USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medway > The history of Medway, Mass., 1713-1885 > Part 24
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After much patient experimenting, splitting the straw with her thumb nail, she at length succeeded with seven straws to make the braid. To whiten it she put brimstone into a tin pan with coals of fire and held the braid in the smoke, which bleached it. Her first bonnet was of seven braids, open work, and lined with pink satin. It was much admired, and to Betsey Metcalf, afterward Mrs. Betsey Baker, the wife of Obed Baker, of West Dedham, Mass., belongs the honor of making the first straw braid and the first straw bonnet manufactured in America. She communicated her art to others and there sprang up this straw industry of the region, which has given to so many remunerative employment and made straw manufacturers rich. Mrs. Betsey Baker is to be remembered also for her devoted piety. It was her habit in receiving callers to have a season of prayer before they departed. In the year 1855, there were made in Norfolk County, 2,367,160 bonnets, and 1,580,000 hats, giving employment to over seven thousand persons. And in the thirty years that have since intervened, this has been one of the most thriving and profitable industries of the state, and has been one of the prin- cipal manufactures in Medway.
THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON.
1807-1885.
Machines for the spinning of cotton were invented in England by John Wyatt, and patented in the name of his partner, Lewis Paul, as early as 1738, but Sir Richard Arkwright succeeded in constructing a machine for spinning cotton by means of rollers, which was patented about 1767, and a cotton mill was erected at Nottingham, operated by horse-power. This mode was found to be too expensive, and another mill was erected at Craw- ford on a larger scale, and operated by water-power. He afterwards invented a variety of machines and improvements for preparing the cotton for spin- ning, all of which were patented in 1775, and the world is indebted to him above any one else, probably, for the successful introduction of this impor- tant industry. He entered into partnership with Jedediah Strutt, of Derby, who established there an extensive manufacture of ribbed stockings, and in connection with Mr. Arkwright erected cotton works at Milford, near Bel- per. Samuel Slater was apprenticed to Mr. Strutt for six years, from the eighth day of January, 1783, to learn the art of a " cotton spinner." About the first of September, 1789, he took passage from London to New York. After a few weeks' employment in the New York Manufacturing Company, he engaged with Almy & Brown, of Providence, who had commenced the manufacture of various fabrics by hand-power, and had attempted the use of machinery by water which had failed of success.
Slater claimed to have a full knowledge of the business of Messrs. Ark- wright and Strutt, and could make the machinery, and operate the works when erected. Though it appears he did not bring, as has been reported, any models or patterns concealed npon his person, he succeeded, from mem- ory, in constructing machinery after the Arkwright patent, under a pledge that
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if he did not succeed he would have nothing for his services, but throw the whole of his work into the river at Pawtucket, where, in 1790, the first suc- cess was attained in America in spinning by water-power, as " good yarn either for stocking or twist as any that was made in England at that time." Here was the beginning of a new and successful industry in the United States. It must be admitted, however, that in Beverly, Mass., a cotton mill was projected and managed by John Cabot and Joshua Fisher in 1787, and received the patronage of the state by a grant of land, but for want of ability and means to obtain the Arkwright patents they were obliged to abandon the enterprise, at a loss of $10,000, more or less.
After the success of Slater at Pawtucket had been established, cotton mills gradually sprang up in New England and elsewhere, until, in 1810, Albert Gallatin endeavored to secure the statistics of this industry, which had been extended into several of the states, and it appears at that time there were in the entire country 168 factories, with 90,000 spindles. Massa- chusetts had fifty-four, mostly small mills, with 19,488 spindles ; Rhode Island had twenty-six factories, with 21,030 spindles ; Connecticut fourteen, with 11,883 spindles. In 1813 the first mill in the world which united all the operations of converting the raw material into cotton cloth was erected in Waltham ; and the American system of gathering around the mill the homes of the operatives, and providing them with means of intellectual and moral culture, was there established.
THE OLD COTTON MILL. ISII - 1881.
Messrs. Luther Metcalf and Philo Sanford, who owned the old Whiting Mill on Charles River, associated, May 14, 1805, with Abijah Richardson, M. D., Nathaniel Miller, M. D., Messrs. William Felt, Comfort Walker, and John Blackburn, " for the purpose of carding and spinning, and manufactur-
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ing cotton in all its various branches," by a formal agreement. They con- tracted with one of their associates, John Blackburn, an English mechanic, who had been employed by Samuel Slater, to manage the business. The first mill erected was 60x30 feet, two stories high, and the machinery operated 820 spindles. When looms for weaving were first used in this mill is unknown. Mr. Blackburn's compensation was to be a good tenement house, with a garden, ten cords of wood annually for three years, and $2 per day until the machinery was completed, and $1.50 per day afterward, to superintend its operation.
