Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 75

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. > Part 75

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).

The Everett Mills. - June 1, 1861, this company, incorporated the previous year. commenced the manufacture of dress-goods. ginghams. and a general variety of colored cotton fabrics. The mill is located north of the canal, the raceway discharging into the Spicket River ; the buildings occupied are the substantial granite huildings formerly of the Lawrence Machine-Shop. The company has the largest landed property of the manufacturing companies, the spacious yard enclosing about fifteen acres of available lands, abutting upon Union, Canal, and Garden streets, and upon Spicket River.

The company was formed under the auspices and direction of Sam- nel Batchelder, long known as the able manager of the York Mills, who, now at the age of 93 years, can look back with clear recollection to the first starting of manufactures at Lowell, in which he took part. The capital is now $800,000, number of employees nearly 1,000, of which about one-third are males. George C. Richardson & Co .. Bos- ton, are the selling agents ; Eugene H. Sampson is treasurer ; Charles D. McDutfee is the present efficient agent. He gives his personal at- tention to every detail of management. William A. Barrell is cashier and superintendent. D. D. Crombie, John R. Perry, and D. M. Ayer have, in the past, held the position of agent of this mill. Mr. Crombie for several years was treasurer of the company.

The Arlington Mills. - A mile distant from the line of mills upon the Merrimac, this company have a valuable water-power on the Spicket River, the lands fronting on Broadway. These are the only cloth-making mills not located along the line of Essex Company's canals by Merrimae River. The privilege was partially developed by Abial Stevens, Esq., nearly fifty years ago; and in 1857-58 was greatly improved hy him, a dike being constructed along the east bank of Spicket River, from his mill to the Ingalls Mill above, and the dam raised, thus creating a lovely sheet of water of several acres

* Oliver Hazard Perry died at Andover. Mass .. Aug. 30, 1:25, aged 63 years : was the third son of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. He entered the navy as midshipman at fourteen years of age, and passed examination at the head of a class of fifty-nine. He served in the Wilkes exploring expedition, and was wrecked in the " Peacock." He also served on the coast survey, and commanded a battery during the bombardment of Vera Crnz. He resigned while a lientenant in the navy. and became a manufacturer: was agent of the Middlesex Mills at Lowell in 154 -- 49. and of the Bay State Mills at Law- renee from 1-50-37. residing for several years in Lawrence. In 1-34. he built. for him- self and his business partners, the Lawrence Woollen Company's Mill. better known as the " Perry Mill." and was sole manager of the concern mutil his death. His personal honor and fidelity were never questioned. His business was conducted with such quiet nicety of method that he found time to devote to modern progress in science and the arts.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

225

area. The dam was permanently rebuilt with granite, laid in cement, in 1867.

After the sale of this property by Mr. Stevens, the mill went through the not unusual transition period of a manufacturing interest. At one time it was used as a hat factory, at another time the Fibrilla or "Flax Cotton " Manufacturing Company made hemp carpets and rugs, printed in colors by electrotype process. The Berkley Mills operated for a time. Again, a batting mill operated, and lost heavily by fire. In 1865, the Arlington Woollen Mills were incorporated, with a capital of $200,000. In October, 1866, a destructive fire totally consumed the mill buildings. The mill was soon reconstructed and was ready for operation in the spring of 1867. The capital was increased to $240,000, and the company made costly changes in machinery and the line of goods produced, making women's worsted and cotton goods. Reorganization was decided on in the fall of 1869, shareholders paying in the full amount of capital, $240,000, to make it good. In 1875, the name of the company was changed to "Arlington Mills." In July, 1876, the capital was increased to $320,000 ; since that time to $500,- 000. The specialties of manufacture are ladies' worsted and cotton dress-goods. This company was the first to profitably make black alpacas, mohairs, and brilliantines in the United States. Up to 1872, it was supposed such goods could only be successfully made in

Bradford, England. Over six hundred operatives are employed. Samuel Smith is local agent, and Charles Wainwright, paymaster and cashier. William Whitman is the treasurer and general man- ager. A powerful Corliss engine is used in addition to the water- power. In July, 1868, Arlington mill-pond, formerly known as Stevens's Pond, was drained by the undermining and total ruin of the dam which was built by Abiel. Stevens many years ago, and the machinery of the mills was idle for a time in consequence.

