USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 20
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John Russ, having purchased the site at Farmington Falls, where Jeremiah Stinchfield's fulling-mill and David Morrill's carding-machine formerly stood, built an expensive saw-mill, which he operated a few years, when it passed into the hands of Francis Butler. During Mr. Butler's owner- ship it was under the charge of Thomas Chase. In 1838, it was burned ; afterwards rebuilt, and two years later sold to William Whittier. It has since remained in the family, and is in successful operation to-day.
In 1825, Gen. Nathaniel Russell erected a saw-mill upon the Temple Stream, in the western part of the town. This mill was in successful operation, under different owners, until
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262
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
recently purchased by H. W. Priest, and converted into a manufactory of excelsior, etc.
The saw-mill upon the east branch of the Fairbanks mill-stream was built by Alexander Hillman, in 1849, and has been operated in a limited way to the present time. The water-power at this point on the stream, had been previously utilized by Nathaniel Davis, to run a clover-mill, in which he lost his life, in 1842. The freshet of May 24, 1850, swept away this building and the dam with which it was connected.
A steam saw-mill, situated near the eastern end of the Center bridge, and owned by Erasmus D. Prescott, was em- ployed for the manufacture of long timber, for several years. The enterprise did not prove a pecuniary success, and was abandoned.
FULLING-MILLS.
The first fulling-mill was built by William Allen, in 1793, on the Allen brook, so-called, in the northeast part of the town. He found, however, the water-power insufficient for his purpose, and removed his machinery to the Falls village, putting up a temporary mill in connection with one at that time owned by Jones and Knowlton. Mr. Allen abandoned the business soon after.
In the latter part of the last century, Jonathan Knowlton built a fulling-mill at Farmington Falls, which was placed under the charge of Jeremiah Stinchfield, a young clothier who had recently come to the village. He was soon enabled to buy the mill (1799), which he enlarged and supplied with improved machinery. As this was the only fulling-mill in the region, Mr. Stinchfield conducted a large and profitable business until his death, March 15, 1824. At that time he was considered one of the wealthiest men in town.
In 1810, a fulling-mill was put in operation upon the Fairbanks stream, by the construction of a dam just below the site of the present mills. This mill was erected by Enoch Wood and Luke Perkins, of Winthrop, in connection with a carding-mill, built by Eben and John P. Shaw, of Farmington.
263
MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES.
This establishment was successfully conducted for many years, under different owners. Samuel Emery was a promi- nent operator in the fulling-mill, and Daniel Davis in the carding-mill. About 1840, the business was abandoned, and the buildings allowed to go to decay. Little remains to indicate the site where an important industry, with its hum of machinery, was once carried on.
The first carding-mill was built at the Falls village, about 1800, by Blake and Morrill. It was purchased by John P. and Ebenezer Shaw, in 1804, and partially burned during their ownership. This property afterwards passed into the hands of David Morrill, who did an extensive and profitable business at the Falls, and afterwards on the Chesterville side of the river, whither he had removed the machinery.
TANNERIES.
Ebenezer Sweet, from Attleboro, Mass., was the first to begin the business of tanning leather (1785). His tannery was located at the center of the town, and was the first one this side of Winthrop. Samuel Sewall began tanning soon after Mr. Sweet, on the Wilson Stream near North Chester- ville, and Samuel Poole, about the same time, built a tannery on the estate known as " Few-acres," and for several years did considerable business. In 1805, Hopkinson and Baker erected commodious buildings, with a large tan-yard, on river-lot No. 46, east side. Mr. Baker soon sold out his in- terest in the tannery and removed to Wilton, but Mr. Hop- kinson continued the business with success, and also engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 1818, he removed to Ohio, and Joseph Knowlton succeeded him, making im- provements and apparently doing well, until he met with financial reverses, and, in 1842, removed to Lafayette, Ind., where his death occurred. The tanning of leather, at this place, has been suspended for many years, but the buildings are occupied by John T. Taylor, for pulling wool and tan- ning pelts.
In 1805, Elijah Butler constructed a tanncry on his farm (now owned by S. Clifford Belcher), and carried on the busi-
264
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
ness several years. Afterwards it passed into the hands of his son, Winthrop Butler, who became a successful tanner. No business has been done here for fifty years, and nearly all traces of the yard are obliterated.
