USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine > Part 16
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Benjamin and Newman T. Allen, in company with Henry Titcomb, Joseph and Eben Norton of Farmington, built a starch-factory just below the grist-mill at Allen's Mills, about 1845. Each of these gentlemen, excepting Joseph and Eben Norton, owned one-fourth interest in the property. About the time the factory was ready for business the potato rot made its appearance in Industry, and many who had planted potatoes for the factory lost their entire crop. Joseph, Jr., and Obed N. Collins, planted five acres for Messrs. Allen & Co., and barely harvested sound potatoes enough for seed. But not- withstanding this unfavorable turn of affairs, the Company subsequently engaged in the manufacture of starch, to some extent, for six or seven years, sometimes purchasing as many as 4000 bushels of potatoes in a single season.
* Mr. Cornforth's fulling-mill, a large building, was carried away by an ice freshet in the month of February, 1837. During a warm rain the ice on the brook broke up and formed an immense jam on the flat just outside the village. This jam broke, and the waters swept down upon the village with resistless force, causing great loss to mill owners.
DEA. IRA EMERY.
Engraved by GEO. E. JOHNSON, Boston. From a photograph by Merrill of Farmington, Me.
MILLS AND MANUFACTURING. 181
DEACON EMERY'S BAARK-MILL.
At least one door-stone in Industry possesses rare historical interest, and fifty years hence its value will be greatly en- hanced, as showing the difference between the primitive imple- ments of the carly settlers and the labor-saving machinery of the present day.
In 1818 Deacon Ira Emery, a tanner and shoemaker by trade, came to Industry and bought of Esquire Peter West the house and land near West's Mills, recently occupied by Sidney Watson. Soon after his arrival in town he built a bark-mill,* where he tanned leather for his own and other's use. This mill stood a short distance west of the house, in a low run where an abundant supply of water could be had. In this mill were some six or eight vats in which the hides were submitted to the influence of the tanning liquid. The process was slow and tedious, requiring from six to twelve months to complete it. In those days cold liquor was invariably used, and years later, when the hot-liquor process was first introduced, it was re- garded with much disfavor, and tanners who had practiced the former process all their lives were slow in adopting what seemed to them an uncalled for innovation upon their estab- lished method of tanning. The bark used was ground, not in the patent mill of the present day, which evenly and rapidly reduces it to the required degree of fineness, but by the aid of a large circular stone made fast to a shaft passing through its centre. One end of this shaft was attached to a post set in the ground, while by the other end the stone was rolled around and over the bark, which it crushed by reason of its great weight. For this purpose the bark was laid in a circle in the rut or track of the heavy crusher. This stone, with traces of the old tan-vats, are the only mementos left by Father Time of the first tannery erected in Industry. The stone now serves as a door-
.
* Capt. John Mason, writing from Fairfax County, Va., under date of Oct. 25. ISS3, says : " The stone from which the bark-crusher was made originally lay in the bottom of Capt. West's mill-pond. It was hauled out by Esquire Daniel Shaw, drilled and rounded by Gilman Hilton, and set up by Samuel Pinkham and myself." The planks for the vats were purchased of Major Francis Mayhew, of New Sharon, and were hauled to Industry by Samuel Patterson, who then lived on Bannock Hill.
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step for the dwelling on the premises. When converted to its present use, a portion of it was broken off that it might better fit the position it was to occupy. Otherwise it is in as good a state of preservation as in the days of yore, when it ground the bark for tanning a large portion of the leather used in Industry. By actual measurement this stone is five feet in diameter and nearly seven inches thick. Its past history is here given, but who can predict its future? Half a century hence, when noth- ing remains of the structure of which it now forms a part save the stones of its foundation, will some gray-haired patriarch point it out as an important part of the first tannery estab- lished in town? Or, will this important relict be desecrated by the hand of the ruthless destroyer, thus plunging into oblivion one more mute chronicler of past events ?
Henry Butler probably erected the first and only tannery ever built in that section of New Vineyard annexed to Industry in 1844. Mr. Butler settled in New Vineyard in 1795, but the date of erecting his tannery can not be learned. The tan-vats were located on a small stream flowing through the farm now (1892) owned by John C. Pratt, and traces of them are still discernible.
