Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 115

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 115

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).

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

" In 1848 I resided in Rutland, where I was engaged in manufacturing cheese. It was in my cheese work, in which I had been experimenting with steam, that I got the idea of a portable steam engine. The experiments in the use of steam in the manufacture of cheese were begun by me as early as 1842. The work for making the apparatus necessary for experiments had been done for me at George Goulding's machine shop. The method of heating milk for cheesemaking was then very crude. The milk was turned into a kettle, heated over a fire, and then poured into the milk vats, thus heating the milk. The kettle, which was used as the boiler, was covered at first with wood. This, as well as the under vat, had to be caulked all around to prevent the steam from escaping. There was no safety valve to let the steam out. The packing blew out at one time, and filled the entire room with steam. The cover of the kettle was blown off, and when I entered, a few minutes afterwards, there was not a spot in that room but what was wet. If I had been there at the time the accident occurred I would certainly have been scalded. But I still had to work it as it was till the season was over. I put on two or three props to make the cover to the kettle fast. At the close of the season I brought the kettle to Goulding and had him put on an iron cover with a safety valve. I also manufactured the same thing for Dr. Munson and William Howell,of Tylerville. In the State Agricultural Society's report for 185r you will see a diagram of all the cheese works. They gave me a premium of $25 for the best plans. That led me to think of getting steam works for power. I came down to Goulding's shop, where Gilbert Bradford was foreman, -that, I think, was when Hoard was county clerk, -and urged him to get me up a steam-power to use in sawing wood, etc., instead of horse-power. Goulding said: 'Don't you do anything of that kind. You will kill every farmer there is around here !' He would not take any interest in it. Bradford got to work in the course of that year-1848-so that in the fall he showed me a power something like a drum heater on wheels, that had a pully on it, and could run a small lathe, being about one and one-half horse-power. You could put it up in the corner of the room. The same thing was afterwards brought to the building back of the jail, and was used to drive a lathe. That was as near as I ever came to the steam-power, and it was really the origin to the portable steam engine. About that time Hoard came in with Bradford for the express purpose of starting the portable steam engine works, and located a shop.

" Twenty years after, or in 1867, I think, the first patent was taken out, by a man in Syracuse, for heating milk by the process which was originated by myself. That patent was transferred to another party, who went about the state collecting a royalty from dairymen using the process. The dairymen from Oneida County were hunting up testimony to go against the patent, and desired to show that the process was in use previous to the patent being issued. I wrote to the association in Utica and received no answer. I then wrote Burrell, of Little Falls, a great cheese buyer. Burrell corresponded

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with me and wanted me to make a diagram of the fixtures I had for heating. I did so. The result was that the man in Syracuse did not push the thing any further. He was going to push the matter of the payment of a royalty throughout the state, but I proved that I had used the patent about 17 years previous to his securing it."

Gilderoy Lord, who for half a century has been prominently identified with the manufact- uring advancement of Jefferson County, was born in Brownville in 1816. ITis father, Will- iam Lord, was a native of Windsor, Vt., and his mother, whose maiden name was Charlotte Thomas, was a native of Ellisburgh, Jefferson County.

