USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Rindge > History of the town of Rindge, New Hampshire, from the date of the Rowley Canada or Massachusetts charter, to the present time, 1736-1874, with a genealogical register of the Rindge families > Part 21
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For several years another saw-mill was in operation on the Emerson Pond stream, just as it falls into Monomonock Lake. It was owned for several years by Eben Platts. These mills were wholly employed in grinding grain, and in sawing boards, and other coarse lumber, for the buildings erected by the inhabitants.
Probably there were no other mills until near the close of the century, when several new enterprises were inaugu- rated, which will be mentioned in topics without an attempt to preserve the order of date of each enterprise.
The stream from Grassy Pond, following its natural channel, flowed directly into Long Pond, without taking its present circuitous course through Pool Pond, before its waters mingle with those of its former receptacle. About 1800, Asa Cole constructed the canal which is the present bed of the stream. Several mill privileges were found
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upon the stream at West Rindge, which were soon occupied. Mr. Cole built a mill where stands the residence of Samuel W. Fletcher, which soon after came into the possession of William Rugg, who had a grist-mill and some other ma- chinery within it. Later, Mr. Rugg removed the grist-mill into a new building where the pail-shop now stands.
THE FIRST TANNERY was erected by Benjamin Bancroft, who came from Groton about 1773, and built a house a short distance east of the residence of Col. Stearns. His vats for tanning were west of his residence. Mr. Bancroft sold the property, and removed to Grafton, Vermont, about 1813. The business was subsequently conducted, for a short time, by John Demary, son of Ezekiel Demary, assisted by the father of his wife - Mr. Nathan Johnson. No business has been done at this place for more than fifty years, and all traces of the yard are now obliterated.
There was a tannery on the low ground north of the highway, between the residences of Addison Todd and Joshua T. Hunt, which was put into operation about 1800, and in a few years the business was suspended. It was under the management of Wallingford Todd.
At West Rindge, between the two roads south of the residence of Oratio P. Allen, Joseph Crumbie had another yard. It was established several years before the canal conveyed the water from Grassy Pond. Mr. Crumbie suspended business a few years previous to his death in 1846.
Sumner Raymond erected a yard, with convenient build- ings, near the brook east of the residence of Charles F. Stearns, about 1820. The business was carried on at this place by Mr. Raymond until 1839, when Charles Mixer bought the main building, and removed it to the yard owned by him.
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About 1798, William Barker purchased the site upon which the saw-mill of A. S. Coffin now stands, and estab- lished a capacious yard. Mr. Barker was the first who introduced machinery, and employed water power to assist in the various operations connected with the business. In the other establishments the motive power for grinding bark was a horse, whose hide was generally well tanned before the animal died. Mr. Barker sold the establishment to Charles Mixer, in 1820, who conducted the business until his death, in 1841. He was succeeded by George D. Hap- good, who remained in the business at this place until the buildings were entirely destroyed by fire, in May, 1855. During thirteen years of successful management, Mr. Hap- good was in partnership with Amos Knowlton one year, with Charles S. Mixer two, and later with William Merriam four years.
In the early history of the town, and even within the memory of many living, much of the custom shoe-making was done at the home of the families in need of such work. Many of the shoe-makers went from house to house, and remained at each until their services were no longer required. These workmen were generally styled cord- wainers, and were numerous, generally having some other occupation to employ them when not thus engaged. At this time but little of what is styled sale work was found at the stores. About forty years ago Amos Cutler and Sylvester Wood entered upon the manufacture of kid and cloth shoes, which were sold in the market and distributed among the retail traders, where they awaited purchasers. At times, when the business was promising, twenty-five men were employed, besides affording employment to many women who bound the shoes. They had two shops. One at present is occupied by Abner F. Chadwick, in the
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manufacture of matrices for casting type; the other, and larger, building, was near by, and nearer the highway. They also had a shop in a portion of the house now known as the Methodist parsonage. Mr. Wood died 1841, and Mr. Cutler formed a partnership with William S. Hum- phrey. In 1846, John S. Fenno bought the stock and tools, but soon reduced the business to a class of custom work. In addition to his general business of tanning, Charles Mixer was engaged for several years in the manufacture of sale work.