The Lawrence Gas Company. - This company was incorporated in 1849, with a small capital, since gradually increased, to meet growing needs, to $400,000. The original works were built by the Essex Company and the Bay State Mills, at their joint expense. There was an immense demand at once for gas in lighting the large mills then going into operation ; the hours of labor, at that time, commencing and ending by artificial light. The gas supplied from these works has been of excellent quality and sold at prices a shade below the average charge in other cities. The gasometers at the works on Marston Street, and one upon Valley Street, are substantial structures.

The generating works and the distributing system of mains are ample and permanent. More than half the product was formerly used by the mills, but general consumption increased very fast, while short- ened hours of labor reduced the amount required in mills.

George D. Cabot has been agent for nearly the whole period of ac- tive operations ; Henry G. Webber having charge for a time at the commencement. Richard R. Harriman was for years a faithful super- intendent of the works on Marston Street. He died in 1876, and was succeeded by Hannibal H. Church. Rufus Childs was for many years in.charge of piping and out-door work, and was succeeded by Micah M. Rutter. James J. Storrow is president of the company, which seems to have been uniformly prosperous from the start.

Paper-Making. - Soon after the Great Machine-Shop started, exper- iments were there made in the building of paper machinery, John L. Seaverns, * having superintendence of the work. A building was erected by the Essex Company in Machine-Shop yard, and the Charter Paper Company was organized, several directors of the Essex Company forming the association. This company did not make, but printed and embossed papers. William B. Hurd was the local agent, - the principal direction being in the hands of Samuel H. Gregory. The capital was $50,000. The mill furnished a line of fancy velvet, cloth, gold-leaf, bronze, and silver-leaf papers ; paper-hangings, from 6} cents to $7 per roll, and bordering of every grade, seeking to excel other American products. This enterprise was not profitable ; and, when paper-making was established on the lower Spicket, this printing enterprise was abandoned, the building moved and used for other purposes.

A. & A. Norton seem to have been pioneers in paper-making, pur- chasing power for that purpose in April, 1853, taking what is now one of the Russell Paper Company's mills. The Lawrence Paper Company purchased, a year later, the site of J. A. Bacon's mill. Samuel S. Crocker purchased, in the fall of 1854, what has since been known as the Wilder Mill site. William Russell purchased power and lands February, 1854. Crocker had operated here, on a limited scale, before the above dates, running a small mill erected by Dan Weed.

* Murdered in Newburg, N. Y., September, 1870.

The capital of the Russell Paper Company is $100,000. William A. Russell is treasurer. William Russell & Son also do a heavy business in mills located elsewhere. The specialties in manufacture have been news, book, cap, and manilla papers, also cartridge and postal papers for government use. This company and firm have absorbed in turn, by purchase, the mills run for a time by Partridge & Curtis, the Norton Mills, and the Merrimack Paper Mills of Salmon W. Wilder, until the village of mills about Spicket mouth is one of the busiest spots in the county.

The use of wood pulp from poplar and resinous woods, as an impor- tant ingredient of paper-stock, has also been a specialty, -patents protecting such use being held by these owners. The business of the company and firm extends into several States. At Bellows Falls, Vt. ( where the parties own a valuable water-power), at Franklin, N. H., and at several points in Maine, where cheap water-power is available, this company, or members of it, have extensive mills.

S. S. Crocker, Daniel P. Crocker, Salmon W. Wilder, and others have been enterprising paper-makers, who have disposed of their interests and gone elsewhere. Jerome A. Bacon has for many years had a profitable business in the making of news and book papers. J. S. Munroe has also made papers of many grades, including roofing and covering papers, using for the latter purpose coarse material. He organized the Munroe Paper Company, with a capital of $120,000, and built extensive brick mills on the south canal. In the disturbance of business in 1876 and 1877, work was suspended, and the Lawrence Paper Company purchased the property, succeeding to the business. This company in turn met with severe reverses.

So nearly like the making of paper is the production of leather- board - a board made from scraps of waste leather and waste textile material, reduced to a pulp, and given a firm, hard surface by immense pressure - that it may be classed therewith. This business has been followed by enterprising makers. Clegg & Fisher have a fine mill, producing this board, upon the south canal. The article has largely supplanted the nse of straw-board, and is exported in large quantities.