William Lord was a farmer, and prior to the War of 1812 came to Jefferson County. He taught school one year, and then started the manufacture of wagons and fanning-mills at Brownville. He subsequently added a pocket furnace and manufactured different kinds of agricultural implements. His first partner was Alanson Skinner, an influential and prominent business man. Mr. Lord continued in business there until 1855, when he retired, leaving his business to his sons. He resided in Brownville until his death, which occurred in 1874. He was colonel of the first rifle regiment formed in the county, one of the first directors of the Rome & Watertown Railroad, and a man of marked business abilities. Seven children attained maturity: Gilderoy; Newton B., of New York; Mrs. Parmela Bosworth, of Watertown; Mrs. Fayetta Morrison, of Chicago; William, who died in Aurora, Ill .; and Nathan, who died in Brownville. Hiram and Elisha were drowned at Brownville. Gilderoy Lord was reared and educated in the county schools, and passed one year at the Lowville Academy. He had pre- viously served a two years' apprenticeship in his father's shop, learning the trade of molder. Upon leaving school his father admitted him as a partner, and the firm of William Lord & Son was established. This association continued until 1854, when Gilderoy withdrew from the firm and came to Watertown, and, in 1855, with his uncle, Judah Lord, and his brother-in- law, F. H. Gregory, formed a copartnership under the firm name of J. & G. Lord & Co., lo- cating their works upon Beebee's Island. They there commenced the manufacturing of plows, mowing machines, and general agricultural implements, becoming the successors of four dif- ferent plow firms. In 1865 Mr. Gregory died, and his interest was purchased by Mr. Lord. Five years subsequently he bought out his uncle's interest, and has since conducted his busi- ness operations alone. In 1869 his property was damaged to the extent of $25,000 by the great flood of 1869, all of which was a total loss to him. Mr. Lord has improved and enlarged his works from time to time, and is now doing a large business in general foundry and machine shop work, employing about 20 men. IIe has also been prominent in banking circles, and was one of the organizers of the National Union Bank, and served that institution as director, vice-president, and president until January, 1889, when he resigned. Mr. Lord has never had political aspirations, but was elected the second mayor of Watertown upon a union ticket. Conservative in business, and generous in all good works, he is a noble type among the sue- cessful business men of Jefferson County. Mr. Lord married Miss Mucina Hoyt, daughter of Luther G. Hoyt, an old resident merchant and justice of the peace, of Watertown. Two chil- dren have been born to them.

Nill & Jess .- This well known firm is composed of John Nill and Henry Jess. Mr. Nill is a native of Germany and came to America in 1853. He located in Utica, where he learned the confectioners' trade, remaining in that city seven years. In 1860 he came to Watertown and was employed for three years by J. S. Cadwell. He then began business for himself, opening up a confectionery and ice cream saloon, soon after admitting as a partner Mr. Jess. From a small beginning, in 1863, they have established one of the most complete establishments in the state. Their business place is located at 9 Court and 10 Arsenal streets, and their factory at Factory Square. This. business embraces that of manufacturing crackers and other bake stuffs, and confectionery, cigars, and carbonated waters. They have an extensive retail

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

trade in the city, and a traveling salesman is employed in extending their wholesale trade over Northern New York. They commenced the manufact- uring of cigars in 1867, and have now in their employ about 20 men in this department, making only the better grades of goods. Their factory, on Fac- tory Square, has recently been enlarged, and is fitted with all the modern machinery and improvements. Mr. Nill was elected mayor of the city in 1889. He has also served his ward six years as supervisor.

Henry Jess, also a native of Germany, has been a resident of America since 1853. He is a cabinetmaker by trade, and came to Watertown from Utica. Since the formation of the firm Mr. Jess has devoted his attention to the financial and business supervision of the establishment, and in this most important position has contributed largely to the phenomenal success that has attended this deserving enterprise.

The Davis Sewing Machine Company, organized in 1872, was for many years one of the most important industries in Watertown, and one of the largest manufactories of sewing machines in the world, about 500 workmen being employed. This immense industry was recently removed to Dayton, Ohio.

Taggart Bros. Co .- The firm of West, Palmer & Taggarts was organized in 1866, by George West, of Saratoga, Lewis Palmer, of Evans Mills, and Byron B. and William W. Taggart. This copartnership continued one year, when Mr. West bought Palmer's interest, and the firm of West & Tag- garts was established. In 1871 the Taggart Brothers purchased the interest of Mr. West and took in Orrin R. Davis, forming the firm of Taggarts & Davis. This firm continued until the death of Mr. Davis, his estate retain- ing an interest in the concern until 1881, when Taggart Bros. became sole proprietors. The firm of Taggart Bros. continued until 1887, when a stock company was formed under the title Taggart Bros. Co., Harry W. Taggart and George C. Sherman becoming members of the company. The present officers are B. B. Taggart, president ; W. W. Taggart, vice-president ; H. W. Taggart, treasurer ; and George C. Sherman, secretary. The capital stock and surplus of the corporation is now $202,000.