The associates above named, including Lyman Tiffany, were incorporated by the general court as " The Medway Cotton Manufactory" by a special charter, approved March 4, 1809, and signed by Timothy Bigelow, Speaker of the House, H. G. Otis, President of the Senate, and Levi Lincoln, Gov- ernor. A true copy was furnished the corporation, and signed April 3, 1809, by William Tudor, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
On Sunday, October 20, 1811, this mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt, substantially as at first, before the close of the year. It stood for seventy years, and was sold at auction August 17, 1881, for $1.50, to be re- moved within ten days. Lyman Tiffany was agent and treasurer of the corporation until 1819, when Oliver Dean, M. D., was elected, and served until 1826, when he was succeeded by Luther Metcalf, Jr., who held the position until the corporation was dissolved in 1864.
Before the organization was dissolved the real estate and machinery were sold to Messrs. J. P., J. G., and F. B Ray, of Franklin, who, after a brief ownership, and without operating the mill, sold the property to Mr. William A. Jenckes, of Woonsocket. Messrs. Jenckes and Joel A. Crooks operated the mill for the manufacture of flox, under the name of the Medway Flox Company, and August 10, 1881, the mill property, including one dwelling- house, was conveyed by deed of William A. Jenckes to the Sanford Mills Corporation for the sum of $15,000.
The early and complete success of the old corporation, and the manu- facture of cotton machinery on the same premises, and afterward at West Medway, begun by Luther Metcalf, Jr., Joel Hunt, and Cephas Thayer, gave much importance to the town, and attracted young men desirous of en- gaging in manufacturing pursuits. In 1837 there were six cotton mills in operation along the river Charles, within the limits of the town.
Among those living in or attracted to Medway by these industries, and who laid here the foundations of their success and fortunes, achieved else- where, were John Blackburn, Lyman Tiffany, Oliver Dean, M. D., Royal Southwick, Peter Lamson, Duncan Wright, and his three sons, viz., Alex- ander Wright, Peter Wright, and John Wright, the Fisk brothers, Ephraim Stevens, Jacob Stevens, John Bestwick, Elias Whiting, Sanford Whiting, Gilbert Clark, John Smith, Mayo Pond, James W. Clark, and others. Here, in their infancy, carpet weaving by water-power, coach lace, bobinet lace, and cotton bleaching, were nursed until other fields invited them. Here cotton machinery was made for the first mills at Waltliam, and for other places now recognized as manufacturing towns. Men graduated from these mills and shops in Medway to lay the foundations of Lowell and Man- chester, and other large manufacturing cities.
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The site of the old cotton factory, where Nathaniel Whiting built his saw and grist mill in the early days, is now occupied by a substantial brick fac- tory for making woolen goods, known as THE SANFORD MILLS.
" THE COTTON MILL MORALIZED." This was a poem written by Walton Felch, of Medway, and published by Samnel Allen, in 1816. This poem was a literary curiosity. To it were appended a series of notes. The poeti- cal effusion of the said Felch has been characterized as a " crude production," but the notes have been considered somewhat valuable as giving an idea of a cotton mill in Massachusetts in 1816, and as showing what mechanical devices were in use at that early date. These notes were published in an August number of the Boston Journal of Commerce, of 1885, to which persons interested are referred.
Among those who were identified with the early manufacturing in Med- way were Mayo Pond, who subsequently was the able manager of the Schuylerville Mills near Saratoga, N. Y. ; Royal Southwick, who was one of the earliest manufacturers in Lowell, accumulated large wealth, and was State senator from Middlesex County ; the Fisk brothers, who, from the manufacturing of machinery on Chicken Brook, went to Dover, N. H., and established the Cocheco Mills ; John Bestwick and his wife, who built and operated the first lace loom in America, and afterward removed to Andover ; John Smith, who with his brother, Peter Smith, afterward carried on cotton manufacture in Andover, and who erected Brechen Hall Library, and gave so largely to Andover Theological Seminary ; Oliver Dean, M. D., who was, in the early history of Manchester, N. H., the superintendent of the Amos- keag Manufacturing Company, and whose wealth founded Dean Academy in his native town, Franklin, Mass. ; James W. Clark, of Framingham, for many years the senior member of a large wholesale manufacturing house in Boston.
