USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lawrence > Quarter-centennial history of Lawrence, Massachusetts, with portraits and biographical sketches > Part 13
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Another Order of a similar nature was started in this city the pres- ent year managing an insurance fund the same as the Knights of Honor, known as Knights of the Golden Cross. Women are admit- ted on equal terms with males and though a few months since organ- ization it has a membership in the city of about 300. The officers of Olive Commandery are H. A. Wadsworth, Commander ; A. J. French, Treasurer.
The Royal Arcanum is still another Order that pays $3,000 upon the death of any member and the fund is created by assessments when the treasury runs low. The officers of Lawrence Council are C. A. Metcalf, Commander ; N. H. Berry Treasurer. Members, 100.
There are also in the city two Lodges of Forresters, two of the Ancient Order of Shepherds, one of Orangemen, and several tem- . perance organizations that are secret to the extent of admitting none bnt members to regular meetings, and are founded upon the princi- ples of mutual relief and assistance.
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XIV
MINOR INDUSTRIES-CORPORATE AND IN- CORPORATE.
.ARCHIBALD WHEEL COMPANY.
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This corporation has a history dating from 1871. It was formed for the manufacture of iron hubbed wheels for express, truck and team wagons, carts, portable engines, steam fire engines and hose carriages, by the Archibald Patent Press Process. These wheels have been adopted by the largest and best known manufacturers of wagons and steam fire engines in the United States, and also by the govern- ment in quartermaster and ordinance wagons, after years of severe and patient trial in competition with all other wheels known. At this establishment the lumber is sawed from the log, planed and formed into spokes and felloes, and before use, is piled in the store house, 80 by 60 feet in dimensions, where it is allowed to remain and season from eighteen months to two years before put to use. The buildings of the company are three in number, the main workshop 100 by 45 feet, the store-house and boiler-house. The capital stock of the com- pany is $60,000, and when run to its fullest capacity the works furnish employment to twenty persons. The officers of the corporation are : J. C. Hoadley, President ; Hezekiah Plummer, Treasurer ; and E. A. Archibald, Superintendent.
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EBEN EDWARDS FOSTER,
Boot and Shoe Dealer at 26 So. Broadway. Residence, 19 Farnham St., South Lawrence. Has been a resident twenty-three years. Born in Windham, N. H., Feb. 15, 1827. His father being a manufacturer of leather and leather goods, Mr. Foster naturally became connected at an early age with the same business, and has followed it nearly all his life. Educated in the public schools and academy at Manchester, „N. H., he early developed mechanical talent, choosing the manufac- ture and sale of leather goods ; during the war was successful. Has a good business record, always paying one hundred cents on a dollar. Married Miss M. A. Stearns, Aug. 26, 1849, for his first wife, who died in 1876 ; his second wife is Mrs. A. L. Hamilton ; has three daughters. Is connected with the South Congregational Church. Has been a deacon in both the Eliot and Central Congregational churches. In 1866 built the large manufactory at the corner of Methuen and Franklin Sts., letting power for mechanical purposes.
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QUARTER-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
MCKAY SEWING MACHINE ASSOCIATION.
This Association was formed in 1864, and purchased the lot of land, 45,157 square feet, upon which the manufactory now stands. A main building, three stories high, brick, 152 feet long by 40 wide, an L, one story in height, 147 by 40 feet, and a fire proof building for the preservation of model machines, gauges and special tools, in dimensions 17 by 25 feet, were then erected, and operations were commenced in 1865. Since that time, the business having steadily increased, an additional L, three stories in height and 17 by 25 feet, has been erected. The Association new employs 175 workmen in the manufacture of Mckay sewing machines for shoes, Mckay & Bigelow heeling machines, Mckay metallic fastening standard screw machines, Goodyear & McKay sewing machine and Mckay channel- lers. None of these machines are sold, but are leased upon royalty, and their revenue is rapidly increasing. Mr. Thomas Scott is Super- intendent of the works. In 1877 the Association disposed of 298 Mckay sewing machines, 149 Mckay channelers, 140 Mckay & Bigelow heeling machines, 79 metallic fastening screw machines, and 56 Goodyear & Mckay sewing machines.
LAWRENCE GAS COMPANY.
