Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 28

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 28

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 Beaver Mills .- The history of the Beaver Mills runs back to 1871, when a company known as the Beaver Mills Company was organized for the manufacture of pails, operating a grist-mill, and furnishing power and apart- ments to various manufacturing enterprises. The original company conducted business until January 1, 1874, when a new company, known as the Hope Steam mills, succeeded it, continuing until January, 1881, when the corpora- tion again assumed its original name. The company own two large and sub- stantial brick structures, each 200 by 60 feet and one 100 by 60 feet, all three stories high,and lease ground upon which supplemental buildings of the Cheshire Chair Co. and Keene Furniture Co. stand. Within these buildings scenes of activity are presented on all sides. A 250 horse power engine furnishes mo- tive power for the entire plant, while six forty-horse boilers generate steam for power, heat and numerous dry houses. Among the numerous industries which here find a home and the necessary power are the Humphrey Ma-

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chine Co., J. M. Reed's box factory, Cheshire Chair Co., Keene Furniture Co., Spaulding's chair stock factory, grist-mill, saw-mill and pail shop of the Beaver Mills. The industries conducted by the Beaver Mills are very im- portant. Their saw-mill cuts thousands of feet of lumber annually, doing custom work, getting out stock for chair and furniture companies, dimension timber, and in the cutting of staves and heading for the pail and tub shop. For the latter industry about 2,500 cords of sapling pine is cut annually. The pail shop is one of the largest in New England and produces 30,000 pails and 4,000 tubs per month. The production is what is termed grained pails, the staves being tongued and grooved and pails being of a quality which com- mands the very highest prices. This department is fitted with modern ma- chinery, all perfectly adapted to the work of the company. The refuse from the pail stock, the furniture and chair companies and the box shop, is utilized as fuel in generating the steam for heating and power in all the structures.

The grist-mill of the company is the only establishment of its kind in Keene, and is run on both custom and merchant work. Three run of stones are operated, and the business of this department is large. The mill has been arranged by a master hand and is complete in every detail both in ele- vating grain and the storage of ground products. The officers of the com- pany are, J. H. Elliott, president ; W. H. Elliott, treasurer ; F. A. Faulkner, clerk ; H. N. Stone is superintendent ; A. A. Woodward, cashier.

The management of Beaver Mills is in charge of an executive committee appointed by the stock holders, consisting of J. H. Elliott, the president, Ed- ward Joslyn and F. A. Faulkner. Since these gentlemen entered upon their duties the affairs of the company have been excellently managed and a larger amount of work done than ever before.

The Humphrey Machine Co., builders of turbine water-wheels and general and special machinery of various kinds, was organized as a corporation com- pany, under the laws of New Hampshire, in 1874, J. Humphrey, president and general manager, A. B. Heywood, secretary and treasurer, succeeding to the business of J. Humphrey & Co., which was established by Mr. Humphrey, at Keene, in 1861. Their shops at Beaver Mills occupy 150x60 feet of floor space, with storage and pattern lofts 60x30 feet each. They usually employ from twenty-five to thirty men, and have facilities for doing various kinds of work in their line. They have an extensive assortment of patterns for wood- working and other machinery, of special and improved designs, including cir- cular and band saw-mills, box board machines, board jointers, planers, matchers, &c., &c., also tub, pail, clothes-pin and shoe-peg machinery, being almost exclusive builders of the last named varieties. They likewise man- ufacture an improved caliper scale for lumbermen to measure and compute the contents of round timber or logs, in board or card measure, by a decimal system, recently devised and copy-righted by Mr. Humphrey, which saves much time, many figures, and ensures accuracy of computation. Their prin- cipal specialties, however, are the improved patent I-X-L and X-L-C-R water-

