USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > History of Salem, N.H. > Part 24
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A century ago the farmers were often in need of more hands than the household afforded, and would take as apprentices for certain periods of years, boys who had no parents to make them a home. Such cases were regulated by contract before the select- men, the boy and master being parties thereto. The following will serve as an illustration of the form of such agreement:
"This indenture made this twenty-first day of June, 1821, be- tween Jacob Ordway of Salem in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire & Joshua Merrill & Silas Betton, selectmen and overseers of the poor of the said town of Salem, of the one part, and Isaac Wheeler of said Salem, Gentleman, of the other part, witnesseth, that the said Jacob Ordway being of the age of fourteen years of age and upwards, not having any father, mother or any relation in said town nor in the state able to support him, and having applied to the sd selectmen for assist- ance both of his own free will and accord, and by and with the consent of the said selectmen, place and bound himself apprentice to the said Isaac Wheeler, to be taught in the trade, science & occupation of husbandry, which the said Isaac Wheeler now car- ries & in the winter seasons in the art of shoe making, and to live with serve him, and continue with him as an apprentice from the day of the date hereof, until the Sixth day of May, which will be in the year of our Lord, one thousand and twenty eight, during all which term the said Jacob Ordway, as apprentice as aforesaid, shall well and faithfully serve, demean himself, and be just & true to him the said Isaac Wheeler as his master, and keep his secrets & obey all his master's lawful commands. He shall do no hurt nor damage to his master in his goods or estate or otherwise, nor willingly suffer any to be done by others; he shall not embezzle or waste his master's goods, nor lend them without his consent & shall not traffic, nor buy or sell with his own goods without his master's leave; he shall not play at any unlawful game, nor haunt taverns or grog shops; he shall not commit
COWBELL CORNER AS OF YORE. (M 613) (See page 299)
TAYLOR'S MILL, NORTH SALEM. (M A2) ( See page 300)
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fornication, nor contract matrimony; he shall not at any time absent himself without his master's leave, but shall in all things demean and behave himself toward his said master during said term.
"And the said Isaac Wheeler on his part for the consideration aforesaid doth covenant promise & agree to teach and instruct his said apprentice or otherwise cause him to be instructed as aforesaid in the best way & manner he can, and cause him to be instructed in reading and writing and in arithmetic as far as the Rule of three, if he be capable of learning the same, and shall allow unto his said apprentice, meat, drink, washing, lodging & apparel & all other necessaries both in sickness and health during said term, & at the expiration thereof, give him two suits of clothes, one for every day and one for Sundays, and pay him fifty dollars. In witness whereof the parties have interchange- ably set their hands & seals the day & year above written. Signed sealed & delivered in presence of,
"William Taylor
"Charles C. P. Betton
"Isaac Wheeler (seal)
Joshua Merrill (seal)
Silas Betton (seal)
"James Ordway (seal) "
We have several specimens of this character, some of them making other prohibitions than those found in this contract, such as playing cards and staying away from divine worship. As a rule this method of disposing of youthful paupers proved satis- factory. Parents frequently "bound out" their sons to serve apprenticeships at some trade, usually for terms of from three to five years.
An extremely interesting sidelight upon the commercial prob- lem which confronted the early farmer is furnished by a peti- tion received by the general court of New Hampshire at the beginning of the Revolution. We are today inclined to think that adverse circumstances of any nature are peculiar to our own time and generation. The trusts are omnipotent male- factors, bent only on the destruction of the laboring people, newly sprung into existence, and already attaining stupendous growth. This is only one of the terrible evils which we face, while we envy the freedom from such oppression enjoyed by
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our ancestors. But the petition referred to soon reveals the error.
At the outbreak of the Revolution there were committees of safety in most towns, organized for the purpose of protecting all local interests. These committees from the Merrimack Valley towns, Salem, Methuen, Andover, Plastow, Haverhill and others, met at Haverhill, February 29, 1776, to remonstrate
against the extortionate prices then charged for goods. They drew up a petition to the "Council and House of Representatives of the Colony of New Hampshire." The sub-committtee in charge of the drafting of it had for its chairman Isaac Reding- ton. The subject of the complaint is best found in the paper itself, of which a section is here presented. It stated that the "honble american Congress" had forbidden any advance of prices above the rate for the previous twelve months, and went on to show how the statute was being disregarded without compunc- tion.