Luther Townsend began business as a tanner at Fair- banks, in 1810. His building stood upon the site formerly occupied by Jason D. Cony's grist-mill, and contained a bark- mill and such other apparatus as was necessary for the prose- cution of his trade. In the freshet of April 18, 1827, the dam connected with the tannery, together with the building, was swept away, and the tan-yard much injured. Mr. Town- send rebuilt his tannery, upon a large and improved scale, and was the first to introduce machinery and employ water- power in the various operations connected with the business. In earlier establishments, the motive power for grinding bark was a horse, whose hide was as well tanned during his suc- cessive revolutions as the leather in the pits. Mr. Townsend was succeeded by his son, Samuel O. Townsend, who as- sumed the management of the enterprise. The buildings have since been torn down, and the fact that a tannery once existed in this locality, is fast fading from the memory of the present generation.
Joshua Adams, a native of Wales, did a good business tanning leather, at the Center Village, from 1828 until 1846. He also manufactured boots and shoes. After his removal to Wilton, he continued his trade profitably.
Joseph E. Were, an Englishman by birth, a man of fine physique and gentlemanly bearing, who had passed through many of the institutions of learning in his native land, came in 1832 to Farmington Falls. He was regarded as a valua- ble acquisition to the fashionable society of that quiet hamlet, who supposed him to be very wealthy ; and his house became a favorite resort of the towns-people. He purchased a resi- dence upon the Farmington side of the river at the Falls, and constructed a tannery with commodious buildings, and a capacious yard on the Chesterville side. This establishment combined most of the labor-saving improvements of that day, with facilities for tanning in the winter as well as the
265
MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES.
summer season. He conducted the tannery on an extensive scale until the buildings were destroyed by fire. After they were rebuilt, Mr. Were continued the business but a few years, as it soon became apparent that the Englishman was no match for the Yankee in financial operations. He dis- posed of his property and removed to Prince Edward Island, where the remainder of his life was spent.
There was a tannery near Backus Corner, which was put into operation by Henry A. Brooks and Apollos Osgood, in 1834. It was afterwards under the management of Charles Hutchins, who subsequently removed to Lewiston, and the establishment has not been used for tanning purposes for some ten years.
During the years from 1850 to 1872, the business of tan- ning leather declined in Farmington, and until J. P. Thwing, of New Sharon, came to the place, very little was done in this line. In 1872, he erected a large tannery just east of the village, in which steam-power was introduced. A force of some twenty men was employed, and about 25,000 calf- skins tanned annually. Mr. Thwing successfully conducted his business, which has been among the prominent industries of the town., until 1884, when G. L. and A. S. Riggs, of Chesterville, purchased the tannery. Messrs. Riggs confine their operations to tanning sheep skins.
SHOE-MAKING.
During the first half-century after the settlement of the town, boots and shoes were generally made within its boun- daries, and shoe-shops were soon established at its different villages. In the early history of the town, and even within the memory of many now living, a practice prevailed of hav- ing the shoemaking and mending done at the home of the families in need of such work; and a class of workmen sometimes called cobblers, went from house to house with their kits of tools, making boots and shoes. These were the men who wrought :
" From tough old hide Found in the pit When the tanner died."
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
In later years, an entire change has been effected in the manufacture of boots and shoes. These articles are now made in other towns and cities, and are kept by merchants who supply the demand. Movements have been made from time to time to establish a shoc-factory in Farmington ; but all efforts in this direction thus far have resulted in failure.
Among the earliest of the shoe-makers were Samuel Knowlton, Sr., Simeon Russ, Amos Flint, Ephraim Cowan, and Robert Pratt; later, Ezra Gibson pursued this trade at Fairbanks, Francis Knowlton upon his farm, and Joshua Allen and Joshua Adams at the Center Village. In late years, Edward Skillings, L. B. Goodrich, and A. J. Bemis have been engaged in this business.
BLACKSMITHING.
Farmington from its first settlement has been liberally supplied with that class of mechanics who " smote the anvil," but their operations were generally confined to the routine of custom work. Prominent among the early blacksmiths were Peter Gay, at the northern part of the town ; John and John Church, Jr., Benjamin Heath, and Nathan Backus, at the Center Village; Asahel and Jeremy Wyman and James Marvel, at West Farmington ; and John Young and David Dwinel at the Falls village. In the first decade of the century, Mr. Dwinel established a trip-hammer at his shop, which was in use until swept away by the great freshet of 1820. The necessary information to speak in detail of this numerous class of mechanics, or with chronological order, is not available.