David H. Harris, from Greene, Me., settled at the centre of the town, and constructed several tan-vats near where the meeting-house stands, simultaneously or shortly after the crec- tion of Deacon Emery's tannery at West's Mills. Mr. Harris was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and died in 1824, after living in town a few years.
Cornelius Davis, who came from Martha's Vineyard in 1810 and settled on "Federal Row," was also a shoemaker and tan- ner. He did something at tanning, but as to the extent of his business the writer has not been able to learn anything definite.
Soon after coming to Industry, Rufus Jennings built a bark- mill and constructed some half-dozen tan-vats for tanning leather for his own manufacture .* He afterwards enlarged his tannery
* Mr. Jennings also owned and operated a clover-mill in connection with his lannery and other business, but nothing is known as to the amount of patronage he received.
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and did much tanning for the people of the surrounding country. This mill had a patent cast-iron grinder, and was undoubtedly the first of the kind ever seen in town. Charles L. Allen,* in company with his brothers, Benjamin and Newman T. Allen, erected a tannery, soon after Mr. Jennings's, which they operated simultaneously with his as a rival for the public patronage. It had been idle, however, for some years prior to the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. October 2, 1860, Sylvanus B. Philbrick, a tanner by trade, came to Industry, purchased the property and re-established the business of tanning in town. He continued the business with a good degree of success until December 10, 1873, when he sold out to Deacon Joseph P. Thwing, of Farmington, and the establishment was soon after closed.t
Dudley L. Thing built a bark-mill near the cast end of the "long bridge" at West's Mills, in 1838. He conducted the business of tanning for eight or ten years, using the Col. Peter A. West store for a currying room until his brother, Jesse Thing, purchased a stock of goods, and there established him- self in trade.
SHOVEL-HANDLE MANUFACTURING.
In the fall of 1862 or early in the winter of 1863, Amos S. Hinkley moved into town and settled at Allen's Mills, rented the starch-factory, and began to manufacture shovel-handles. This new enterprise greatly favored the farmers of Industry, as nearly every one had some of the white ash, from which the handles were made, growing on his farm, and cutting the timber
* This gentleman did not remain long in partnership with his brothers, but sold out to them after three or four years. Messrs. Allen had some twenty vats in their tannery, and devoted their time principally to tanning sole-leather, which they shipped to Boston. Sometimes, however, they tanned upper leather, which they hired an experienced currier to finish. They eventually bought out, thereby adding his pat- ronage to their own.
+ Mr. Philbrick was a native of Chesterville, where he worked at his trade up to 1857, but came to Industry from Canton, Me. lle did not become sole owner of the tannery until May 7, 1861, when he purchased the remaining half of Gen. Nathan Goodridge, guardian of the minor child of Capt. Newman T. Allen.
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and working it into blocks afforded employment at a season when little else could be done. This new industry opened up an avenue whereby hundreds of dollars were eventually added to the income of the fortunate land-owners in this town and its vicinity. Although this factory was supplied with machinery of the most primitive kind, Mr. Hinkley was able to finish 1000 dozen handles per month. He purchased of several share- holders their interest in the property in the fall of 1863, and afterward of others in the following years until he became sole owner of the property. He continued to do a prosperous business until the autumn of 1869, when he sold to Holman Johnson & Sons, of Wayne. These gentlemen had been en- gaged in the business for years, and controlled the patents on an improved lathe and other important machinery. The fac- tory was entirely refitted and furnished with the latest and best machinery, and the business greatly enlarged .* Their lathe, which was capable of performing a great amount of work, was often run day and night in order to supply the demand for handles. After the death of Holman Johnson the business at Allen's Mills passed into the hands of William H. Johnson, under whose superintendency it had previously been. The factory gave employment to from eight to fifteen hands the ycar around, and one year 33,000 dozen handles were finished. Ash at length became scarce, and the factory was taken down in the summer of 1883. The manufacture of the D handle was superseded by that of a patent handle, the invention of the proprietor, William H. Johnson. For the manufacture of these Mr. Johnson rebuilt the old grist-mill, in the summer of 1881, and fitted it up with the necessary machinery, much of which was of his own invention. He made as many as three hundred dozen per week when running his factory to its fullest
* The new machinery, which largely increased the capacity of the factory, was regarded with much interest and curiosity by the citizens of that locality. The latter turned a handle complete by a single movement of the operator's hand after the block had been placed in the machine. The D part of the handle had been punched in Mr. Hinkley's factory by a die press worked by hand power. Messrs. Johnson did this work with a machine the capacity of which was only limited by the dexterity of the operator.