The plant is extensive and covers about two acres. The main building is four stories high, 200x80 feet in dimensions, attached to which is a wing having two floors, and 75x50 feet in area. This structure was erected by W. H. Angel in 1844, and was first used as a flouring-mill and distillery. Afterwards it was utilized as a cotton and woolen-mill. To the left of the main building is a pulp-mill 46x30 feet, and a storehouse on the right is 120x30 feet in extent. Eighteen water-wheels are used to drive the machinery, their united horse-power capacity being 1,500. The daily capac- ity of the mills is six tons of print and manilla paper, and three tons of wood pulp, the various departments affording employment for about 50 workmen. The firm of Taggart Bros. Co. also manufactures about 5,000,000 flour sacks annually.

B. B. Jaggart.

7801

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

HON. BYRON BENJAMIN TAGGART .*

The subject of this brief biographical sketch was born in the town of Le Ray, Jefferson County, N. Y., on the 28th of April, 1831. The Taggart family from whom he descended ranks among the old settlers of this section of the state. His father, Henry Taggart, was born in Le Ray, and his mother, Julia Deighton, in Pamelia. They lived and died in their native county, and the old homestead is still owned by their descendants. His great-grandfather, Joseph Taggart, resided in Newport, R. I., where he carried on a shipping trade, frequently crossing to Europe in sailing vessels in the line of his business. He emigrated to the United States from the Isle of Man. His immediate family consisted of six brothers and two sis- ters, viz .: Dempster, who died in childhood, Joseph B., William W., Watson Henry, Dempster D. (named after his deceased brother), and the sisters, Mary and Orea. Of the brothers, Watson H. died in Terra Haute, Ind., in 1853, and Dempster D. in Watertown, in October, 1889. The sister Mary died in 1871. With the single exception of the eldest child the whole family grew up to manhood and womanhood, and married. Theirs was a family possessing unusual force of character, and if their individual history could be fully written out it would furnish a valuable picture of the trials, successes, and perseverance of a large family of children born in humble life, and who largely had to make their own way in the world.

The products of a farm in this region 50 years ago were barely sufficient to provide for the necessities of a large family of children, and to do this even called for a self sacrificing toil on the part of parents and elder children, at once noble and beautiful. That the members of this family came of good and thrifty stock is abundantly proved by the useful and successful career of each. In the battle of life they all won honorable positions in the circle in which their lot was cast.

Byron B. worked on the home farm until he was 18 years of age-working summers and latterly teaching school during the winter term. The experi- ences gained while " boarding round," and in the management of country schools, gave him an excellent insight into character, which greatly aided him in later years. He attended the State Normal School at Albany for one year, and afterwards went West, where he spent three years. In the spring of 1856 he returned to his native county, and, on the 28th day of May of that year, he married Miss Frances L. Brown, of Watertown, daughter of Jabez and Lefa Brown. This choice of a wife proved a very happy one, and two daughters and a son blessed the union. Mrs. Taggart has been a loving wife and devoted mother, and still lives to grace and bless a home her presence and help have done so much to brighten and secure.

The patriotic fervor of the period of the great Rebellion in 1861 found full recognition in the heart of Mr. Taggart. In 1862, after the conflict had

* By Col. Albert D. Shaw.

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

deepened into a gigantic civil war, he raised a company of volunteers for the toth N. Y. Artillery, and was commissioned a captain in the 29th, in No- vember, 1862. He had command of Fort Ricketts, comprising a part of the important defences of Washington, where he remained up to November 23, 1863, when family responsibilities and ill health led him to resign his com- mission. He was a capable and efficient officer, and merited and received the full confidence of his men and of his superior officers. The service he rendered in the army made a heavy drain upon his health, and ever since he has at times been a great sufferer from disabilities contracted while in the line of duty On the 14th of May, 1878, Gov. Robinson appointed him a trustee for the " completion, management, and control of the Soldiers Home" at Bath, N. Y., and he was reappointed to this trust by Gnv. Cornell on the 4th of May, 1881. In 1879 he was elected mayor of Watertown, and reelected in the following year. His administration of the affairs of the city was marked by a careful discharge of the delicate and somewhat onerous duties pertaining to the trying position. He brought a business man's experience to the service of the city, and left the position with an excellent record.