HAT-MANUFACTURES.
Hats were manufactured in Farmington as early as 1805 by Robert Barker, who built a shop upon the site recently occupied by S. C. Burnham's dwelling-house. He pursued his vocation for some years, when the building passed to Samuel Belcher, who used it for a store. In 1811 Christo- pher Atkinson, a hatter, erected a shop where A. W. F." Belcher's brick store stands, for the prosecution of his trade. He was succeeded by Coburn Emerson, who manufactured
267
MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES.
hats until about 1825. The business was subsequently con- ducted by Wood and Bond, and later by Mr. Wood. The first hatter at the Falls village was Isaac Hibbard, who worked at his trade, with some interruptions and removals, for nearly forty years. Thomas Spooner also manufactured hats at the Falls for a short time about 1826, but afterwards removed to New Portland, where he died.
CABINET AND CHAIR-MAKING.
This industry, like others, is as old as the needs of the community, and was carried on extensively through many years. The early inhabitants were dependent on home manufactures for the furniture of their houses, as well as for other necessary conveniences, and for successive generations supplied their homes with the various articles made by their townsmen. These workmen received a large patronage from the surrounding towns, and as their work was executed in a superior manner, of durable material and strong construction, it was well fitted to withstand the usage of half a century or even more. Prominent among this class of mechanics were Lemuel Bursley and Dillingham and Fuller, at the Falls ; Capt. Henry Stewart, A. H. Stewart, George T. Soule, and Levi M. Williams, at the Center Village ; and James Hersey and Daniel Stewart, at Backus Corner.
CARRIAGES AND SLEIGHS.
The manufacture of these vehicles began with the advent of the present century. Though for many years conducted on a small scale, this industry has increased from year to year until it has assumed large proportions, and Farmington carriages, celebrated for their thorough construction and beauty of style, find a market in every county of the State. The sale in Aroostook County is particularly large .. Farm- ington may well be denominated the Amesbury of Maine. In treating of this industry, access has been had for statistics to an article published in the Franklin Journal under date of Feb. 10, 1883, and the extent to which the manufacture
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
of carriages and sleighs is carried on, together with the estimated amount of sales yearly, is tabulated from that paper :
Carriages.
Sleighs.
Value. $3,500
B. Goodwin,
20
I5
E. Knowlton,
20
2,000
C. F. Packard & Co.,
5ยบ
7,000
J. Knowlton & Son,
100
8,500
A. Morrow,
8
2,100
S. D. Knowlton,
50
4,200
I. W. Knowlton,
145
50
15,000
Lovejoy Bros.,
50
20
6,000
J. K. Lovejoy,
75
50
6,000
H. C. Barnard,
I5
1,500
I. R. Wright,
15
1,200
A. E. Knowles,
40
4,000
H. D. Hodgkins,
I2
1,000
B. F. Watson,
50
10.000
S. Robbins,
13
1,000
M. L. Alden,
13
15
1,000
B. Lowell,
50
7,000
726
150
$81,000
Samuel Carvill has been omitted in the foregoing list. He began to make carriages and sleighs at Fairbanks nearly half a century ago, and may be regarded as the veteran in this industry. In connection with his son, John H. Carvill, he still continues the business.
POTTERIES.
Early in the present century, Josiah Norcross established a pottery for the manufacture of earthenware at West Farm- ington, and carried on a large business. During the winter season he traveled through the neighboring towns, selling his wares to merchants and housewives. At his decease the business passed into the hands of his son, Matthias S. Nor- cross, who conducted it much as his father had done. He in turn was succeeded by his son, Matthias S. Norcross, Jr.,
MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 269
who followed but a short time the vocation of his father and grandfather. The pottery was abandoned many years ago.
CLOVER-MILLS.
Previous to 1833 a clover-mill was put in successful oper- ation by Joseph Huse and Moses Craig upon the lower dam of the Fairbanks stream. The machinery was afterwards moved to the privilege on the Temple Stream near Mr. Craig's house, and employed for the same purpose several years. No use is made of this water-power at the present time.
In 1843 Abiel Abbott, who resided at Temple, built a mill for the manufacture of starch from potatoes at West Farmington. This enterprise proved a profitable one until the potato-rot appeared, when it was abandoned, with some pecuniary loss.