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capacity. Though possessing greater durability than its older rival, and other important advantages, the cost of manufacture was so large that it did not prove a remunerative enterprise to its inventor, and their manufacture was suspended in 1891 .* Mr. Johnson was also engaged in the manufacture of the D handle, at Auburn, Me., in company with Columbus Marshall, of Anson, prior to leaving Industry.
Hiram Oliver, who had for several years occupied the Wil- liam Cornforth fulling-mill building as a carpenter shop, began taking it down early in the summer of 1868, and also made preparations for erecting a larger and more convenient shop. By the following winter he had finished the building and like- wise constructed the necessary machinery required for the manufacture of rakes. Taking Gustavus W. Spinney, of Stark, into partnership, they manufactured during the winter fully one hundred dozen rakes. Owing to the great cost of suitable lum- ber and the competition of other manufacturers, the enterprise did not prove sufficiently remunerative to warrant its continu- ance.
Mr. Oliver next engaged in the manufacture of drag-rakes, for several years, with more satisfactory returns. After this he fitted up his shop with machinery for wood-working, and has since done a good business in the general jobbing line. t
SMITH AND COUGHLIN'S SPOOL-FACTORY.
Late in the summer of 1871, Lauriston A. Smith and Joseph L. Coughlin, two enterprising young men from New Vineyard, conceived the idea of erecting a factory for the manufacture of spools and staves in some convenient location in the town of Industry. Having thoroughly explored the
* Immediately on shutting down at the Allen's Mills factory, the machinery was taken out and shipped to Veedersburgh, Fountain County, Indiana, where he is still engaged in the business.
¿ On first coming to Industry, Mr. Oliver invented a washing-machine that proved a decided success. Backed by abundant capital and business ability, it might have become a paying invention. As it was, Mr. Oliver manufactured them alone, hence they were only known to the people of a limited locality.
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timber lands which would furnish the desired supply of ma- terial, and finding it abundant the enterprise became a fixed fact. Philip A. Storer generously offered these gentlemen a free lease of sufficient land for a site and yard for their pro- posed mill. The offer was accepted and the lot selected near Mr. Storer's dwelling-house, but on the opposite side of the road. The first stick of timber for the frame of the building was cut in September, and so expeditiously was the work pushed that by the time cold weather had fully set in the building was completed and ready for the machinery. The motive power was furnished by a stationary engine of thirty horse-power .* In January, 1872, the first stick of lumber was sawed, and during that winter nearly 400 cords of white birch and poplar were bought and sawed into spool timber and staves. During the summer of 1872 they put in two complete sets of spool machinery and finished their first spool in Aug- ust of that year. For the year ending August, 1874, Messrs. Smith & Coughlin finished at their factory, on an average, 150 gross of spools per day. They also manufactured 150 thou- sand staves in addition to their spool business. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Smith sold out to his partner and retired from the business. After this Mr. Coughlin continued the business alone till near the close of the year 1875, when the factory was de- stroyed by fire. The fire was discovered at about 12 o'clock on the night of Wednesday, December 8th. Owing to the highly combustible character of the factory and its contents, nothing was saved from the flames. The cause of the fire was unknown, but is supposed to have originated from a defective stove in the finishing room.
THE OLIVER BROTHERS' STEAM BOX-FACTORY.
In December, 1871, Eli N., Hiram and Alexander Oliver, broke ground for the foundation of a steam box-factory. The site chosen for the building was a few rods north of the brick
* This engine was regarded as quite a curiosity among machinists, from the fact that it had a forty-two-inch stroke.