CLOTHES-PINS, which for many years were extensively manufactured in this town, were first made by Richard Kimball. For several years he had no associates in the business. His only tools were a knife and a hand-saw. With genuine Yankee ingenuity he patiently whittled the pins into a desired shape, and made the wedge-shaped opening with his saw. The small number made by this slow process of manufacture was sold by Mr. Kimball during his accustomed travels in this and the neighboring states in quest of customers. The increasing demand for these useful articles soon induced others to engage in the business. Many of the most important manufactures in our country have sprung from the most humble beginning. The pioneers are worthy of remembrance. Richard Stewart, of Winchendon, was the first who employed machinery in the manufacture of clothes-pins, and very soon after Aaron Sawtell and Servetus Metcalf engaged in the business in this town. Their mill was on the stream flowing from Pearly Pond, and was more recently owned by Timothy Metcalf. The early manufacture of these useful articles, compared with later years, was a slow process. The log was sawed in proper lengths with a cross-cut saw drawn by two men; the blocks were then split into square pieces of
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suitable dimensions, which were shaved into uniform size, and turned with a gouge and chisel. It is said that twenty to twenty-five gross was a day's work for one turner. At first the pins were held in a vise, and the opening cut out with a hand-saw. In the progress of a few years they were sawed into squares and cut into suitable lengths by circular saws, were turned in lathes designed and made especially for their manufacture, and the opening cut with a saw, which gave the desired fashion by means of knives either attached to or formed by cutting the saw and turning out a sharpened edge. This device was patented by Oratio P. Allen, of this town, who received a royalty from those who made use of it.
It is estimated that for several years more of these convenient articles were manufactured in Rindge than in all other places combined, and many were exported to other countries. N. C. Russell, Joshua Converse & Co. - the partners were his sons Zebulon and Omar D. Converse, - Oratio P. Allen, Timothy Metcalf, Eliakim Russell and Jabez Butler, A. S. Sawtell, Henry Russell and Hiram Robinson, Asaph W. Goodridge, Dr. Stephen Jewett, and Dennis Howe, for several years were engaged in this manu- facture.
But few of these articles have been made in Rindge since 1858, and none for the past ten years.
This enterprise was much facilitated by the lathes for turning, already referred to, which were mainly designed and constructed by John Emory, an ingenious machinist, to whom the manufacturers of many kinds of wooden ware were much indebted.
Several residents of this town were formerly engaged in the manufacture of oval and round spice-boxes, of which several sizes were made, admitting one within another; for
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this reason they were early styled " nest-boxes." Their con- struction was laborious and slow. The rims were split with a frow, and shaved to a desired and uniform thickness; the heads were also split and shaved in the same tedious manner, and, after they were marked from a pattern, were cut with knives in the hands of the workmen into a desired shape. These patient toilers had little time to imagine that their sons, with the aid of machinery, would make a dozen or a score while they were engaged upon a single one. The few of these mechanics who are living admit that the modern machine-box is more quickly and cheaply made, but insist that theirs were more durable and more carefully con- structed.
Daniel Emory, Stephen Emory, Isaac and Addison M. Wood, Braddyll Smith, James Bennett, Amos B. Harris, Benjamin and J.Warren Stowe, were engaged in this business.
This class of workmen, perhaps on account of the simi- larity of the tools employed, were frequently coopers as well as box-makers, and some of them also made wooden measures. In this connection mention should be made of the drums which were made in two of these shops. During the war of 1812, many were sold to the government, which were sounded in measuring the march of the troops during the campaigns that ensued. The enormous drum, which for many years was so accurately and soundly beaten by Elbridge Wood on training and muster days, was made by Capt. Stephen Emory. But the drummer and the maker are dead, the training and the muster days are almost forgot, and a new era in the manufacture of this class of ware has come and gone. The slow, laborious process of hand-labor can never successfully compete with the swifter and more accurate evolutions of ingeniously contrived machines in cutting and fashioning wood.
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The introduction of machinery driven by power soon put an end to this business. The implements of hand-labor, with their smoothly worn handles, are laid aside, and the little shops are closed. A few still remain, as monuments of the industry and patient toil of our fathers. For a long time, we trust, those near the residences of the late Stephen Emory and J. A. Gibson, of A. M. Wood and J. F. Hale, will remain, to proclaim the example of the uncomplaining labor of their former occupants.