Worsted Braids .- There were many unsuccessful attempts to estab- lish the manufacture of worsted braids as a permanent industry. The difficulties were many, and it was only when shrewd financial manage- ment, and the most competent and practical mechanical supervision, were united in one company -the Wright Manufacturing Company- that permanent success was attained. Mr. Algernon S. Wright is the manager of the mill. Artemas W. Stearns is treasurer, financial man- ager, and selling agent of the company. This concern has absorbed the other establishments which attempted this line of work. The com- pany's goods find a market beside those of foreign makers, who, until recently, had a monopoly in this line. The capital is $60,000.

Card Clothing. - The making of card clothing for machine cards, so extensively used in cotton and woollen mills, has been an important business - delicate and complicated automatic machinery being used in the process. During the war, and before business was overdone, this was a most important and profitable industry in the city. Sted- man & Fuller, and Robinson & Perkins, are leading manufacturers, enterprising and honorable, industrious and persevering.

Loom Harness and Reed Making. - Another delicate process, in- volving the use of intricate machinery, protected by valuable patents, is the making of power-loom harnesses and recds. Thomas A. Emmons has extensive works on May Street, and Thomas Clegg is a veteran inventor and maker, located upon the south canal. There is a con- tinuous demand for articles so intimately connected with cloth man- ufacture.

General Industries, - That beautiful and successful mechanical in- vention - the McKay Sewing-Machine - has been once mentioned. The permanent brick shops of the company are models of order and adaptation to the business done. There are few better instances of success crowning an inventor's labors than the signal favor with whichr the sewing, heeling, channelling, and metallic-wire fastening machines of Mckay and associates have been received by mechanics and man- ufacturers. The association was organized in 1864. Machines are leased, and there is a royalty on the machine-made goods. Thomas Scott is local superintendent.

Packing boxes, in a city where immense quantities of goods are shipped in cases, are used in great numbers. The business, though close, is an important one. Col. Lorenzo D. Sargent, an enterprising private manufacturer on May Street, does a heavy business, and it is an important branch of the Lawrence Lumber Company's trade.

The first complete success in making the steam fire-engine of the pattern now generally in use in Northern cities was attained in the Lawrence Machine Shop. The first engine made bore the name of

226

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the city. It was submitted to severer tests than ordinarily try the worth of an invention, before it was purchased by the city of Boston. The introduction of these or similar fire-engines following this marked success, worked revolution in fire departments, and vastly simplified the control and prevention of fires. Amoskeag Manufacturing Com- pany, Manchester, N. H., purchased this invention of N. S. Bean and Thomas Scott, the patentecs.

Lawrence Flier and Spindle Works are on the lower north canal. The company has a capital of $50,000, in 500 shares, used in the manufacture of spindles, spindle tubes, spinning fliers, and sundry protected attachments to cloth-producing machinery. Their specialties were, for a time, the invention of Oliver Pearl, of the Atlantic Cotton Mill, whose constant study for a lifetime in bringing spinning machin- ery to perfection bids fair to be lavishly rewarded. Joseph P. Battles is treasurer, and llenry P. Chandler, superintendent.

The making of fish and chalk lines, seine twine, silk, linen, and cotton lines and banding, also covered wire for telegraphic apparatus, is a snug business, demanding much skill in operating, successfully conducted by B. S. Hale & Son, in the Essex Company's mill, on the south canal.

Felt linings for rubber boots and shoes, skirtings, and other kinds of felt goods are made in the same building with the Messrs. Hale by the Lawrence Felting Company.

The Prospect Worsted Mills, Robinson & Butler, proprietors, are located on the lower Spicket River. Their specialty is the making of fine worsted yarns. suited to use for braids and nice articles in worsted goods. They have a high reputation, and sell their own goods.

A bleachery is one of the latest of the enterprises developed-N. W. Farwell & Son completing a fine brick building on the south canal, and commencing operations Jan. 1, 1878.