In 1847 the Bay State and Atlantic Mills and the Essex Company were formed into an association and erected suitable buildings for the manufacture of gas for their own use. In 1849 the association dis- - banded, and a stock company, known as the Lawrence Gas Company, was formed, and February 14th, 1849, secured an act of incorpora- tion. The capital at this time was $40,000, and the company began lighting the streets and introducing their pipes into private residences. Gradually since that time the capital has been increased, additional · buildings erected, and pipes laid until now hardly an accepted street in the city which has not a number of street lamps burning gas. The
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capital at the present time is $400,000. There have been laid since 1849, twenty-nine miles of main pipe, 17 miles of service, and 2100 metres set. The officers of the corporation are, J. J. Storrow, Presi- dent ; Gardner P. Gates, Treasurer ; Geo. D. Cabot, Agent ; A. C. Tenney, Clerk.
RUSSELL PAPER COMPANY.
This corporation was organized in April, 1864, with a capital of $100,000. Here is manufactured writing, book and manilla papers, in all of which the company has been very fortunate, and have ac- chieved marked success. The mill property constitutes four large buildings with the latest improved machinery. Two hundred and fifty persons are employed here, and ten tons of paper, on an aver- age, are manufactured daily. The officers are, William A. Russell, Treasurer, and George W. Russell, Superintendent.
FLYER AND SPINDLE WORKS.
In 1862, what is now known as the Lawrence Flyer and Spindle Works were started at the lower end of the canal. In 1867 a stock company was formed with a capital of $50,000, and these works, which for five years previous were controlled by private enterprise, became the property of a corporation. At present thirty persons are employed here in the manufacture of spinning flyers, spindles, spin- dle tubes and mill machinery. The officers of the corporation are, Joseph P. Battles, Treasurer, and H. P. Chandler, Agent.
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LAWRENCE LUMBER COMPANY.
The Lawrence Lumber Company was incorporated in 1868, with a capital of $54,000. The business is the manufacture of wooden boxes, and every description and dimension of lumber. Forty per- sons are in the employ of this company. This company does more
+ JOHN WELLES PORTER,
Keeper of Livery and Sale Stable, corner of Lawrence and Methuen Sts. Residence, 107 Garden St. Has been in Lawrence twenty-eight years. Was born in Lyman, N. H., June 17th, 1833. Married Miss - Adeline A. Moore of Andover, Mass., Aug. 17th, 1853 ; has one son. Attends Grace church. Has been in the stable business since 1860. Was a member of the police department under the first city govern- ment, and was connected with that department for several years as policeman and constable, Was city marshal in '59, '62 and '63, also assistant mashal for several years, closing his official service with the year 1872.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
than a mere local business, sending lumber and building material to all parts of the county. The annual business amounts to between two and three hundred thousand dollars. The officers are, Morris Knowles, President ; Luther Ladd, Treasurer and Agent.
NATIONAL BANKS.
Bay State. Incorporated, 1847. Capital, $375,000. George L. Davis, President ; Samuel White, Cashier.
Pemberton. Incorporated, 1854. Capital, $150,000. L. Sprague, President ; J. M. Coburn, Cashier.
Lawrence. Incorporated, 1872. Capital, $300,000. A. W. Stearns, President ; P. G. Pillsbury, Cashier.
Pacific. Incorporated, 1877. Capital, $100,000. J. H. Kidder, President ; Wm. H. Jaquith, Cashier.
SAVINGS BANKS.
Essex. Incorporated, 1847. Joseph Shattuck, President ; James H. Eaton, Treasurer.
Lawrence. Incorporated, 1870. Milton Bonney, President : Wm. R. Spalding, Treasurer.
Broadway. Incorporated, 1872. John Fallon, President ; Gil- bert E. Hood, Treasurer.
RAILROADS.
- The year 1848 brought Lawrence into direct connection with Bos- ton, Lowell and Salem. Finding that there was to be a city here, the managers of the Boston and Maine Railroad changed their location between Andover and North Andover, running the road round to South Lawrence, and on the 28th of February the road ran their pas- senger trains across the bridge to the station on the north side of the river. July 2d, 1848, the Lowell and Lawrence ran free trains and
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carried over 8000 people. The Essex Railroad was opened from Lawrence to Salem, September 4th, 1848 ; the Manchester and Law- rence road was opened in October, 1849. Last year the Lowell and Lawrence Railroad obtained permission of the Railroad Commis- sioners to cross the Boston and Maine tracks at grade in South Law- rence, and the Mayor and Aldermen granted permission to the road to extend its tracks across the river and through the Atlantic yard to Essex street. The bridge is now built. The Superior Court having enjoined the Lowell and Lawrence road from taking the location of the Boston and Maine at South Lawrence to come in on, the Leg- islature passed a special act on the request of the Railroad Com- missioners to give them permission to adjust the difficulty.