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school-house at West's Mills. Great enthusiasm was manifested by the citizens, and many contributed labor in aid of the enter- prise. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the season, the excavating for the basement was vigorously prosecuted, and in due time the stone foundation was completed ready for the frame. Previous to this the frame had been sawed at the saw- mill, and in an incredibly short time the frame was up and the building was boarded. The structure was 30 x 60 feet, one story in height, with a basement for engine-room, etc. By the middle of March everything was in readiness for the machinery. At that time the snow was very deep in the roads, and the moving of the heavy fly-wheel and other parts of the engine from the depot at Farmington seemed to present almost insur- mountable difficulties. By skill and perseverance, however, the task was at last accomplished, and before the middle of April the engine was in complete running order. This engine was a portable one of forty-five horse-power. The fly-wheel was over eight feet in diameter and weighed two tons. The main belt contained eleven sides of heavy sole-leather, and the shaft- ing and pulleys weighed several tons in the aggregate. The factory contained three saws for cutting the lumber into box- boards, besides a large circular bolting saw, planer, and two full sets of saws for cutting the planed boards into boxes. A shed nearly one hundred feet long was erected to protect the sawed lumber from the weather while in the process of season- ing. This shed connected with the factory by means of a wooden track, over which the sawed lumber was conveyed on hand-cars. When in full operation the factory gave employ- ment to twelve or fourteen hands, and the largest amount of poplar bought in any one season was nine hundred cords. The factory was operated by its builders until May 12, 1874, when they sold out to David M. Norton, who, in connection with his brothers, James M. and Alonzo Norton, continued the business until the factory was burned, Oct. 9, 1878. After Joseph L. Coughlin's spool-factory was burned, in 1875, Hiram Oliver bought the castings of the spool machinery, and during the following winter rebuilt the lathes and set them up in a room
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in the basement of the box-factory. Here they were success- fully operated for a period of over two years. The destruction of this factory by fire was a great loss to the community, as well as to the owners, for its existence had created a demand, at remunerative prices, for poplar and birch, which grew in abundance in many parts of the town.
RACKLIFE'S CHAIR-FACTORY.
Ezekiel Rackliff moved from Stark to Industry in Novem- ber, 1874, and settled at Allen's Mills. He purchased the old grist-mill building and water-privilege, moved his chair machin- ery from Stark, and continued the manufacture of common wooden or dining-chairs. At the end of two years, failing health forced him to abandon work, and the business passed into the hands of his sons, William II. and Caleb A. Rackliff, who carried it on for some years. They eventually sold out to William H. Johnson, of whom the water-power and building had been purchased.
THE INDUSTRY LUMBER COMPANY'S STEAM-MILL.
In September, 1886, a company of five gentlemen, consist- ing of Eugene L. Smith, George F. Lovejoy, Marshall W. Smith, John W. Frederic and Samuel Rackliff, formed a co- partnership for the purpose of erecting a steam saw-mill in Industry. The site selected was on the land of Thomas M. Oliver, about two miles and a half in a northerly direction from the village of West's Mills. The building erected was 20 × 30 feet, with basement and engine-house. A portable engine of twenty-five horse-power was purchased, and on the 27th day of October was safely landed at its destination, hav- ing been three days on the road from Farmington depot. By the middle of November the engine was in running order, and by December 5th they had a shingle-machine set up and ready for business. During that fall and the succeeding winter their custom sawing amounted to between Soo and 900 thon- sand of shingles. They also bought a quantity of poplar, which
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MILLS AND MANUFACTURING. 189
was manufactured into boxes, beside sawing a large amount of white birch spool-stock. After a year or two, Samuel C. Rand became associated with the firm under the name of the Industry Lumber Co., and in the succeeding two years they bought and manufactured fifteen hundred cords of poplar, in addition to a considerable quantity of white birch spool-stock. . Their spe- cialty being packing boxes for scythes and canned sweet corn, together with boxes for dairy salt.
On the completion of the coat-shop over Harrison Daggett's store, Franklin Brackett associated himself with Mr. Daggett, under the firm name of Franklin Brackett & Co., and began the manufacture of sale coats. They started their first machines Oct. 31, 1889, increasing gradually until by March, 1890, they had eleven machines in operation and finished 200 coats per week. As the spring advanced, work became scarce, and busi- ness was suspended at the expiration of eight months. During the time the shop was in operation, from $1000 to $1500 worth of coats were finished.
MECHANICS.