The Lowell Carpet Manufacturing Company, known all over the world, was born on Chicken Brook, near the old Cutler place. THE OLD CARPET MILL, where the first woolen carpet was woven in New England, was torn down in 1860, by Timothy Partridge.
Almost the latest use this old mill was put to appears in the following incident : " In the winter of 1858, during a revival of religion, four or five young men were on their way home from meeting; some of them were deeply impressed, and it was suggested, as they passed by, that they go into the old mill for a season of prayer, which they did, and the result was the hopeful conversion of the whole number."
THE HOLBROOK BELL FOUNDRY. 1816-1880.
The business of manufacturing bells and church or town clocks, which, in former years gave employment to so many people, and contributed so much to the prosperity of the place, and which carried the name of the town to almost every habitable portion of the country, was established in 1816, by Major George Holbrook, who removed from Brookfield, Mass., where he first began the business in 1797. The reason of his removal from Brookfield was financial troubles caused by indorsing notes to a large amount for a sup-
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posed friend. Major Holbrook being obliged to meet these payments, was financially ruined. His successful business, and the beautiful home, famous among those of Worcester County for its elegance and generous hospitality, passed into the hands of strangers. Broken in health and spirits he returned to his native town, Wrentham, Mass. While residing there he was in- formed that a bell was wanted for the new meeting-house in East Medway, and he secured the contract to cast it. This bell was the first cast, and the first which ever hung in a church steeple in the town. It was cast in a shanty standing on the site of the present residence of E. L. Holbrook, Esq.
Through the assistance of many friends the shanty was built out of refuse lumber, and the melting furnace was built out of the condemned bricks of a neighbor's brick kiln. Major Holbrook did the greater part of the work himself. The bell was cast in the presence of almost the whole population of the vicinity, in fact, so great was the number of people, and so eager were all to see such an unusual sight, that the sides of the building were taken down and the space for the workmen roped around, in order that the people might see, and the bell makers might have room to work. This first venture of the bell business was successful. A finely cast, clear-toned bell, weighing 1,208 pounds was cast. This bell for many years called the good people of the parish together for the worship of God, and to all other public gatherings. The coming of Major Holbrook into the town had been opposed by very many good and well-to-do people, who objected to his becoming a citizen, for fear that he would become a pauper and a charge upon the town ; but immedi- ately upon his successful production of a bell which pleased them, and of which they were very proud, offers of assistance poured in from every side, and a large and successful business was established, one foundry after another being built, each larger and more complete than its predecessor. It is an interesting fact that Major Holbrook in early life had been an appren- tice in the bell foundry and clock-making business to Paul Revere, of Revolu- tionary fame, for whom he entertained a warm friendship until his death.
The Holbrook bell foundry was in reality, though not legally, the suc- cessor of the famous Revere bell foundry, as during the years 1816-1820 it was the only establishment of the kind in America. The business was suc- cessfully carried on by four successive generations of the same family, until the year 1880, when the proprietor accepted a position offered to him in the Pension Office Department, Washington, D. C., and sold the valuable pat- terns and franchise to parties in San Francisco, Cal., who had long been en- deavoring to secure the same. During the period of its existence, over eleven thousand bells were cast at this establishment and sent to all parts of the United States, British Provinces, Mexico, and the Sandwich Islands. As to the reputation of the Holbrook bells, they were everywhere celebrated. They were exhibited at the industrial exhibitions throughout the country, and came in competition with the bells of others, and always received the highest awards ; and never, in a single instance, receiving any but the highest award. Among other awards was the grand gold medal from the Massachusetts Char- itable Mechanics Association, of Boston, for general superiority and pure musical tone, and this on occasion when the proprietor of the principal rival in the business was President of the Association, and had many bells on exhibi- tion at the same time. On another occasion the grand gold medal of honor
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of the American Institute, of New York, was awarded to the Holbrook foun- dry for undoubted superiority and general excellence, as compared with the productions of others, and for the pure and musical tones and extraordinary vibrations of their bells. In fact the very flattering testimonial from this association, which accompanied the medal, denominated the production of the Holbrook foundry as the standard bells of America, a declaration which the proprietors point to with no little pride, holding it, in their estimation higher than patents of nobility or of lordly birth. These complimentary testimonials were from leading musical men and mechanics of the country, among whom were Dr. Lowell Mason, Mr. George J. Webb, and Jonas Chickering, Esq., the famous piano manufacturer of Boston.