As the population increased the need of a Horse Railroad grew apparent, and in 1867 a single track was laid from Methuen to the Paper Mills in Lawrence, Subsequently the line was extended to North Andover, and in 1876 the track was laid to South Lawrence. The latter proved to be the best of the line, but even to the last there were found stockholders who were sure it would not pay. This year the company has petitioned the Mayor and Aldermen for permission to build a double track in Essex street. The President of the cor- poration is Wm. A. Russell ; Treasurer, James H. Eaton. 1.
Besides the corporate bodies to which Lawrence is indebted largely for its growth, there have sprung up within the past twenty-five years a number of minor manufactories, controlled by private individuals which have added in no small measure to the material prosperity of the city. Among these are the following :
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EXPRESSES.
The first Boston and Lawrence Express was that of Stevens & Ab- bott. In July, 1851, Mr. Abbott retired, and the firm was Stevens & White, well known as "Sam" White. In March 1852, White retired
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
and was followed by J. A. Stevens. In September, 1852, Stevens was succeeded by P. B. Putney. In December, 1852, Mr. Putney associated with himself J. George, of Concord, N. H., under the firm name of Putney & George. The latter had been employed by the U. S. and Canada Express and brought with him a good knowledge of the business. The firm was dissolved by the death of Mr. George, May 5th, 1869. In 1870 the firm of Cogswell & Co., was organized, Mr. Cogswell taking Mr. Lewis Saunders as a partner, and the firm has since done a large business. In 1859 three horses did the entire work of the firm. They now employ about thirteen horses, and twenty-five men.
Messrs. Abbott & Co., also do a thriving express business, running between this city and Boston, also to Methuen. The business of this office was begun about twenty years ago by W. F. Cooper, being succeeded in 1871 by J. G. Abbott. It requires ten men and five horses to do the work.
E. Davis & Son's Iron Foundry has been operation since 1863. The buildings connected with the works are four in number, and afford capacity for the employment of thirty persons.
H. K. Webster & Co.'s Grain Mill was built in 1868, and at present employs eight persons. The mill is 120 by 30 feet, and connected with the mill property are two store houses. The capacity is placed at 1200 bushels of meal per day.
Webster & Dustin, Machinists, have been in business at their pres- _ ent location, Canal street, since October, 1876. They now employ twelve persons, and manufacture mill machinery, shafting, pulleys, gearing, etc.
N. W. Farwell & Son's Bleachery is one of the new enterprises which have sprung up at South Lawrence during the past year. Operations in dyeing and bleaching were commenced January, 1878, and at present the works give employment to sixty persons.
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The Hosiery Mill, Canal street, until recently run by Carter & Wil- son, commenced operations in 1874. Three buildings are connected with the works and forty persons employed. The amount of pro- duction per day, is on an average, sixty dozen, the value of which is estimated at $150.
Carter & Rolan employ twelve hands in wool sorting and scouring for out-of-town dealers. Annually at this establishment half a million pounds of wool are handled.
F. W. McLanathan begun the business of Roll Covering in 1874, and at present employs five hands.
George A. Furguson started in Carriage Manufacture in Lawrence in 1867. Recently he erected a large brick building on Methuen street, where he now carries on the business and employs twelve tradesmen.
Edward Page, "the original Belt Manufacturer," is one of the pio- neers of Lawrence, starting in business here in 1846. He now employs fifteen hands.
Stedman & Fuller have been in the Card Clothing business for the past quarter of a century. and when working to its fullest capacity the establishment gives employment to a dozen workinen.
Berry & Co.'s U. S. Steam Feed, is another of the more recent en- terprises. By a lately patented apparatus grain is dried, cooked, and ground for feed. Five workmen are employed here:
The Broadway Cracker Bakery, J. H. Nichols, agent, employs eight persons in the manufacture of all kinds of crackers. Two hundred barrels of flour are used here monthly.
James W. Joyce has been engaged in Carriage Manufacture in Lawrence for the past twelve years. Twelve persons are employed here.
Butler's File Works have been in operation since 1854, now em- ploy fifteen hands, and the productive capacity is 500 dozen files per month.