"That it is generally said that Numbers of Persons among us and in our neighborhood from selfish Principals and Disregard- ing the public welfare have advanced the prices of their goods to Near Double what they used to sell them for and that many of them have Endeavoured to engross the most saleable artickles and bought them up at the retaill price and Immediately ad- vanced upon that retaill price above thirty percent it is also said that the farmers upon like selfish motives have hoarded up Corn Grain and other Necessaries of life or sold them out at the most Exorbitant prices that the Laboring People and those not concerned in this unjust Commerce oppressed both by the farmer and the merchant are groaning under their burthens and will be unable much longer to Endure them that we fear a spirit of Discontent Tumult and Disorders will rise among us unless speedily prevented by the Interposition of this Honble Court the fatall consequences of which may be a Disunion and Backward- ness in or Defection from the Common Cause of America.
"Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray this Honble Court would take the Premises into their serious Consideration and apply such speedy and effectual Remedy to the Evills above
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complained of as may seem Proper and as in duty bound shall Ever pray, &c
"Isaac Redington Chairman Haverhill Febr ye 29: 1776 .- "
Probably the court felt itself powerless to correct so prevalent an evil. Certainly there was no legislation of a socialistic nature enacted. The man who was so fortunate as to have a corn sup- ply continued to sell it for the highest price he could obtain.
In the very early days the farmers were sorely troubled by wolves. The town provided a bounty for these pests on several occasions, one of which has been noted above. March 27, 1751, at the annual meeting, it was voted to pay ten pounds for killing a grown wolf, and three pounds for a young one.
A queer vote was recorded in 1765, to the effect that each man "who has four oxen or more shall have a sled four feet from outside to outside." This must have been aimed at the tendency to load too heavily on a narrow sled, thus cutting or digging into the road.
In 1807 was passed another vote that simply bewilders our wonted belief in the progress of today. It was that eight hours should constitute a day's work on the road, for a man or a cart and oxen! Verily history does repeat itself.
TEXTILE INDUSTRIES.
The northern part of Salem has been the home of most of the textile working within the town, six separate locations providing accommodation for water-power mills.
PAUL'S MILL.
Beginning at the north the first of these sites is at Cowbell Corner, where N. H. Paul had a fair-sized shoddy mill from 1865 to 1875, on the site of the old Clendenin gristmill. The accompanying picture shows the building (M 613) with the small bell in the tower. The size and tone of this diminutive bell suggested the name by which this corner has since been known. The brick house at the left of the picture is the old William Clendenin residence, now occupied and owned by Herbert Par- ker (M 612).
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BECKFORD'S MILL.
1
Almost down to North Salem village is the second of these mill sites, where the old Beckford stocking mill was situated (M 593). At first cotton batting was made here, afterwards stocking yarn. The building must have been built early, per- haps for sawing or grinding, as it was very old in appearance as long ago as 1830. Not more than four or five hands were employed. The machinery, including a picker, set of cards, and an old loom for weaving rag carpets, remained in the build- ing long after it was neglected. It finally went to ruin.
TAYLOR'S MILL.
The most extensive business ever done in town in this line was carried on at the Taylor mill, opposite the Methodist church. There had been an old wooden mill here very early, but the na- ture of the work done is not known. James Alexander owned and operated it in 1802, when it was the second mill in town in point of value of taxable property and product. There was a rude dam which held up a considerable head of water (M A 2).
John Taylor moved here and bought the property of Alexander in 1833. Edward Pranker soon joined him, when they took up the manufacture of woolen goods as Alexander had done. They repaired the old mill and operated it for a time, gradually add- ing to its size. In 1845, after he had been running alone for some time, Taylor tore down the old mill and built the brick mill. In 1870 this burned, but was rebuilt by M. H. Taylor the next year. A new wheel-pit and penstock had been put in soon after the first brick mill was built, giving greatly increased power. The dam was raised and extended at the same time, permitting the control of a much larger water reserve than had been possible before. About fifty hands were employed, the work being on flannel goods. In 1863 John Taylor sold the busi- ness to M. H. Taylor, Richard Taylor and Charles Austin. They added a new section to the building, nearly doubling the ca- pacity of the plant. The pay-roll then was raised to about one hundred names. Soon after this Richard withdrew from the company.