The first blacksmith to come to Industry was undoubtedly Jonathan Goodridge, who located at the centre af the town on the farm now ( 1892) owned by his grandson, Alvarez N. Good- ridge. Soon after this, Gilman Hilton settled at West's Mills, and had a shop just north of the village on what is now known as the steam-mill lot. Mr. Hilton was a good workman, but intemperate in his habits. His son, Jeremiah Hilton, learned the father's trade and also worked at West's Mills. He was a skillful workman and very ingenious, but like the father, a love of strong drink was his besetting sin. His shop was located on the flat just west of the village, and was a rude affair, made by setting four posts in the ground and nailing the boards to them.
John Trafton came to town about 1815, and settled on a lot opposite where the Centre Meeting-House now stands. He built a shop, and divided his time alternately between black- smithing and farming. Francis Meader, 2d, learned the trade
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of Mr. Trafton, and located at Allen's Mills, where he worked for many years.
Elder Elias Bryant, a local Methodist preacher, came to West's Mills and worked at blacksmithing in a shop which was afterwards purchased by Thomas Cutts and son, who came to West's Mills in 1829. But no clue can be found as to the date of his settling in town or how long he remained. It is not cer- tain that Thomas Cutts and his son were the immediate suc- cessors of Elder Bryant, though there is nothing to show to the contrary excepting the fact that they purchased the shop of Samuel Patterson. It stood on the site of Joseph Eveleth's stable, but was afterwards moved across the road, and was oc- cupied at a later date by Alvin Greenleaf as a cabinet and carriage shop. The two-story shop now occupied by J. Warren Smith was built by James Cutts, in the summer of 1840. Con- cerning his labors in Industry he says: "We had some rivals in business. Gilman Hilton was a blacksmith and an old settler there. He worked in an old shop nearly opposite the Corn- forth house* and next to the saw-mill lot. Jerry Hilton had a little shop at the west end of the . Long Bridge,' and a Mr. Riggs worked there a while. They did not trouble me much,-the Ililtons were very intemperate men. I attended to my business and always had something to do." After gaining a comfortable competence at his trade, James Cutts sold his shop and devoted his time to farming, wool-buying and stock-raising.
Holmes Bruce, from Stark, worked in a shop owned by Esquire Peter West, in 1838, and perhaps earlier. His son, Silas Bruce, was also a blacksmith, and worked at his trade in Industry. Among others who worked at blacksmithing in In- dustry was William C. Will. He came to town near the close of 1844, settled on the farm now owned by John A. Seavy, and worked in a small shop on the premises. After three or four years he closed his shop and left town. Andrew Ken- nedy, Jr., and Simeon P. Keith, worked at West's Mills prior to the War of the Rebellion, and subsequently for several years,
* This house is now ( 1892) occupied by Richard C'aswell.
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John Spinney, who learned his trade of Major James Cutts. John W. Frederic has likewise worked at this trade for many years at West's Mills. Near the close of the war, J. War- ren Smith bought the Major Cutts shop, hired Steven Bennett, and subsequently Norris Savage, of whom he gained a practical knowledge of the business, which he has successfully followed up to the present time. John Calvin Oliver, a skillful workman, pursued his trade in a shop about half a mile west of Withee's Corner, and received a generous patronage up to the time of his death. J. Frank Hutchins worked at blacksmithing at Allen's Mills for some years, and then moved to Strong. He was succeeded by Alonzo O. Rackliff, who still follows the trade.
In 1828 a cooper, by the name of Joshua S. Wingate, came to West's Mills and worked in near where James M. Norton's stables stand. He was a young unmarried man, and after living in town a few years, moved away in 1832 or soon after that date.
Israel Folsom, a shoemaker by trade, worked in a shop which stood just west of Charles M. Hilton's grocery store. In 1827 he lived in a house which stood to the north of the present Methodist parsonage. Many other shoemakers, such as Josiah Emery, Isaac Webster, Benjamin Tibbetts, Jesse Luce, Daniel Hilton, Samuel D. Luce, Alexander Austin and Charles Wright, have plied their trade in town at different dates, and some contemporaneously.
John R. Buker, a harness-maker, from Greene, Andro- scoggin County, Maine, came to Industry about 1820, or a little later, and worked at his trade in James Davis's store at Davis's Corner. His son Orlando, according to the town records, was born in Industry, Jan. 10, 1825, but he had left town prior to April 1, 1832, as his name does not appear on the tax list of that year. His wife was a sister to David H. Harris.
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