Iron founding. brass founding, and general machine work is done by several established companies and firms. Edmund Davis & Son have permanent iron foundries and shops on the north canal, managed by George E. Davis, and have won an enviable reputation for good work. The Merrimae Iron Foundry was founded by Alvah Bennett and Elbridge Josslyn in the early days, when a heavy business was done in mill, railway, and general castings. Webster & Josselyn also have a sung business, increasing even now. Merrimac Machine-Shop is widely known, as is the proprietor, Albert Blood, who for many years has done a general business in iron work. mill shafting, and portable engines. Mr. Blood superintended building of spinning ma- chinery for woollen mills, in the old Essex Company's machine-shop. Webster & Dustin are thorough machinists, enterprising and upright; with large experience in general mill-work. Williams & Willson also have been well known for years as reliable and skilful machinists.

In brass founding, James Byrom and James A. Fogg both do excellent work, and have liberal patronage.

Gen. John Gale was the pioneer carriage-builder, and a leading business man in the very beginning of operations in the new town. Moses B. Ames has been an enterprising partner.

A new enterprise has lately been started by two local mechanics, Pardon Armington and Gardner C. Sims,-the making of a portable engine, perfected by them, known as the Lawrence Engine.

The Archibald Wheel Company construct iron-hub wheels, put together by a process invented by Edwin A. Archibald. These wheels are largely used on heavy wagons, portable engines, and wherever immense weight is carried and great change in temperature withstood. The capital of the company is $60,000.

Leather belting is, of necessity, largely used, and the making of it has been a thriving branch of trade. Edward Page is a veteran maker, who established the business here, and, with his associates, from the very outset, has had a heavy business, doing excellent work. There are other enterprising makers worthy of mention, did space permit.

It will be seen that textile fabrics (plain, colored, and printed), paper, and felt-goods, are the chief mechanical products of the city. Excepting the arts connected with these lines of manufacture, other industries have not, as a rule, thrived. A cotton-mill supplanted the Great Machine-Shop. The " Hundred Associates" failed to establish shoe-manufacture. There were ninety-nine too many associates, no doubt, and Lawrence was not a "shoe-town."

Abandoned Charters. - The corporations chartered, and failing to operate at Lawrence, were the Methuen Bleaching and Dyeing Com- pany, chartered for the production of cotton and woollen goods, bleaching, dyeing, calendering, and printing. The authorized capital was $500,000.

The Union Mills were also chartered for the purpose of making

cotton, woollen, or flax goods, with a capital of $1,000,000. This company was never heard of as even attempting actual operations.

The Page Mills were incorporated with intent to use the Central Mill site, but never organized under the charter.

The actual success of prominent companies has been varied. Trial times came to all ; yet, in these days of depression. all are operating near to limit of capacity. The very magnitude of interests has pre- vented abandonment of any corporate enterprise, and secured nearly continuous operation of every large establishment, either by original companies or enterprising successors.

An old author has said, that " the bent of civilization is to make good things cheap, and rare things common." Textile fabrics have, indeed, become cheap in comparison with prices fifty years ago, and so common that statistics of cloth-manufacture are bewildering, illus- trating startling changes, and almost fabulous progress.

CHAPTER IX.

THE RELIGIOUS INTEREST - CITY MISSION - CHURCHES - CHARITABLE SOCIETIES - CLERGYMEN - CHURCH BUILDINGS.

" Beside the workshop and warehouse, they builded the chapel : forming the bnsi- ness corporation, they also organized the church : thrift, industry. and worldly wis- dom were apparent, with charity, reverence, and regard for God's claims."

Christians of leading denominations did much pioneer work in Lawrence in 1846, though there was no church building in the settle- ment. Little bands of worshippers naturally sought those of like belief, meeting in private dwellings and the small school buildings.

There is no ancient local church record to be transcribed. The deacon's seat and sounding-board never existed within town limits. But pioneer preachers in the new city did not come to rich liv- ings. They came, strangers among a people strange to each other, all burdened with the duty of making homes on this naked plain. There was need of preachers ; not merely book-men, but many- sided, shrewd observers, with knowledge of human nature, and little expectation of pecuniary reward - pastors in the best and fullest sense.

Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Catholics, Free Baptists, Unita- rians, and Universalists all gathered societies and held worship in the first two years of settlement (1846-47). The first-named made the first formal organization. Episcopalians first completed and occupied a church building. Free Baptists first held service. A characteristic of religious work here has been virtual Christian nnion of sects in general religious and charitable work. A noble outgrowth of this union has been the Lawrence City Mission, - non-sectarian in origin and management.