ATLAS MILL, NORTH SALEM. (M 543)
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After the mill was rebuilt in 1871 it was operated for a time by M. H. Taylor, then leased to Walton, Haigh & Simpson. This firm manufactured a lightweight cloaking that was used for waterproof garments. In 1878 this mill also burned. The ruins are still in about the condition in which they were directly after the fire. They may be seen in the background of the illustration of the lower dam (see page 21).
A picture of the mill as it appeared during its most flourishing period is here shown. The view is taken from the hill directly south of the mill, looking north. (Page 297.)
ATLAS MILL.
The next mill, that of the Atlas company, is one of the two in town now engaged in textile industry (M 543). The present building was put up after the sash and blind factory here ceased business. J. W. Wheeler did some weaving here after the burn- ing of his mill, from 1879 to 1881. Since then various uses have been made of the plant. In 1887 the Woodbury shoe shop was located here, remaining for a few years. Then W. H. Han- son started making woolen goods, which he continued until 1905, when the Atlas company was formed. There had been, in 1902, a merger company formed under which Mr. Hanson still acted as manager. It was incorporated under the name of the Granite State Worsted Company, for the purpose of "spin- ning, weaving, and the manufacture of woolens, worsteds and other cloths." The members of the corporation were Levi W. Taylor, Greenleaf C. Bartlett, Howard L. Gordon, Wallace W. Cole and William H. Hanson. The appearance of the mill is shown on the opposite page.
DUSTON'S MILL.
The Duston mill, already referred to under Sawmills, was for many years operated by Amos Dow in the yarn and stocking business. He was killed in 1855 at the mill by the accidental discharge of a gun. After that Obadiah Duston carried on the business, being succeeded by his son Thomas. For about a year just prior to 1880, Levi W. Taylor had a small shoddy mill in connection with the plant. In 1881 Thomas Duston was making
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
men's socks, mittens and gloves, employing during the busy season about twenty hands.
WHEELER'S MILL.
At Wheeler's mill a good manufacturing business has been built up by degrees. Here was the oldest water right and mill privilege on the Spicket, with the possible exception of that at Cowbell Corner, held by Pattee. The Allen family owned it before the town was incorporated, David being the proprietor of the mill. In 1802 it was still in the family and rated in the inventory as the most valuable business in the town (M 513).
In later years, up to perhaps 1838, the property was owned by Henry S. Beckford, who did a small carding and dyeing business. After his failure Leonard Morrison bought the place. It is to be understood that each new proprietor took the entire property, living in the Allen house opposite the mill. Morrison stayed about ten years, then sold to John Taylor, Jr. Meantime the business was growing, demanding more room, so that the mill was enlarged from time to time. Taylor sold in 1856 to James Bailey and Dr. Merrill. Two years later Merrill sold his in- terest to John W. Wheeler. In 1860 Charles and George Austin had the business for a short time, selling to Mr. Wheeler, who has owned it since that time.
In 1872 the old wooden mill was burned. Nothing was then done with the property until four years later, when the first brick mill was erected. It was very much like the present mill. The construction work was done in the summer of 1877. Only two years later, on May 23, 1879, this building also was con- sumed by fire, again to be rebuilt in 1881, as shown on page 304.
For some time the principal goods made here have been flan- nels, blankets, etc. After the burning of Taylor's mill this was for several years the seat of the largest mill business in town.
TITCOMB'S MILL.
Near the small pond at the Fairmount House (M 236), stood a two-story wooden mill, used for various industries. It was a stocking factory at one time. Mrs. Burgin says the first match she ever saw was made there. It was burned and rebuilt. Tit-
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comb had a mill here, later occupied by Griffin, then by John Hall. The last building burned about 1843.
SALEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
In 1835 a number of men at Millville organized for the purpose of carrying on a manufacturing business. They were incor- porated June 27 of that year into The Salem Manufacturing Company, the members being Samuel W. Clement, John Corn- ing, Nathaniel Woodbury and Peter Massey. Their charter per- mitted them to engage in cotton, woolen, iron and other lawful manufactures, at or near Clement's new mill, in Salem. It further stated that they were permitted "To hold and convey real & personal estate of every kind and any amount not exceed- ing the sum of five hundred thousand dollars."
HATTING.