He was one of tlie originators and is president of the "Taggart Bros. Company," of Watertown, and the " Taggart Paper Company," of Felt's Mills. He is vice-president and one of the promoters of the " Watertown thermometer works," a company providing employment to between 40 and 50 workers. He was also one of the organizers of the " Watertown National Bank," and is a director in this institution. He is a stockholder in the " Wa - tertown Spring Wagon Company " and in the " Watertown Carriage and Gear Company." He is president of the " Central Park Association," which occupies one of the finest sites on the St. Lawrence River, and he is vice- president of the " Alexandria Steamboat Company." He is also interested in the Hotel Eastman, at Hot Springs, Ark., built to accommodate 850 guests. This record of industrial interests which his enterprise and means have helped to develop will amply prove that he is a citizen who fully meets the best requirements for the development of ways and means for furnishing employment to the people, and adding to that circulation that creates wealth in his own home section of the state. As a business man Mr. Taggart is well and widely known, and respected for his sterling integrity, thrift, enterprise and public spirit. His career has been a successful one,-both in the days of war and in times of peace,-and he is yet in the prime of life.

As a type of a farmer's son, winning his own way to a position of great in- fluence and usefulness among the business men of his day, and acquiring a competency through his own efforts, besides commanding the confidence of both political parties,-as his official trusts continued through two adminis- trations abundantly prove,-he is one of our self-made men, worthy as few are, and whose achievements are a valuable part of the history of our country. His life is proof of how grandly the American volunteer-transformed into an American business man-adapted himself to every duty, and so stands forth as one of the best products of our cosmopolitan civilization.

78₺

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Watertown Thermometer Company (successors to the Oswego Thermom- eter Company) was incorporated in 1886, with a capital stock of $30,000, the first officers being I. P. Powers, president ; W. W. Taggart, vice-president ; O. W. Wilmot, secretary and treasurer. The company's plant is embraced in a four-story brick structure, 50 by 80 feet in dimensions, located at 24 Newell street. The machinery is operated by a water privilege of about 40 horse-power, and employment is furnished to 50 skilled workmen in the man- ufacture of all kinds of thermometers and barometers. The present officers of the company are I. P. Powers, president ; B. B. Taggart, vice-president ; W. J. Shepard, secretary and treasurer.

Watertown Paper Company was organized in 1867. The mills have a capacity for the production of about three tons of news paper and two tons of wood pulp daily, giving employment to about 40 workmen. The plant is located on Sewall's Island, the main building being of brick, two stories high, 52 by 108 feet. Attached to this is a wing, of wood, 25 by 80 feet. A pulp- mill and stock houses are adjacent. The present officers of the company are H. Remington, president, and E. W. Remington, secretary and treasurer.

The Hitchcock Lamp Company was organized in 1873, and is engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated " Hitchcock " lamps and chandeliers for burning mineral oils. The capital stock of the company is $150,000, and the present officers are Roswell P. Flower, president ; Robert Hitchcock, vice-president; and J. W. Moak, secretary and treasurer.

The Remington Paper Co. was established in 1854, by I. Remington & Sons, the present company, however, being incorporated in 1865. The Rem- ington Paper Co. operates one of the most complete papermaking plants in the United States. There are two paper-mills and three pulp-mills in Water- town belonging to the concern, all of which are located along the banks of the Black River, but are separate some little distance each from another. They are very extensive, are built of brick, and vary from one to three floors in height. Some of these mills have been recently erected to meet the demands of the constantly increasing manufacturing operations. The rail- road track is contiguous to all of them, and furnishes unrivalled shipping facilities. Altogether the conveniences here available are such as exercise a marked influence in decreasing the cost of operations. The mechanical equipment of the plant is fully equal to that of any paper manufacturing establishment on the continent, and the capacity of the mills allow of the production of about 30 tons of news paper and 25 tons of wood pulp daily. About 150 men are employed in the various departments of the works, and the motive force for operating the machinery of the five mills is supplied from the Black River, and combined is of about 3,500 horse-power capacity. In addition to the mills in this city the company owns and operates another paper-mill in California, which turns out from three to four tons daily. The news paper manufactured by the company is largely in demand throughout the United States, and is supplied to some of the largest newspaper publishers in

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

the country. The executive officers are A. D. Remington, president ; George P. Folts and C. R. Remington, vice-presidents ; C. H. Remington, treasurer ; and Fred Emerson, secretary.