In 1848, Samuel Page, of Winchendon, moved to Rindge, and introduced the first power machines for the manufacture of nest and bail-boxes. He occupied the mill which stood upon the site of E. B. Cutter's wheelwright shop.
In 1850, he sold his machinery to Reuben Ramsdell, who removed it to his mill in East Rindge. Mr. Ramsdell has continued the business with success, and has introduced many valuable improvements. He has had two mills burned, but each time he built larger. In 1870, he sold the mill and surrounding property to the Union Box and Lumber Company, of which Joel Wellington is the manager and principal owner. This company continue the business on an extensive scale, making also a large number of boxes for fruit and figs. In 1852, Henry Russell, who owned a mill about one-fourth of a mile below on the stream, began to make the same kind of boxes. Several years later he sold out to O. J. and A. S. Raymond, who enlarged the mill, and did an extensive business until 1871, when R. Ramsdell & Co. purchased the property, and continue the business. The other partners of the firm are Zebulon and Clovis M. Converse.
At each of the box manufactories is a saw-mill, in which a considerable amount of coarse lumber is annually cut out.
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Steam is also employed by both in connection with water- power.
In 1871, Morton E. Converse commenced the manu- facture of a box, alike in material to the nest-box, but either of a square or oblong form. The process of turning a corner in the rim without breaking the wood, and the machine for doing the work originated with him. His mill, with the saw-mill connected, are on the same stream, and a few rods below the mill of O. D. Converse & Son. A mill upon the same site, which was built by William Kimball forty years ago, was burned in 1843. The present mill was built by Joshua Converse in 1845.
PAILS were first made in town by Dr. Stephen Jewett and Dennis Howe. They built a mill for that purpose in the west part of the town, on the Pearly Pond stream, about forty years ago. This was among the first power mills in the country for the manufacture of pails. Although not of greater dimensions than some other mills in town, it was not styled the mill, or shop, but received no small distinction from the designation of "The Pail Factory." Mr. Howe soon sold his interest, and was succeeded by Levi Howe, Esq., Harvey Platts, and Capt. C. H. Cole, as partners of Dr. Jewett. The mill was burned in 1853, and was not rebuilt.
About ten years since, Charles A. and George A. Whit- ney bought the mill formerly owned by George E. Smith, at West Rindge, and commenced the manufacture of pails. Their mill has been burned, but was promptly rebuilt, upon an enlarged and commodious plan. A saw-mill has been added, and steam is employed to drive their machinery whenever the stream fails to afford sufficient power.
As clearly seen from the formation of the surrounding land, the natural outlet of Emerson Pond was at the east
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end, between the farms of Stephen Hale and Ivers H. Brooks. Nearly a century ago, a canal was made through a small ridge of land, at the western end of the pond, which was reduced to a lower plane than the eastern outlet, and which diverted the water from this pond through the Emory meadow, and by the mills below. By the original channel, the water crossed the highway, about sixty rods east of the residence of Stephen Hale, and was emptied into the Converse reservoir, about one-fourth of a mile above the Converse mills. Although diverted its entire length from its natural channel, the stream empties into the Monomonock Lake, within a short distance from the mouth of the former brook. Many years ago, legal proceedings were had in regard to the natural channel of the stream, and the interests of the western or present outlet secured the verdict, apparently in opposition to the decrees of Nature.
About the time Mr. Barker established the tan-yard, on the Emerson Pond stream, Ebenezer Brown, more famil- iarly known, in later years, as Deacon Brown, purchased the mills immediately above, and began business as a clothier. One of his mills is now occupied by A. S. Coffin, and the other was burned, when the buildings connected with the tannery were destroyed. The main part of his business was dressing cloth that had been woven in the hand-looms. In 1822, he was succeeded in the business by his son, Capt, E. W. Brown, who did not continue the manufacture of cloth, but wholly engaged in wool-carding and cloth-dressing. This business was not continued after the death of Mr. Brown, which occurred in 1839. In the same building a machine for carding rolls, for the few who can spin, has been maintained by Mr. Coffin to the present time.