Major George Holbrook, who established the foundry, was a man who had great ingenuity, and could work his way out of any mechanical predica- ment, and could successfully plan and lay out the work for others, though he possessed no great faculty of doing the work himself. It is to his son, Colonel George H. Holbrook, who became an eminent musician, that is due the credit of improving the tone of the bells and changing them from noisy machines to musical instruments. This justly celebrated musician succeeded his father in the business, which he prosecuted until 1872. He was justly regarded as the foremost bell maker in America.
The business was for several years in charge of E. L. Holbrook, Esq., the son of Colonel Holbrook, until he entered the business of manufactur- ing church organs, which was more agreeable to him, and for which his su- perior musical education preeminently fitted him. Mr. E. H. Holbrook, a grandson of Colonel Holbrook, in 1868, became associated with his grand- father in the business, and in 1872 succeeded to the full ownership and con- trol of the same, until it was relinquished in 1880. Very few business houses which were in existence in 1816, and which have been constantly carried on by the members of the same family, can now be found in the town or vicinity. Indeed very few people are now living in the town, who remember the estab- lishment of this business in the place. Few families have ever associated in a business so long continued, so honorably conducted, and on which they can look back with so much to be proud of, and so little to regret, as the proprietors of the Holbrook Bell Foundry.
THE BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURE. 1828 -1885.
The manufacture of boots was commenced in Medway by Mr. Willard Daniels at his home near Braggville, about the year 1828, giving employ- ment to a few men. In 1832 he removed to West Medway, where, by his energy and industry, he established a large and successful business which has since become one of the leading industries, requiring more capital and employing more hands than any other in the town.
Mr. Daniels was succeeded by his son, Mr. Leander S. Daniels, who, . with enlarged accommodations and improved machinery, is doing a very extensive and successful business.
Deacon John S. Smith moved from Holliston to Medway, and settled near the Baptist church in 1832, and began the manufacture of brogan shoes and
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boots, which he carried on successfully till about 1870, when he retired and was succeeded by his son, Mr. Abner M. Smith, who has made large addi- tions to his factory and introduced improved machinery, giving employment to about one hundred and twenty-five men, and producing about nine thou- sand cases of goods annually.
Other manufacturers have carried on business here, prominent among whom were Mr. Joseph Bullard, who manufactured brogan shoes for the Southern trade as early as 1834, and was succeeded by his son, Mr. J. N. Bullard, who has continued the manufacture of boots and shoes to the present time. Among other prominent manufacturers in West Medway may be mentioned Messrs. Benjamin Ward, Elihu Partridge, George L. Pond, William H. Temple, Luther Daniels, Bullard & Brewer, C. F. Parker & Co., Fogg, Houghton & Coolidge, and David A. Partridge, Esq.
About the year 1835 Mr. Milton H. Sanford began the manufacture of russet brogans in the village, in connection with the store business, for- merly conducted by his father, in the building which is now converted into the fine residence occupied by E. A. Daniels, M. D.
Soon afterward, Captain Clark Partridge joined him as an employé, and finally succeeded him in the store and brogan business, adding the manufacture of ladies' and children's shoes. The shop built by Mr. Sanford for the busi- ness was afterward, in 1841, occupied by Mr. M. M. Fisher, for the manufac- ture of straw goods, and is now a dwelling-house on Mansion Street, owned by Mrs. Jason E. Wilson.
Captain Partridge next occupied for a shop, one or both of the buildings now standing in the rear of Sanford Hall. In about 1840 he bought the residence and store of Mr. J. B. Wilson, standing where his family now re- side, now occupied by Mr. J. W. Thompson, on Broad Street, and manu- factured boots, using the barn, now Mr. Melville Fisk's paint shop, and a part of the house for this purpose. His business increasing from year to' year, he contracted in 1847, with Mr. Elisha Cutler for a lease of a shop to be built, which now stands at the head of Pine Street.
Soon after, Mr. C. B. Whitney, a native of Milford, connected with the large boot and shoe house of Blacklock & Wheelwright, of Baltimore, re- moved to Medway, and was admitted as a partner in the business. They con- tinued here together several years, and about 1854-'55, sold out to Mr. A. S. Harding. The firm of Partridge & Whitney opened a boot, shoe, and leather store in Boston, selling the goods made by Mr. Harding, until 1857, when Mr. Whitney repurchased the business of Mr. Harding, who entered into the straw goods business with M. M. Fisher, Esq. Mr. Whitney occupied the Cutler shop during the war and had profitable army contracts.