MARK MANAHAN,
Grocer, 106 Broadway, corner Salem street ; residence corner Salem and Carver streets. Came to Lawrence 12 years ago, April 1866. Born at Deering, Hillsboro', Co., N. H. Worked on a farm in early life and had the advantages of a Common and High School educa- tion. Married April 1865, to Emily R. Stiles, of Middleton, Mass. Has three children. Attends South Congregational church. Mr. Manahan entered into partnership with his brother Harlan D, which still continues doing business under the firm name of M. & II. D. Manahan. This is the oldest grocery firm now doing business in South Lawrence. Was a member of the Common Council in 1869 and 1870, and at present is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Poor.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
Robinson & Perkins, Card Clothing manufacturers, began business in Lawrence in 1857, and now employ a dozen persons. At this establishment from 8,000 to 10,000 sides of leather, and from twenty to twenty-five tons of wire are used annually. The annual produc- tion is from fifty to sixty thousand feet of card clothing.
Williams & Willson, Machinists, commenced in Lawrence fifteen years ago and employ fifteen hands.
J. E. Watts began in 1874 in the Brass Foundry Business. To this he has recently added the manufacture of steam and water regu- lators, of which he is the inventor. He furnishes employment to five persons.
The Merrimac Iron Foundry has been operated since 1854, now employs fifty hands, and has a productive capacity of 150 tons of castings per month.
The Lawrence Flour Mills, Davis & Taylor proprietors, grind annu- ally about 125,000 bushels of wheat, turning out about 25,000 barrels of flour. About 250,000 bushels grains of other varieties are here : ground annually. The mill has been in operation for ten years, and furnishes employment to twelve persons.
The Berkley Mills were moved to Lawrence in 1873, by Mr. Thos. Greenbank, the present owner. They are engaged in the manufac- ture of flannels of all grades ; employ seventy-five persons, operate 2800 spindles and fifty-seven looms, and the productive capacity is 90,000 yards of flannel per month. Annually 300,000 pounds of wool are consumed here.
Alderman Thomas Clegg began the business of Reed and Loom "Harness manufacturing in this city in 1852. Recently he has moved to the south canal where he has added the manufacture of Leather Board to his former business. Twenty-five hands are employed in the manufacture of reeds and loom harnesses, and fifteen in the leather board department. . Upwards of 25,000 reeds and harnesses are pro- duced annually at this establishment.
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B. S. Hale & Son, since 1872 have engaged in the manufacture of fish line and patent laid cords at South Lawrence. They now employ eighteen hands.
Samuel Carter employs twelve workmen in jobbing and general machinery repairs. He has been in the business in this city since 1870.
Butler & Robinson's Yarn Mill has been in operation since 1863. At this mill is manufactured worsted yarns. Has 5,000 spindles, four sets of cards, five company machines, and 125 hands are employed.
Josslyn & Webster's Iron Foundry was started about ten years ago. Twenty persons are employed here, and upwards of sixty tons of castings are turned out monthly. Business now at this foundry is quite brisk.
Hayden's Leather Board Mill, formerly operated by George E. Davis has now been leased for a term of years by Allen, Jones & Co., of Boston, manufacturers of wood paper pulp and leather board. The capacity at present is one ton of leather board a day. Ten per- sons are now employed here. The mill has been in operation under various managements the greater part of the past ten years.
What is now known as Bacon's Paper Mill was formerly the prop- erty of the Lawrence Paper Company. About fifteen years ago it was purchased at auction sale by Messrs. James S. Monroe and J. A. Bacon, and by this firm operated for five years. Mr. Bacon then purchased his partner's right, and rebuilt the mill, adding machinery and making other improvements. One hundred and twenty opera- tives now manufacture, on an average, 120 tons of paper a month. George W. Seaverns is Superintendent of the mills.
Sprague & Co., Bobbin manufacturers, have been in the business since 1862. They employ rro hands in the manufacture of bobbins and spools used in cotton and wool factories.
Armington & Simms, dealers and manufacturers of Portable Steam Engines. Employ fifty hands. The monthly production is $10,000.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
Tower & Hadley's Coffee and Spice Mills, have been in operation since 1874. They furnish employment to five hands and do a yearly business varying from $40,000 to $50,000.
Albert Blood, Machinist, has been in business in this city since 1853. By the purchase of additional facilities his business has been greatly increased within the past few years., He now employs twenty hands.
Beach's Soap Company manufacture extensively the celebrated Beach's Washing Soap, doing a large business in the surrounding country. Employ twelve hands with a monthly production valued at $7,000.
Sargent's Steam Mill, L. D. Sargent, proprietor. Boxes, mould- ings, gutters, and house finish, planning, etc. Employs twenty-three hands and produces 200,000 feet monthly.