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wheels and rotary force pumps, with traction gearing hydrant, &c., which are among the best and most effective appliances for motive power and protection against fire. Of the I-X-L turbines they make about twenty sizes, ranging from 100 inches down to ten inches, or less, in diameter. They are used with vertical shafts, in the usual manner of applying turbines, while the X-L-C-R is a modification adapted to use with horizontal shafting, saving the cost, an- noyance, and loss of power incident to the use of gears for transmitting motion from the vertical to the horizontal movers, making a very much more desir- able motor than a vertical shaft-wheel, and as they are reputed as very eco- nomical in the use of water, they are fast gaining the attention and favor of the most discerning and progressive manufacturers and mill-owners. In con- connection with their water-wheels, the company give attention also to the construction of flumes, penstocks and mill-gearing generally, and make sur- veys, plans and estimates, for the development and improvement of water- powers, and for the construction of machinery of various kinds.

Faulkner & Colony .- In 1815 Francis Faulkner and Josiah Colony com- menced business on what is now West street, carding wool, cloth-dressing, and running a saw and grist-mill. They commenced in a small way, but did for that time quite a business. In 1825 they had the misfortune of being burned out, but immediately rebuilt, with brick. In 1835 they started the manufac- ture of woolen flannels, running one set of machinery. In 1838 fire again visited them, burning them out entirely ; but nothing daunted, they com- menced preparations for a new mill, and before 1839 they had completed a brick mill, which was enlarged in 1859, so that it now is 120X42 feet, four stories and an attic, withdye-house attached, 42x50 feet, one story, and drying- house ; picking-house, 20x40 feet, two stories, second story used for pickers, first for drying wool, these buildings being of brick. They have a building in the rear 92x36 feet, two stories, used for storing wood and dye stuff, and wool in second story, or attic ; storehouse south of mill, on the Cheshire rail- road, 72x36 feet, one story, with capacity for storing 2,000 sacks of wool, this building being fire-proof ; cloth drying and storage building, 24x75 feet, two stories. The office building is of brick, situated on the opposite side of the street, 44x55 feet, two stories, sorting room being in the second story. In 1842 Francis Faulkner died, and the business was carried on by Mr. Colony, the family of the deceased retaining an interest in the film, and in 1846 Charles S. Faulkner became the junior member of the firm. Since his death, in July, 1879, the estate has been represented by Frederick A. Faulkner, son of Charles S. . In 1866 Mr. Colony retired in favor of his two sons, George D. and Horatio, under the same name as when first started, in 1815. They run six sets of woolen cards, and thirty-two looms, employing fifty-five hands using about 350,000 pounds of wool, and produce 700,000 yards of twilled flannel per annum.

Nims, Whitney & Co .- Nearly forty years ago a small steam engine was put in operation to drive a carpenter shop on Mechanic street. This estab-

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lishment, with increased building and power appliances, grew into quite an extensive manufactory of sash, blinds and doors, which business is at present continued by Messrs. Nims, Whitney & Co. Mr. Lanmon Nims, the senior partner of the present firm, was one of the earliest proprietors of the concern, and was the senior member of the firms of Nims & Buss, and Nims, Buss & Woodward, who were in business until about 1858, when, through some dis- agreement, Mr. Nims retired and Buss & Woodward carried on the business until about 1861 or '62, when they failed, and the property was sold to Messrs. Osborne & Hale, who had formerly leased room and power for the manufacture of chairs. The sash, blind, and door business was then taken by Mr. Nims, with Samuel B. Crossfield, who leased room and power of Messrs. Osborne & Hale, who run the steam power until a boiler explosion occurred, March 25, 1864, when Messrs. Osborne & Hale removed their works to South Keene, and the Mechanic street mills were leased and repaired by Messrs. Nims & Crossfield, and run by them until destroyed by fire about August, 1867, when the real estate was transferred to the Keene Steam Power Co. A stock company organized for the purpose of re-building the mills, which was done in the fall and winter of 1867-'68, and has since been leased and run by Nims & Crossfield, and Nims, Crossfield & Scott, and Nims, Whitney & Co., the present lessees. The firm now employs fifty men, and manufactures 25,000 doors, 40,000 window sash, and 25,000 pairs of blinds per annum, making a specialty of custom work.