Moffett, Hodgkins & Clarke, engineers and contractors for the construc- tion of water works, gas works, sewerage, electric light plants, railroads, etc., commenced business in 1882, and in a short time took front rank among similar undertakings throughout the country. The firm has, during the space of its eight years of existence, met with almost phenomenal success, and often employs thousands of workmen at one time at various points in the United States. It has constructed, and now owns and operates, water works in the following places : Watertown, Greenbush, West Troy, White Plains, Green Island, Adams, Bath-on-the-Hudson, Fulton, Oswego Falls, Newark, Homer, Cortland, Canandaigua, and Waterford, in New York state ; Newark, O .; Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Portage City, Beaver Dam, and Baraboo, Wis .; Escanaba, Mich .; Kankakee and Lincoln, Ill .; Duluth and Rochester, Minn .; Salisbury, N. C .; Cornwall and Belleville, Ont .; and have recently constructed water works at Manitowoc, Wis .; Cobourg, Kingston, and Berlin, Ont .; Washington, Ind .; Monroe, Wis .; Jackson, Miss .; Spartanburg, S. C. Altogether they have made maps, plans, and estimates for water works and sewerage in over 150 cities, towns, and villages on this continent This firm also owns and operates combined arc and incandescent electric light plants in Kankakee, Ill., and Rochester, Minn., and has a number of others under construction. Moffett, Hodgkins & Clarke recently removed their main offices to Syracuse, locating in the new Everson building.

Farwell & Rhines, proprietors of Crescent Hungarian roller flouring- mills, became owners of this important industry in 1878, and they also lease the Kimball mill. The Crescent mills are comprised in a three-story brick building, 50 by 65 feet in dimensions, with warehouses, storehouses, and office adjoining. The equipment embraces 10 sets of rolls and two runs of stones, and a full complement of improved roller process machinery, the capacity being about 100 barrels per day. The flour is made by the latest improved, gradual reduction, Hungarian roller process, a system which of late years has completely revolutionized the whole art of milling. The firm makes a spe- cialty of " Health Flour," " Gluten Flour," " Diabetic Food," " Barley Crys- tals," and " Pearl Barley,"-all patent or trade mark brands. The products of these mills are shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada, and to several countries of the Old World.

Union flouring-mills, located on the corner of Mill and River streets, were built in 1835, by Moulton & Sheldon. They were originally supplied with six runs of stones, but are now furnished with the modern roller process, with the capacity for grinding 150 barrels per day. In 1869 I. A. Graves purchased a one-half interest in the concern, and since that time the firm title has been I. A. Graves & Co.

783

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

City flouring-mills, located at 20 Newell street, on Black River, were built about 1876, and were for a number of years operated under the old system of milling, but in 1887 they were entirely remodeled, and a complete Hungarian roller-mill system was introduced under the existing management. The building is three floors in height and covers an area 40 by 70 feet in dimensions. There are five water-wheels, which combined have a capacity of 200 horse power. The mills are equipped with tliree runs of stones and seven sets of rolls, with the capacity for grinding 80 barrels of flour per day . The establishment is owned by Dr. H. H. Dean, and is under the manage- ment of S. H. Bolton.

Excelsior flouring-mills, A. H. Herrick & Son, proprietors, were built by A. H. Herrick in 1882. The building is 44 by 100 feet in dimensions, con- tains seven runs of stones and 11 sets of rolls, grinding about 800 bushels of grain per day. It is one of the largest flouring-mills in Northern New York, and is furnished with all the modern conveniences.

A. H. Herrick was born in Windsor, Vt., December 14, 1828, and when 11 years of age came to Jefferson County with his parents and located in Brownville. Mr. Herrick has been engaged in the milling business 45 years. He married Ellen West, and they have had three children, of whom Eli W. and Hattie M. are living.

Cataract mills, Davidson & Paddock, proprietors, located on the corner of Mill and Moulton streets, were built in 1835 by Philo C. Moulton. They have four runs of stones and do custom grinding ; capacity about 50,000 bushels per year.

City cider-mill, located on Newell street, was built by the present pro- prietor, A. I. Wilson, in 1882. It has the capacity for producing about 20 barrels of cider per day.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 115

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384