One of the principal industries of Salem at one time was hatting. Small shops were located in different parts of the town. At the Center Jedediah Carlton had a factory beside the Spicket, on what was later known as the Joseph Webster place. It stood close by the river, not far below the bridge. This was in the early years of the last century. Here it was that Caleb Saunders learned the hatter's trade.
Another shop was at Messer's, on the corner of the road lead- ing to the Hutchins farm. This belonged to Frederick Messer, who lived in the house now owned and occupied by Leverett Dyson.
Straw hats were braided at home by hand. Frequently the women of the household used this business as a means to procure a little "pin-money," or even, as in one instance of which we know, to buy material for building the homestead.
SHOE INDUSTRY.
Of late years the principal business of Salem has been the manufacture of shoes. Both the Center and Depot have en- joyed largely the fruits of this industry, while North Salem and Millville have had some degree of prosperity from it. For many years before the large factories were built many small
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
shops were scattered throughout the town. At first each family made its own shoes, and it was a rare thing to find a man who had not at some time in his life taken a hand at the business. Then as the division of labor became more strongly marked some families made shoes, while others, whose land may have been extra good, raised the crops, and so on. From this condition it was but a few more stages to the practice of today. The small shops are mentioned in Chapter XII; here we are concerned mainly with the two establishments which today furnish employ- ment for more men and women than all of the other factories combined. These are the T. M. Russ shop at the Center and the Woodbury factory at the Depot.
The Russ family are seemingly shoemakers by nature. These men have been in the business in Salem for more than forty years. In 1866 Daniel N. Russ built a large shop 80x30 feet at the foot of Gordon's Hill (M 74). This was operated until October 21, 1871, when it burned. Soon after he built another on the Lawrence road, which was operated for some years, but now stands idle (M 404). In 1877 T. M. Russ began to make women's, misses' and children's pegged shoes in a small wooden building just west of his present shop (M 69). This was after- wards used as a heelshop by Gordon Bros., who occupied it when it burned. Meantime the business at the site of the present shop (M 70) had rapidly developed. Jesse Ayer had built a wooden shop here which was rented to John R. and Benj. R. Wheeler, who were doing business in it when it burned in Oc- tober, 1876. They at once undertook the erection of a new brick building which was erected during 1877. On the date of completion, January 2, 1878, a warming was held in the place. There was a large gathering, who enjoyed a fine supper served on the spot. Shortly afterwards T. M. Russ bought this factory of the Wheelers, trading his small shop close by. The brick shop also burned, after which Mr. Russ erected the present struc- ture in 1886. It is 100 feet long by 30 feet wide and has the neat appearance shown in the cut on page 305.
The other large business is that conducted by Hon. Frank P. and Isaiah Woodbury at the Depot (M 144). F. P. Woodbury was formerly engaged in shoe manufacturing in North Salem and
WHEELER'S MILL. (M 513) (See page 302)
E
SHOE FACTORY OF THORNTON M. RUSS. (M 70) (See page 304)
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at Millville, where he had several shops. On the site just west of the present shop at the Depot (M 145), Isaiah Woodbury had a shoe shop. The present business has been built up rapidly, start- ing in the front part of the building, then taking in the central portion, which was formerly used for a barn, and shortly after- wards being augmented by the addition of the large square part of the factory, which formerly stood by the track on the west side, where it was the shoe factory of P. C. Hall. The cut on page 308 is a good representation of the plant today.
The shoe business at the Depot village was first conducted on a large scale by P. C. Hall, who built several shops and was also interested in several out-of-town firms who did business here. These shops are described under the historical descriptions of places, Chapter XII.
An industry which is closely allied to the shoe business is that of engraving dies for the stamping of labels for shoe linings, etc. This work is done in Salem by Edward L. Gordon at his resi- dence (M 63). It is very fine manual work, requiring a skilled hand and accurate eye. Mr. Gordon makes the stamps for the large shoe manufacturers of Newburyport, Salem, Mass., and ' Lynn, employing two men to assist him in filling his orders.
ENAMEL CLOTH.
For a few years about 1880 a considerable business was done in Salem by the Evans Artificial Leather Company. On March 22, 1877, P. C. Hall sold this company the shoeshop which he then owned on the present site of the Heath stable by the railroad crossing (M 166). The stock of the concern was largely adver- tised, and elaborate plans circulated for the building up of the plant. But on January 12, 1880, the factory burned, and with it the block of James Troy, on the site of Hotel Rockingham. The business was then transferred up the track to a point just south of the brick building now standing and last used as the oxalic acid factory. Here a large brick factory was built and the business reestablished. The oxalic building was built later as a part of the equipment. But again the flames claimed the property as their victim-the main factory burned March 20,
21
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
1883. This finished the business as far as Salem was concerned. The loss at this last fire was estimated at forty thousand dollars.