John Shaw, 2d's, shoe-factory. - October Ist, 1884, John Shaw, 2d, a large manufacturer of Lynn, Mass., came on and commenced the erection of the large factory he now occupies. The building is 1262 x 40 feet, five stories, with brick engine and boiler-house 30 x 30 feet, one story high, with a thirty horse power engine and sixty horse power boiler. The factory was opened for business the first of December. He now employs 125 hands, and when in full operation will employ 400 hands. Capacity about 4,500 pairs of ladies boots and shoes per day. Mr. Shaw has been engaged in the business since 1867. He was induced to come here partly from the arbitrary conduct of the employees of the large manufacturing towns of Massachusetts, and partly from the liberality of the citizens of Keene, the Keene Improvement Co. having built the factory and gives him rent free for ten years, free of taxation. The building, put up under contract by E. S. Foster, cost $15,000.00. It is sup- plied all through with the Grinnell Automatic Fire Spinkler, greatly decreas- ing the danger of loss by fire.

Cheshire Foundry. - About 1850 or '53, Mr. Aaron Davis retired from the Fay & Co. establishment at South Keene, and, with his sons removed the foundry business to Keene village, establishing the same on Davis street, near the Ashuelot railroad, where it has since been run by A. Davis & Co., then by Alfred S. Davis (son of Aaron D.), and afterwards sold by him, some twenty years since, to Moses Ellis, the present proprietor, who has since that time rebuilt the foundry building and generally enlarged and improved his

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facilities for making all kinds of heavy and light iron castings. He gives em- ployment to about twelve men, and manufactures barrel heaters, box-stoves and other castings to order.

George L. Burdett's chair-factory. - In 1872 George L. Burdett com- menced the manufacture of basket-seat chairs at Munsonville, in Nelson, giv- ing employment to six men. He continued the business there until Febru- ary, 1876, when he moved to Keene, locating first on Mechanic street, a year later on Washington street, and finally, in 1880, at its present place, oppo- site the county jail. He employs from twenty-five to thirty-five hands, man- ufactures 20,000 chairs per year. This is said to be the first manufactory of hand-pounded basket-seat chairs in New England.

N. G. Woodbury's pail-factory. - Mr. Woodbury is proprietor of a steam- mill on Armory and Spruce streets, and of three water-power mills on Wash- ington street. He began the manufacture of pails at Richmond, in 1850, and removed to Keene in 1870. He now employs an average force of seventy- five hands, and manufactures about 2,500 pails per day, on and average, though he has produced 4,000 some days.

Cheshire Chair Co. - The business of this company was established Janu- ary 1, 1869, starting in a brick building on Mechanic street, being subse- quently removed to its present location at the Beaver Mills. The company consists of G. W. McDuffee, Charles E. Joslyn and Edward Joslyn, Mr. Mc- Duffee being manager. The works are provided with every known appliance for the rapid execution of the work, each machine performing the work of several men. The productions are oak, black walnut, maple, and chestnut dining-room, kitchen, sitting-room, and bed-room chair, of which some sixty- five different varieties are made, and veranda ash splint or basket chairs, which are made in fifteen styles. At the factory employment is given to about fifty hands, but quadruple that number are given work at home in bot- toming the productions. From 600 to 800 dozen chairs are made each month.

The Keene Furniture Co .- This business, established by F. L. Sprague in 1868, is located on Mechanic street. In June of that year the present company was formed, and in 1872 they removed to their present location in the Beaver Mills. They do an extensive business in the manufacture of all kinds of chamber furniture, employing seventy-five hands.

H. W. Hubbard's machine manufactory, located on Mechanic street, was established by G. F. Sanborn and H. W. Hubbard in 1869. In 1878 Mr. Sanborn retired, since which time Mr. Hubbard has conducted the business alone. He manufactures all kinds of wood-working machines, and makes a specialty of manufacturing and designing machinery to order.