MACHINE-SHOPS.
The first machine-shop at the Center Village was erected by Robinson A. Davis, who used steam as a motive power, and manufactured doors, sashes, blinds, etc. He did a large business for several years.
In 1861 Alvan Neal, David McCleery, and Elbridge G. Craig as partners introduced steam-power into their machine- shop for the manufacture of doors, sashes, and blinds. A profitable business has been done in this shop under various partnerships. When Josiah T. Smart, the last proprietor, died (July 8th, 1882), the machinery was sold, and the build- ing finally converted into a dwelling-house.
Prescott and Bixby established a machine-shop with steam-power at the Center Village in 1883. This firm is doing a large and profitable business in the manufacture of lumber and general job-work.
In 1869 Leonard Atwood erected at the Falls village a large and expensive building, known as the " Franklin Mill," designed for making pulp. P. H. Walker operated it but a few years before the water-power proved insufficient, and the machinery was transferred to Livermore Falls. The building
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
is occupied by J. W. H. Baker for the manufacture of excel- sior, and by B. F. Watson for sawing and planing lumber and making carriages.
PRINTING AND PUBLISHING.
William A. Dunn introduced the first printing-press in town in the autumn of 1831, from which he issued the Sandy River Yeoman, a very creditable newspaper, but its publica- tion ceased upon the completion of the first volume. Mr. Dunn was the editor and proprietor of the Yeoman, but was assisted in the editorial department by Mr. Hamlet Bates, afterwards for many years Judge of the Municipal Court in Chelsea, Mass. The Ycoman was an exponent of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party.
Mr. Josiah S. Swift may be regarded as the father of jour- nalism in Franklin County. Previous to 1840, Mr. Swift had conducted the publication of the Inquirer, a newspaper printed at Bath. Soon after the organization of the County of Franklin, Mr. Swift removed his press and printing mate- rial to this town, and began the publication of the newspaper known as the Franklin Register, the first number of which was issued Jan. 31, 1840. The Register was a Democratic organ, and possessed much editorial merit. Mr. Swift con- tinued the publication of the Register as its editor and pro- prietor until Dec. 26, 1844, when it became merged in the Chronicle, the first number of which was issued Jan. 11, 1845, and its publication has continued without interruption to the present time. It was independent in politics, and so contin- ued until about 1854, when, upon the organization of the Republican party, it became one of the organs of that party, with which it has since been identified. The Chronicle has kept abreast of the times in securing most of the improve- ments in printing material, having discarded some years since the old "hand-press," and supplied its place with the improved " power-press." The Chronicle now (1884) is in its forty-fifth volume, and greets a weekly list of some two thousand subscribers. The editorial chair of this paper has been occupied during its publication by J. S. Swift, John F.
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MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES.
Sprague, Lucien N. Prescott, Andrew C. Phillips, A. H. S. Davis, and Charles W. Keyes.
In 1858 Mr. Eben F. Pillsbury began the publication of the newspaper known as the Franklin Patriot in connection with H. B. Stetson of Lewiston, and the first number was issued Jan. 29, 1858. This journal was printed at Lewiston for some two years, when Mr. Pillsbury purchased a new printing-press and material, and the Patriot was thereafter printed at Farmington, under the editorial charge and man- agement of Linscott and Pillsbury, who had previously been associated as partners in the practice of law. This firm con- tinued the publication of the Patriot as a Democratic organ until 1864, when they leased the establishment to Mr. Leander B. Brown, who continued its publication for about a year, when the presses and type were sold and moved to Augusta, and the Patriot discontinued.
In April, 1880, Mr. W. D. Chase began the publication of the Farmington Herald, a Greenback newspaper, the press and type being owned by a stock company. Mr. Chase con- tinued the editor and manager of the Herald until September, 1880, when Mr. F. D. Whiting assumed the management of the paper, made it a Democratic organ, and continued in the editorial chair until the autumn of 1882, when the Herald became merged in the Franklin Journal, an independent paper, published by the Journal Newspaper Company and edited by Henry P. White and D. H. Knowlton, the press- work being done by Knowlton, McLeary, and Co.