Dr. Stephen Jewett, senior, owned, for several years, a small carding establishment on the West Rindge stream,
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near Pool Pond. It has not been in operation for many years.
The mills formerly owned by Mr. Brown were pur- chased, about 1840, by Silas Coffin, who immediately commenced the manufacture of bobbins and spools. Mr. Coffin introduced many valuable improvements in the ma- chinery employed in the manufacture of these wares. He also built the mill upon the site of the tan-yard. This building was occupied by George S. Coffin, for a short time, in cleansing wool, a business in which he was extensively engaged. Since his removal to Winchendon, in 1864, A. S. Coffin has employed the power in driving a saw-mill. The latter also succeeded his father in the manufacture of bobbins and spools, and has successfully conducted the business for the past fifteen or more years. The wares manufactured by Mr. Coffin are used wholly by the manu- facturers of woolen fabrics, and maintain a reputation excelled by none.
From sixty to eighty years ago, there were several hatters' shops in this town. The dwelling-house of the late Mary Davis, and one or two other buildings, were occupied by Col. William Gardner, in this business. Capt. Leonard Wellington was also engaged in the business, and had a shop in his dwelling-house, now owned by Dr. Josiah Abbott. The sign which was suspended over his door proclaiming his occupation, is in the possession of his son, Joel Wellington.
BRUSHES of many styles were formerly made by Seth Whiting. He commenced the manufacture in the building connected with the dwelling-house of Miss Millie Walker, and subsequently built a large shop on the site of the wheelwright shop of E. B. Cutter. He removed from
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town about 1836, and the business was not continued by other parties.
O. P. Allen formerly employed several hands in splitting palm-leaf, and subsequently owned a saw-mill, in which he also manufactured wooden-ware. This mill, situated near his residence in West Rindge, was burned in 1867, and has not been rebuilt. Moses W. and Hudson D. Hale have manufactured a large number of corn-brooms, and a variety of wooden-ware at times has been sent to the market from this town. Ten years ago, M. E. Converse began the man- ufacture of pyroligneous acid, and is still engaged in the business.
At present, in addition to a large amount of coarse lum- ber annually cut out at the several manufactories, the chief products of the mills are nest-boxes, by Joel Wellington, and R. Ramsdell & Co .; the square box, by M. E. Converse ; bobbins and spools, by A. S. Coffin ; pails, by the Whitney Brothers; saw-horses, by A. S. Sawtell; a variety of wooden- ware, by E. S. Kimball, Elijah Bemis, and Warren Sawtell ; and toys, ingeniously fashioned, by Otis P. Butler.
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CHAPTER XV.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Prevailing Sentiment of the People. - Importance of Town Meetings. - Resolutions Adopted. - Spontaneous Meetings. - War Committee Chosen. - Presentation of a Sword to Capt. Converse. - Sudden Death of Stephen B. Sherwin, Esq. - Names and Character of the Soldiers. - Record of Sixth Regiment, 1862. - Additional Bounties Offered. - Soldiers in the Ninth, Fourteenth, and Sixteenth Regi- ments. - Record, 1863. - Draft. - Regiment of Cavalry. - Substi- tutes for Enrolled Men. - Last Quota Filled. - Surgeons Darling, Abbott, and Norcross. - Others in the Service .- Payments by the War Committee, and for Bounties. - List of Selectmen. - Soldiers' Aid Society. - Tablets.
THE general feeling of solicitude and alarm which per- vaded the loyal North, during the winter and early spring of 1861, while several of the Southern States were openly declaring for treason, was fully shared by the people of this town. Unanimity of sentiment was nowhere more com- plete. A determined spirit of loyalty was universally manifested, and early found expression in unqualified terms. In the retirement of home, upon the streets, in public assemblages, and lastly in the town-meetings, the paramount question of the hour was the preservation of the union of the States.
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In public assemblages of the people, the American Revo- lution was inaugurated, and the crowning result of the Revolution was the right secured by the people to control the government by the means of the pure democracy of town-meetings. And when the government was assailed by the treason of the South, it was equally significant and fitting that the voice of loyalty and patriotism should be heard in these primary assemblages. In no other manner could the will and popular sentiment of the people be so clearly made known. In this town the people secured an early opportunity to give such expression of their love for the Union, and their determination that it be sustained.