Cheshire Tannery .- This manufactory, located on West street, the larg- est of the kind in New Hampshire, was established by John Symonds in 1872, and was conducted by him until his death, March 28, 1885. In 1842 Mr. Symonds went to Marlow, residing there ten years, working for his brother,

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C. B. Symonds. In 1854 he went to East Sullivan, opened a tannery, and carried on business there until 1872, when he came to Keene and established business here. There are 260 vats, and the works tan 150 hides per day, or 1,800 sides per week. The leather is only tanned here, being sent to Graf- ton for currying. This latter work is done at the establishment of A. M. Bigelow & Co., who also have a leather store in Boston, at 36 Lincoln street.

Photo ElectrotypeEng. Co. N.Y

(CHESHIRE TANNERY-KEENE.)

The firm was composed of A. M. Bigelow and Mr. Symonds. Thirty five men are employed at the works here and an equal number at Grafton. The production is what is termed upper leather, exclusively, and ranks among the best produced, obtaining the very highest prices. The works are supplied by water from the city mains, a special pipe being laid for the accommodation of the tannery at an expense of $8,000.00. A branch track of the Cheshire railroad, forty rods long, connects the works with the main line. This track was laid at an expense of $1,600.00, $1,000 of which was paid by the com- pany and the balance by Mr. Symonds. The establishment consumes over 3,000 cords of bark per year, and sixty barrels of lime per month.

The Impervious Package Co .- This company has been in existence since June, 1881, its first productions being shipped two months later. The excel- lence of the wares, however, at once created a strong demand, and the com- pany soon found their facilities altogether too limited to keep up the supply, and accordingly, in 1882. removed to more commodious quarters. The busi- ness was first commenced in an apartment of the Beaver Mills, 100x60 feet in dimensions, where twenty hands were employed in the production of 200 packages daily. During nine months succeeding the first shipment of goods the company filled orders from over 2,000 customers, and such a healthy demand has been created that it was found impossible to fill orders. Selling agents were called from the road and enlarged quarters sought. May 10th the works were removed to Mechanic street, in buildings formerly used by Keene Furniture Co. and Cheshire Chair Co. The space here obtained con-

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sists of a three story substantial brick building 100x50 feet, with an ell 40x30 feet, and a lumber yard 150x100 feet, provided with suitable sheds for the storage of lumber, and aggregates 33,600 square feet. The productions of the company are oil cans, paint packages, pickle packages, sugar buckets, grocers' show tubs, syrup kegs, and kegs for paints and oils generally, with capacity from five to twenty-five gallons. They employ fifty hands, and manufacture about 250,000 packages per year.

John A. Wright & Co., manufacturers of Red Star Cleaning Powder .- The powder for cleaning and polishing gold, silver, glass, etc., is made from a substance sometimes called "Float Stone " and "White Infusorial Earth." The deposit is located at Troy, N. H., and lies three feet from the surface, reaching down from five to twenty-five feet and spreading over some two acres lying in a basin at the foot of granite ridges or hills. This substance is mined, and after being submitted to atmospheric changes, is pulverized and sifted, the powder being as fine as flour and of a white color. It is tran- sported to Keene, where it is prepared for shipment, labeled with the trade mark of a red star, and sent out as the "Red Star Cleaning Powder." This mine was discovered in 1872, and the product has been practically and thoroughly tested in thousands of cases since, each instance showing it to be a most superior article for polishing.

Victor Wringer Co .- D. B. Piper manufactures the Victor, Leader, and American clothes-wringers, of which he is the inventor and patentee. These wringers have been manufactured by him in Keene for the past six years, and thousands are in use in Cheshire county, giving entire satisfaction. He also does general light machinist work, and is a practical gun and locksmith. He has- been connected with the manufacture of sewing machines for over twenty years, and does all work in that line.