T. A. Emmons manufactures Loom Harnesses. Employs sixty hands on custom work, fiilling orders for manufacturers in all parts of the country.
James Byrom manufactures Brass Castings of all kinds. Employs six hands.
Moses B. Ames & Co., Carriage Manufacturers, Lowell street. This is the oldest carriage repository in the city. John Gale was the original proprietor, Mr. Ames, his successor, engaging with him in the business fourteen years ago. Mr. Gale retired about four years ago. There are twenty men employed.
Stanley & Co., Brewers. This firm bought the brewery property on Oxford street about six years ago, and since that time have in- creased its capacity four or five times. Thirteen men were then employed at the establishment, while at present it requires sixty men to do the work. The product is stock and present use Ale and Lager Beer.
Allen Wilson, Oak street, has the oldest established bakery in the city. Employs twelve hands.
XV.
NOTABLE EVENTS, ETC.
'The first calamity worthy of note which happened in the city was the accident at the dam on the 12th of October, 1847. At the time the accident occurred about 300 feet of the dam on the south side, and 100 feet on the north side of the river had been finished, the water meanwhile running over the unfinished part. The unfinished space was about 500 feet long, and it became necessary to shut out the water from this by a coffer dam. The timbers of the coffer dam were all in position and braced, as was supposed, securely, and work- men were engaged in putting down flash boards. Both Mr. L. M. Wright, who had charge of the wood work of the dam, and Captain Bigelow were present at the time and aiding, in all confidence as to the strength of the structure, in putting down plank after plank. In an instant that portion of dam upon which they were engaged, rose upon the surface of the water, and fifteen men were swept, amid the . broken timbers, by the rush of the fearful flood upon the rocks twen- ty-five feet below. Capt. Bigelow and Mr. Wright were in a scow, and this swayed round in the current and passed over the dam. Just as she was making the plunge, two men leaped out and saved themselves upon that portion of the coffer dam which remained firm. Another man leaped from the stern of the boat directly into the fall- ing current and escaped unhurt. The end of the scow plunged with
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QUARTER-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
terrible force upon the bed rock, sending its freight of men and tools with great velocity in the river. Capt. Bigelow came very near losing his life. He was badly injured, and was only saved by the utmost exertions of Mr. Wright. Two men were killed, two seriously in- jured, and three slightly injured. At the time of this accident every nerve. was being exerted to raise the water to its proper level to sup- ply power to the Bay State Mills, then nearly completed and ready in some parts for the machinery. Every person was looking forward to this desirable consummation with high hopes of future business, and the accident therefore felt as a personal as much as a public calamity.
The heaviest freshet was in April, 1852, when the highest pitch of water was ten feet upon the crest of the dam. This freshet washed out the abutment of the bridge and carried away the toll-house on the south side of the river. The water, at intervals, reached the wood work on the railroad bridge. The alarm in the city in antici- pation of an overflow of the wing walls of the dam was very great, and so imminent was the danger in the estimation of the engineers of the Essex Company, that a train of cars and a large number of teams were run night and day in conveying earth for an embankment to protect the town. In 1863, the water reached nine feet or within one foot of great flood.
The greatest calamity that has yet befallen Lawrence was the fall of the Pemberton Mill. On the 10th of January, 1860, at thirteen minutes before five o'clock in the afternoon, the mill fell without a moment's warning. The building was five stories high, eighty-four - feet wide, and two hundred and eighty feet long. The first story was devoted to weaving, the second to carding, the third to spinning, the fourth to carding, spinning and drawing-in, and the fifth to dressing, warping, spooling, winding and reeling. About seven hundred per- sons were at work in the mill when it fell. Mr. Chase, the agent, and Mr. Huse, one of the owners, were passing through the spinning room when a noise was heard, the mules stopped, and the building
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was seen to be falling. They stepped into a wing, and were saved. One hundred persons were killed. A large number were more or less injured, some of them for life. The scene after the fall was one of indescribable horror. Hundreds of men, women and children were buried in the ruins. Many of them assured their friends they were uninjured but imprisoned by the timbers about them. Others were dead or dying. Everybody worked as hard as possible to re- lieve the unfortunate ones till nearly ten o'clock at night, when sad- dest of all, a lantern broke and set the ruins on fire. In a few minutes the entire mass was a sheet of flames. Fourteen are known to have perished in the burning mass. The cause of the disaster is not known, but it is believed that there was a defective iron pillar in one of the upper rooms at the south end of the mill.
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