At a meeting held on the twelfth of March, under an article in the warrant inviting the citizens, in the capacity of a town, to express their opinions on national affairs, a written preamble and resolutions were presented by Col. Jason B. Perry. The date of this action, a month previous to the great uprising of the North at the attack on Fort Sumter, surrounds it with peculiar interest. "Whereas a crisis now exists, hitherto unknown in the history of our country, we, the citizens of Rindge, in legal town-meeting assembled, desire to express and record our sentiments on the present condition of national affairs: Therefore, re- solved, in the words of the Declaration of Independence, of July 4, 1776, ' we hold that all men are created equal, and. have an inalienable Right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We hold that Governments are instituted for the Good of the whole People, and not for the Benefit of any Clique, Sect, or Party, whatsoever.' We believe that the Government of the United States was intended by its framers to be perpetual; that the Consti- tution is self-sustaining, when rightly administered, and, to use its own words, is the supreme law of the land, anything
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in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary, notwithstanding. We believe that no State of this Union has the right to secede therefrom, and set up an independent government of its own, any more than the town of Rindge has a right to secede from the State of New Hampshire, or any individual to cut loose from all society, and act according to his own will, independently of all other human beings. We therefore still abide by the Constitution and the laws, believing that those individuals and States which disregard and disobey them will, sooner or later, feel the bitter effects of their own rashness, folly, and madness." The record proceeds : "The foregoing Preamble and Resolution, after being fully considered, were adopted by a unanimous vote, excepting one voice in the negative."
The one voice in the negative represents the inalienable right of a minority, proves a tolerance of opinion, gives force to the vote as an unbiased expression of the people, and crowns the record with completeness. It is presumed that no assemblage of loyal citizens would have objected to these sentiments. The record has been cited rather as an early expression of the opinions of citizens, who were soon to be called upon for the proof of their sincerity. The following pages will record the manner in which that proof was rendered. It will be attempted only to narrate, in the plainest language, the manner in which the town of Rindge performed its part during the war. A plain record of events will present the patriotism of the inhabitants in the clearest possible light. The many self-denying, patriotic deeds, the magnitude of the many sacrifices made, and the sorrows of the bereaved, are natural deductions from such a narrative.
When the intelligence of the surrender of Fort Sumter electrified the entire people of the North, the inhabitants
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of the town of Rindge were prompt to respond; not in defiance, not with expressions of hatred, but with unequiv- ocal evidence of an unalterable determination that such treason should be met with force and arms. On the even- ing of Monday, April 14, a spontaneous meeting of the citizens filled the Town Hall to overflowing, at an early hour. Stephen B. Sherwin, Esq., presided. Earnest speeches were made by the Chairman, Ebenezer Blake, Samuel Henry Stearns, George A. Whitney, Benjamin Hale, and others, each expressing the universal sentiment of the assembled citizens, that any attempt to sever the union of the States was treason, and that the attack which had been made upon one of the forts of the general Government was treason that should be met at the bayonet's point. It was the voice of all the speakers, that the people of this town would not fail to perform their duty in the hour of danger. To this sentiment there was a most hearty approval manifested by all present.
A town-meeting was promptly called, which gave a more deliberate expression of the state of the public mind. This meeting was held on the eleventh of May. The records state that the following resolution was read, candidly considered, and adopted by a unanimous vote : " Resolved, that a civil war now exists in this country, and as it is the most solemn duty of every citizen to support the Government which protects his property, his liberty, and his life, and to go to the utmost extent of his means to enable the lawful Government effectually to suppress and punish treason, insurrection, and rebellion, and sustain the laws,- we, the inhabitants of the town of Rindge, in legal town-meeting assembled, hereby pledge ourselves to those who have or may hereafter enlist into the service of their country, from this town, as soldiers, that we will provide them with such
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necessary arms and clothing as may not be furnished by the Government, and that the families of those who have them shall be well provided for; and to carry out the foregoing pledge, we will choose a committee of five men, to be known as the War Committee, whose duty it shall be to borrow from time to time, on the credit of the town, such sums of money, not exceeding $3,000, as may be needed to carry out said pledge, in the true intent and meaning thereof ; and to appropriate said money to said purposes, according to the best of their ability."
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