French's carriage factory .- Jason and William French, brothers, and natives of Brattleboro, Vt., came from Walpole to Keene about 1846, and com- menced the manufacture of carriages and sleighs, on Church street, on the site of the present factory. William subsequently sold his interest in the busi- ness to his brother Jason, who, in 1855, admitted to partnership, his brother Francis, also a native of Brattleboro, and from Walpole, under the firm name of J. & F. French. About 1872, William again became a partner, but retired in 1875, when the name, which, on his admission, had been changed to J. & F. French & Co., again became J. & F. French, under which the business has since been conducted, though, since the death of Jason, in November, 1884, Francis has been the sole proprietor. The business was commenced in a small way, but has increased to the largest establishment of its kind in the county, giving employment at present, to from fifteen to twenty men, and producing annually, manufactured goods valued at from $30,000 to $50,000. The Keene sleigh, which originated here, is known throughout the surround- ing country for its durability.

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C. N. Tottingham's carriage factory, on Mechanic street, was established by him in 1868. There have been several changes in the firm name, though Mr. Tottingham has been sole owner for the past four years. He employs from eight to ten men.

G. W. Russell's carriage and wagon shop, in the rear of the Eagle Hotel, was established by him in 1873. He employs from three to five men, and does a general blacksmithing business.

R. C. Jones's wagon and carriage shop, on Railroad street, was established by him in 1875. He employs from five to ten men.

Jehiel Harlow's wagon and sleigh factory, on Elm street, was established by him in 1883.

Reuben Ray's carriage and blacksmith shop, located on Mechanic street, was established in 1880. He makes all kinds of wagons and sleighs, and does a general blacksmithing business.

J. Mason Reed's box factory, located in the Beaver Mills, was established by him in Swanzey, in 1868, and moved to Keene in 1880. He employs from fifteen to twenty men, and manufactures lock-corner and other boxes, using about 600,000 feet of lumber per annum,

G. H. Tilden & Co.'s paper and wood-packing box manufactory, located on Main, near corner of Railroad street, was established in December, 1884. They manufacture all kinds of packing-boxes from straw-board, also various sizes of packing-boxes from wood.

Albert W. Green commenced the manufacture of lawn settees in a small way, in 1874, and in 1880 added the manufacture of ratan and carpet-seated chairs. He is located on Washington street, where he employs from ten to eighteen men, turning out about 1,000 settees and 3.000 chairs per annum.

Albert E. Fish, located on Vernon street, commenced the manufacture of window-screens in 1872. In 1881 he made an improvement in his goods, since which time he has been doing quite an extensive business.

Frank E. Foster's tannery, on Beaver street, was built by Harvey Rawson, of Gilsum, about twenty-five years ago. Mr. Rawson subsequently took in Francis Foster, as a partner, who eventually became sole owner. He died July 23, 1877, since which time his son, the present proprietor, has carried on the business. He employs twenty-five hands, and turns out 12,000 hides per year.

The Monadnock Agricultural Works, located on road 42, are operated by Jonathan Hall, who established them in 1882. He gives employment to about eight hands in the manufacture of plows, harrows, and other agricul- tural implements.

Morse Bros' soap manufactory, on Washington street, was established by W. H. Morse, in 1875, who associated his brother, J. F., with him in 1877. Until January, 1884, they manufactured only soft soap, since which time, how- ever, they have manufactured both hard and soft soap. They employ four hands.

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Harrington's marble works, on the corner of St. James and Church streets, were established by N. B. Harrington, in 1853, who conducted the business until 1879, since which time it has been carried on by his son, C. E. Harring- ton. He does all kinds of marble, granite and cemetery work.

Clipper Mowing Machine Works, James B. Elliot, proprietor, are located at South Keene station, and Mr. Elliot employs about twenty men and turns out about 300 machines per year.

Wilkinson & Mc Gregor's harness, saddle and blanket strap manufactory, on Main street, is the oldest establishment in this line in Keene, and has been conducted by the present firm about eight years. They employ twenty- five hands.

D. M. Nichols's seive, riddle and druggist' s hoop factory, on Mechanic street, was established by him in 1876. He employs six men.

