone until January, 1889, when George F. Winch and John H. Gibbs, both of whom had held important positions with the firm, were admitted as partners, the firm name, however, re- maining as adopted in 1875.
The business was first located at No. 68 Milk street, where the post- office is now located. In 1866 it was removed to 47 Federal street, and two years later their quarters were enlarged by the addition of the store and basement 49 Federal street. Here they were located at the time of the great fire of 1872, which totally destroyed their store and its contents, incurring a heavy loss, as the greater part of their insur-
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anee had been placed with Boston companies, which were so seriously affected by the fire that most of them were unable to meet their losses, and in consequence Winch Brothers received only one-third of their total insurance. Immediately after the fire they rented the old Boston Lancers' Armory, on Sudbury street, which was quickly converted into suitable quarters, and where they were ready for business and doing their usual trade on Thursday of the week following the fire. Here they remained until November, 1874, when they hired two stores, 130 and 134 Federal street. The rapid growth of their business soon re- quired enlargement of their quarters, and in 1848 the adjoining store, 136 Federal street, was secured. From time to time, as business re- quired, additional room was secured by renting the floors over these stores, until, in 1892, the entire six floors and basement were secured. Each floor contains 8,400 square feet, giving them a total floor space of more than an acre and a quarter, every portion of which is required for the storage of stock and transaction of their immense business.
The success of the firm has been sure and gradual from the first. The business has been pushed with tremendous energy and rare sagac- ity, every year showing a gratifying increase of business over the pre- ceding year. The prosperity of the house has indeed been phenomenal ; from a sale of $192,000 in 1862, it has increased to more than $4,000,- 000 in 1892. From a business force practically represented by Mr. Joseph R. Winch alone in 1862, the business now gives employment to ninety-five persons, and is represented by five traveling salesmen. The goods handled, consisting of all grades of boots and shoes and all the leading lines of rubbers, are sold in every part of the United States and Canada, and, in fact, shipments are made to nearly every portion of the civilized globe. It is a remarkable fact that since this house has been in existence it has witnessed the birth or death of every Boston contemporary, not one being now in business that has not failed that was in existence when it began. During the thirty years of successful effort, this firm has effected many changes in the methods of trade which have since been widely adopted. It was the first house to intro- duce the individual carton, which revolutionized the jobbing trade. What might be termed the boot and shoe mart of Boston was formerly on Pearl street. After the great fire of 1872 this firm was the first to again utilize the peculiar advantages of Federal street as a location for business, in which they have been followed by other firms, so that Federal street has now become the recognized centre of the jobbing
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trade in boots and shoes. In this and in other directions this house has been a leader rather than a follower, and its present position as among the first houses in its line in the United States has thus been justly earned. Its affairs have been managed with marked administrative and executive ability. While it has gained a widespread and sound reputation as be- ing aggressive and progressive, it at the same time is recognized as one ยท of the most conservative and reliable houses in the trade. Its financial record is noteworthily creditable; its name has never been questioned, through war and panics it has promptly met every obligation, and to-day, with resources of the strongest character, it is admirably equipped to maintain the high position it holds in the jobbing trade of the world.
Joseph R. Winch, the founder of the house, was born in Princeton, Mass., April 14, 1825, and is the second oldest child in a family of three sons and four daughters of John and Mary (Russell) Winch. The father was a farmer and the son's early years were passed under the thrifty and healthful influence of a New England farmer's home. His education was acquired in the district school. At the age of twenty- one he left home and went to Wayland, Mass., where he engaged in farming, and also served an apprenticeship in the boot and shoe mak- ing trade, securing thereby an experience of great benefit to him in his later business career. Possessing natural musical talent he largely devoted his time during this period of his life to teaching vocal music, following this avocation with success in different parts of Middlesex county, where there are still many residing who will recall with pleas- ure his work in this connection. His career in Boston has been related in the foregoing pages devoted to the history and progress of the great business interest with which he has been so prominently identified from the beginning. Such has been his devotion to its interest that he has had little to do with outside enterprises, his regular duties in connection with his own business affairs demanding all his time and attention. He has always, however, taken a deep interest in the prosperity of the city and has ever been ready to do his full share in contributing to the welfare of its citizens. During his residence in Boston he has always been active in church music, and his voice has been heard most accept- ably in the choirs of the different churches. He was one of the charter members of the Apollo Club and has always been active in its behalf. He was married, September 13, 1846, to Miss Carver, of Wayland,
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Mass. Their only child, Mary Ella, was married, September 13, 1870, to George Fred Winch.
John F. Winch was born in Acton, November 27, 1838, whence his father had removed in 1837. His early life was passed on a farm, but at the age of sixteen he commenced his business training in a general country store at Wayland, where work began early in the morning and continued until late at night. After a year spent in this way, not without its value, he returned home, and after another term at school he went to Concord, Mass., and for three years was employed in a dry goods store in that city. In 1863 he came to Boston and entered the employ of Henry Damon, the proprietor of the wholesale boot and shoe house, in which his brother had begun his Boston career. Young, vigorous and ambitions, and with a diversified commercial training, he soon manifested marked aptitude for the business, and in 1866, through personal worth, was admitted as partner with Mr. Damon, under the firm name of Henry Damon & Co. Two years later, in 1868, having been highly successful, he retired from the firm and joined his brother in business, and from that time to the present has been an important factor in achieving the high degree of success the firm has attained. He has had experience in every department of the business and is thoroughly conversant with all of its details. He is a man of great executive ability, and in the management of the financial affairs of the house, to which he has given special attention, he has been particularly successful. As a vocalist Mr. Winch is well known, not only in this part of the country, but in many parts of the United States, having, with marked success, taken part in concerts in many of the leading cities of the country. He has a remarkably rich baritone voice, and his services in church choirs and concerts have been in eager demand and always highly appreciated. For twenty-three years he sang in Dr. Hale's church, and during his connection with the choir it was ac- knowledged by musical experts to have had no superior in New Eng- land. Mr. Winch's ability as a vocalist has given him deserved prominence in musical circles, but his efforts have been mainly a pleas- ing diversion in an active business career; had he devoted himself solely to its cultivation he would have taken high rank. He was also a charter member of the Apollo Club and is still an active member of the society. He was married, June 7, 1869, to Miss Kate Rametti, and has one daughter, Miss Mabel Winch.
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