Some organization outside of municipal boards was needed to pre- vent suffering in community. To meet the apparent want, the Provi- dent Association was formed, in 1854, by prominent citizens. It was the outgrowth of benevolent impulses, rather than the work of churches. There were visitors or advisers in cach ward, familiar with every section, and with cases of need therein.

During the first year, William D. Joplin - who died August, 1870, at the age of sixty-one, and was an active and public-spirited pioneer citizen - was general agent of this association ; collecting and distributing funds, clothing, and supplies, reporting monthly to the board. For two years and three months thereafter Henry With- ington served as general agent ; giving his entire time in winter months, and constant attention at other seasons. Neither of these gentlemen accepted any payment for services arduous and perplexing. John C. Hoadley, Benjamin Coolidge, Capt. Charles H. Bigelow, Dr. George Packard, and Dr. W. D. Lamb were also active workers in this pioneer benevolent society. George P. Wilson became gen- eral agent in 1857-58. In those two years of business depression and suffering, the agent became in fact a local missionary, and was paid a salary, the board of advice often contributing most liberally towards the amount. Aid was solicited in churches, and the local press advocated the permanent establishment of a mission. Organi- zation of the City Mission, March 23, 1859, seems to have been very simple. A committee representing city churches and the Provident Association, reported a plan providing for a non-sectarian board of advice, and the election of a City Missionary, with permanent head- quarters and a fixed salary.

227

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACIIUSETTS.

George P. Wilson was appointed missionary, and, hampered by no arbitrary rules, set at once about work with which he was familiar. He had quarters at city hall, and sought advice from and reported to the board. Some fifty gentlemen, headed by corporation agents, paid the first year's salary. Mr. Wilson was a layman, young, ardent, persevering, loved, and trusted. His work grew, eventually embrac- ing care of evening schools, sewing schools, Band of Hope, and gen- eral visitation on merciful errands. He was the trustee and adviser of the soldier and his family, a leader in benevolent and public- spirited enterprises. He was personally magnetic, sunny-hearted, hopeful, and inspiring. For thirteen years he served, sometimes also acting as clerk and agent of the overseers of the poor and chap- lain at the house of correction. In April, 1872, he left the city, going to Boston in service of the Boston Missionary and Church Extension Society. He died in Boston, July, 1873, and was buried in Bellevue Cemetery. The plain monument is thus inscribed : -

To the memory of GEORGE P. WILSON, City Missionary of Lawrence for thirteen years. Born January 29th, 1830. Died July 10th, 1873. He lived for others.

Commencing his work as a layman, Mr. Wilson was afterwards ordained an elder in the Methodist Church. In all his labors, his devoted wife was a faithful helper and a wise adviser.

The Rev. Charles U. Dunning succeeded Mr. Wilson, and, with his excellent wife, has faithfully labored for the good of all since 1872, conducting the affairs of the mission on business principles. This society was reorganized as a corporation, under General Stat- utes, in July, 1876. The Rev. George Packard was president of the Society until his death, in 1876. So practically useful is the work of the mission that the corporations of the city assume payment of the missionary's salary.

Churches. - In May, 1846, land was offered by the Essex Company for a Protestant Episcopal church. Founders of Grace Church selected the lot at the corner of Jackson and Common streets.

A chapel of wood, the first building dedicated to religious worship in the city, was there erected. Divine service was held in this new building, Oct. 14, 1846. It was consecrated by Bishop Eastburn, Nov. 19th following. This first church building was removed to Garden Street, and used as a vestry until 1878, when it was torn down to make room for the new and elegant brick chapel of the parish just erected. The simple but permanent church edifice of stone, orected in 1851, took the place of the old building. When consecrated by the bishop, May, 1852, this substantial house, with the help of friends outside the parish, had been wholly paid for. Several years since, the interior was renovated and beautified.

From the first gathering of this pioneer church until his death, the Rev. George Packard was rector of the church and parish. He was boru in Wiscasset, Me., studied and practised medicine for several years in early life, graduated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1821, was, ordained deacon in Richmond, Va., in May, 1843, and a priest in May, 1844, in Boston. He was for a time at Salem and Andover, Mass , as rector, and was appointed missionary for the counties of Essex and Middlesex, and his attention directed to the projected manufacturing town on the banks of Merrimac River.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 75

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett Number of Pages: 450

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450