Eames & Towne built, in 1884, a grist-mill at West Swanzey, with two runs of stones. Their business place is at Keene, where they have a large store-house and elevator, and also an iron mill used for cracking corn. They handle about a car-load of grain per day.

Ellis Brothers, seedsmen and florists, are located on Winchester street, where they began the business in 1872. They occupy twenty-two and a half acres of land and grow all kinds of flowers, small fruits and vegetables, their · green-house having 10,000 feet of glass. They employ twelve men, and manufacture lock-corner boxes for putting up flowers, turning out over 100,- 000 in 1884.

D. A. Brown's cider-mill, on road 24, was built by Mr. Brown in 1874. He makes 350 barrels of cider per year.

Charles Ellis's saw and cider-mill, on road 13, was built in 1846. He makes about 300 barrels of cider per year, and does a small business with the saw-mill.

George W. Ball's brick-yards, located in Keene and Troy, were established by H. Pond & Co., about 1856, Mr. Ball being the junior partner. Their first yard was located on Roxbury street, and the present one is on Appleton street. He employs fifteen men.

W. A. Barrett's brick-yard, on Main street, was established by him in 1882. He employs seven men and turns out about 700,000 bricks per annum.

C. L. Russell's brick-yard, on Water street, was purchased by him of William Dort, in 1878. John R. Russell, agent, employs ten men and manu- factures about 1,000,000 bricks per annum.

BANKS.

Cheshire National Bank .- The Cheshire Bank was chartered with a capi- tal of one hundred thousand dollars, by the state of New Hampshire in 1803, for a period of twenty years, or till 1824,-then till 1844,-and again till 1864, inclusive. The original corporators were Judge Daniel Newcomb, Noah

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Cooke, Esq., and Elijah Dunbar, Esq. John G. Bond, Judge Newcomb's son- in-law, procured most of the stock subscriptions, among which are the names of Samuel and Nathan Appleton, Eben Francis, Stephen Salsbury, John Bel- lows, Josiah Knapp and several others of Boston, Daniel Newcomb, John G. Bond, William Lamson, Moses Johnson, Alexander Ralston, Stephen Har- rington, Eben Stearns, Joseph Hayward, and Foster and Luther Alexander of Cheshire county, with fifty-five others on the list. The first building for the bank was of brick, two stories high, and was taken down in 1847, to make way for the Cheshire railroad's passenger station. Daniel Newcomb was president from 1804 to 1811. when he resigned, and in the "war period," soon after, the bank struggled against insolvency till November, 1813, when Samuel Grant was chosen president, and Nathaniel Dana, cashier, in place of Arba Cady (who was elected February, 1806, and whose predecessor was E. Dunbar,) and a revival of credit and business secured. Mr. Grant was presi- dent till July, 1829, and Salma Hale, his successor, till March, 1842, at which time Levi Chamberlain was made president, and steps were taken to reorgan- ize the bank under its amended charter available from 1844 to 1864 inclusive. In this reorganization Jolin Elliot was chosen president,-was succeeded in 1856 by Levi Chamberlain and in 1861 by John Henry Elliot, under whom, at the expiration of its charter, the bank was made National with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars. James Henry Williams was cashier from 1841 to 1847, then Zebina Newell till 1855, then Royal H. Porter, when the bank's state charter expired. He continues to be cashier at this writing, with John Henry Elliott as president. In the first two or three decades of the bank and before the outset of the "Suffolk Bank System," its affairs in Boston were confided to personal curacy, and among those employed in this trust were Joseph Bellows, Jr., John Bellows, Nathan Appleton and William Ap- pleton, successively. For thirty years Aaron Appleton was moderator at meetings of stockholders, with two exceptions, when the chair was occupied by Ithamer Chase (the father of Chief Justice Chase). The Bank's present granite building, at the corner of Main street and Diphthong alley, was erected in 1847 and has all the modern defences against invasion. In 1864 the bank began business as a National institution, with a capital of $200,000.00 and the privilege of increasing the same to $250,000.00. A statement of its standing May 6, 1885, was as follows :-

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 28

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034