Captain Partridge, on giving up the Boston store, and the partnership with Mr. Whitney, bought the old Cheever straw shop, called the " Convent," standing near Noyes' new block on Broad Street, which was destroyed by fire in 1870. In 1863 he admitted to partnership, Mr. J. W. Thompson, under the firm name of C. Partridge & Company. After the fire of 1870 the firm resumed business in the Cutler shop which had been vacated by Mr. Whitney, who had erected a new shop, corner of North and Broad streets, where he first introduced steam-power to operate boot machinery.
The firm of C. Partridge & Company was dissolved in 1873, and Mr.
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J. W. Thompson continued the business at the Cutler shop until 1875, when he removed to his present factory on Village Street, which had been built two years before for Messrs. Parsons & Seavey, by Eaton & Wilson. Messrs. Partridge, Whitney, and Thompson were all skillful and successful in their chosen life work as boot manufacturers. Mr. Whitney relinquished his business to his eldest son, Mr. C. S. Le B. Whitney, who, in company with Loring & Reynolds, of Boston, operated the Broad Street shop till that was consumed by fire in 1875, and it has never been rebuilt. Messrs. Mc- Ginnis & Tracy, in ISSI, started a boot business in the old Barber mill build- ing, which was continued till a fire in 1883 compelled a surrender.
1
EE
MEDWAY FACTORY
MESSRS. SEAVEY BROTHERS, PROPRIETORS AND MANUFACTURERS.
Messrs. Seavey Brothers in ISSI began work on boots for a Boston party, in the Cutler shop, and after a year's operation, the failure of the Boston house closed the shop for a year. They started again in the manufacture of fine goods, chiefly shoes, for Messrs. Field, Thayer & Company, of Boston, which proved so satisfactory as to justify the demand for greatly enlarged facilities, and in 1885, by the aid of Messrs. Field, Thayer & Company, and other citizens of Medway and Milford, they now possess the largest boot shop in this part of the country, sufficient to accommodate three hundred em- ployés.
THE MANUFACTURE OF CHURCH ORGANS AND ORGAN PIPES. 1837 - 1885.
THE HOLBROOK MANUFACTORY OF CHURCH ORGANS was established in 1837 by George H. Holbrook, Esq., and is at the present time the oldest establishment, with one exception, in that line in the United States. The first organ was built by Mr. Holbrook for his own use and as an experiment, not
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having had any experience in the business, or any practical knowledge of organs, as he had never seen many instruments of that kind. The proprietor manufactured his tools, patterns, made his own pipes, both of metal and wood, voiced and tuned the same, and succeeded in producing what in those days, passed for a fine organ. From that very humble beginning the busi- ness has increased until, at the present time, a large and complete factory stands where the little building stood, and organs of all sizes are manufac- tured, of fine musical quality and of beautiful design.
Mr. J. Holbrook Ware became associated with Mr. Holbrook, and the business was for many years carried on under the firm name of Holbrook & Ware. Mr. Ware was a skillful worker of wood, having learned the cabinet trade, and served several years in the celebrated Goodrich Organ Factory.
Mr. William G. Ware, under the direction of his father, became a thor- ough master of making the metal pipes, and after carrying on the business for many years disposed of the same to his brothers, Messrs. A. L. and M. A. Ware, who had become expert in the same manufacture. In 1850 the firm of Holbrook & Ware was dissolved by Mr. Ware's retiring. Mr. Holbrook disposed of the business to his son, E. L. Holbrook, Esq., then a teacher of music, residing in Bridgeport, Conn. This gentleman, who has since con- ducted the business, was particularly fitted for the same, on account of his superior musical education, his great mechanical skill and ingenuity, his knowledge of architecture and draughting, and his well-earned reputation, acquired at an early age, of being one of the foremost organists of New Eng- land. To accept this business, which he desired to make his life work, he left a position in a city near New York, where he had established himself as a teacher of music, and was rapidly acquiring fame and fortune. Contrary to the advice of his many friends, he abandoned one of the most promising positions ever occupied by a young musician, and returned to the old home, that he might live among his kindred and neighbors, and succeed his father in the business which he loved, and for which he was so well fitted. During his management of the business he built and sent to all parts of the country and Canada, many large and fine organs ; and his organs are widely celebrated for the beautiful voicing, or pure and even tones. They have received very many severe trials, and highly complimentary testimonials from the leading organists of the country, among others Messrs. Whiting, Zrindell, Loretzy, Warren and Morgan.
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