METHUEN COMPANY'S WATER RIGHT.
As the right of private companies to hold flowage and drainage privileges is obtained usually from individual land-owners, the town records are reticent in regard to the origin of such rights. The first reference in the Salem records to the Methuen com- pany's rights at Canobie Lake is found in the account of dam- ages paid by that company in 1843 for washouts on the road near Hall's mill (M 235). Four years later the company desired to secure more tenable flowage rights, so purchased the privilege from the owners of land adjacent to the pond. The first deed was from Israel Woodbury, Jr., in 1847. Others soon followed : Jonathan Stickney, 1847; Abel Dow, 1849; Charles L. Haseltine, 1849; Isaiah W. Haseltine, 1849; Jeremiah Morrison, 1849; Joseph A. and George P. Cross, 1853; Richard Woodbury, 1854. The wording of this last deed is indicative of the sense of all -"meaning and intending to convey to said Company the right to flood with water or drain all the land I now own as the dam and floom now are."
After the company had repaired the dam a serious discussion arose as to whether or not they were flowing higher or draining lower than at the time of the above deeds. A lawsuit was hinted at, but evidently thought inadvisable.
SALEM BOARD OF TRADE.
During the industrial growth of the town frequent instances have occurred where some well directed effort might have re- sulted in inducing manufacturers to locate their works here. In a town meeting held April 18, 1879, it was "voted to exempt from taxation all who will come to town and build and do busi- ness with capital of not less than $5,000." However, a more active inducement, an interest which would search out prospec- tive parties, was needed. Not until the spring of 1906 was a definite step taken. At that time the Salem Board of Trade was organized with a membership of forty-nine, the names of whom are taken from the signatures on the constitution: Wallace W.
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Cole, Arthur C. Hall, James Ewins, E. A. Peabody, Howard L. Gordon, David S. Emery, John J. Richardson, Wm. E. Lancas- ter, C. H. Borchers, L. E. Bailey, J. F. Fournier, L. Wallace Hall, Geo. W. Thom, Francis E. Higgins, James C. Willett, Woodbury J. Brown, Vladimir N. Sikorski, Frank P. Woodbury, Alberton W. Clark, L. Henry Bailey, Daniel A. Abbott, Joseph Bailey, Lewis P. Brady, George A. Brady, Peter LaCourt, John A. Brista, David Hird, Paul Hannagan, Wm. Ganley, Chas. R. Bair, Charles F. Kimball, K. M. Mclaughlin, Fred C. Buxton, W. DuBois Pulver, Warren Emerson, Ernest Woodbury, Isaac C. Brown, Frank D. Wilson, E. A. Wade, Lewis F. Soule, C. F. Morrison, G. M. Woodbury, John T. Gagnon, R. J. Macartney, Levi W. Taylor, John C. Crowell, Charles W. Joyce, Willis G. Richardson.
Officers for the year were elected as follows: President, W. W. Cole; Vice Presidents, Jas. Ewins, D. S. Emery ; Treasurer, C. F. Kimball; Secretary, W. D. Pulver; Auditor, H. L. Gordon; Directors for three years, F. C. Buxton, L. W. Taylor, D. S. Emery ; Directors for two years, I. C. Brown, W. W. Cole, Jas. Ewins; Directors for one year, F. P. Woodbury, F. D. Wilson, E. A. Peabody.
The object of the board, as stated in the constitution, is "to forward such movements as shall tend toward the prosperity of the town of Salem."
Regular meetings of the board are held on the second Wednes- day monthly. In April, June, September, November and Jan- uary the entire association meets in conjunction with the direc- tors.
The members of the organization keep a lookout for any busi- ness enterprises which might benefit the town by their location here, and take measures to induce proprietors of such interests to settle here.
GROWTH OF VILLAGES.
SALEM CENTER was developed principally as a farming com- munity, with the general industries which usually are found attendant upon such circumstances. Small shoeshops, hatshops, or weave rooms, all operated by manual skill rather than by ma-
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