In 1871 Mr. D. H. Knowlton purchased a small printing establishment, consisting of a Gordon Franklin Job Press and several founts of type and other printing material. For the first year he rented a small office just south of Belcher's Block. Here he began the publication and printing business that has since grown into a large establishment, now known under the firm name of Knowlton, McLeary, and Co. They now have four printing-presses, run by a Baxter steam- engine, with other machinery and a large variety of type and other material. The excellent typographical appearance of this volume bears witness of the work from their presses,
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
under the skillful manipulation of Mr. F. E. McLeary, of the firm, who has the charge of the mechanical part of the business. The establishment gives employment to from six to ten persons.
The publications of Knowlton, McLeary, and Co. are mostly of an educational character, consisting of school cards, topical questions, and the School World, a monthly publication intended mainly for supplementary reading in schools. It is very neatly printed, well illustrated, and is largely made up of original articles. It has a circulation in twenty-six States, and is very popular with teachers and pupils wherever used.
Mr. R. A. Merrow, in the autumn of 1880, started the Independent, a four-page monthly issue, which was very favorably received by the reading public and deservedly popular. Its racy articles and typographical execution were excellent.
There have been other publications which have survived for a longer or shorter time and then discontinued. Mr. J. S. Swift about 1842 published for six months the Sandy River Farmer, a small agricultural paper, which was after- wards merged in the Franklin Register. Mr. Swift also edited and published in 1847 a monthly religious journal, known as the Baptist Expositor, and in 1861 Mr. Swift started the County Record, an independent journal, which subse- quently was merged in the Chronicle. In 1865 Mr. George M. Gage, the Principal of the Normal School, issued the Normal one year, which was a work of considerable literary merit. The Little Blue Bell was published for a time by the boys connected with the Little Blue Family School, and the High School Solecism by the advanced class connected with the High School.
FISHING-RODS.
At the International Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, a medal and diploma were awarded Charles E. Wheeler, of Farmington, for his split-bamboo fishing-rods. Their manu- facture was commenced by Mr. Wheeler in 1868, and is con-
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MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES.
tinued at the present time. The latest improved machinery is used, some of which is of his own design and invention. He employs from six to eight men, and uses steam as a motive power. These rods are beautiful in. finish and richly ornamentcd. Some are made which retail as high as $50 at the shop, but his sales, which sometimes have reached $5000 annually, are generally to the trade in the cities of Boston, New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago. He is the only manu- facturer of this kind of rods in the State.
EAR-PROTECTORS.
An interesting and important industry at West Farming- ton is the manufacture of Greenwood's Champion Ear-Pro- tector. The building now occupied for this purpose contains eighteen different machines run by steam-power, all of which were designed for the special work here performed. Chester Greenwood, the inventor and proprietor of this machinery, began to manufacture the ear-protector in 1877, under letters patent granted to him as patentee. Through his genius and perseverance a business has been established which is rapidly increasing, and his sales of the novel article, which are largest in the West, have touched thirty thousand annually.
CORN-CANNING.
A factory for canning sweet-corn, erected near the east- ern end of the Center bridge by J. Winslow Jones in 1869, has been operated with varying success to the present time. Within a few years the canning of other vegetables has been introduced in this factory.
J. F. Gerry and W. R. Cothren embarked in the corn- canning industry upon the farm of the latter in 1877. With- in a year Mr. Gerry was succeeded by Hiram Titcomb, who subsequently bought out the remaining partner, and now conducts the business alone. In 1884 the amount of corn put up was fifty thousand cans.
In January, 1881, J. H. Waugh, W. R. Cothren, and B. F. Williams began the erection of a corn-canning establishment, which was completed the following spring at a cost of $6000
274
IIISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
for building and machinery. It is situated just above the Center Village, and is regarded as a profitable enterprise. $40,000 has been realized from sales in one season. In addition to corn, fruit and vegetables are also canned.
WOOD-TURNING FACTORIES.
Isaac B. Russell, Francis H. Russell, Hannibal Russell, James Russell, Elisha B. Estes, Edmund S. Larabee, Warren T. Larabee, and Benjamin M. Hardy, constituting the firm of Russell Bros., Estes, and Co., have recently erected near the Center Village a " wood-turning factory " of large propor- tions, costing some $3000. It will be furnished with a steam-engine of a hundred horse-power and all necessary machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of small wooden novelties. The firm also make large packing-boxes, and deal extensively in spool-stock and hardwood lumber. To aid in the enterprise, the citizens of the Center Village subscribed as a gift $3000.
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