Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 53

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 53

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240

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

his pastorate the church was erected near the corner of Court and River strects. The society was small, and the colored people being poor, they had many struggles to maintain an existence as a church. The money needed for the erection of this church was raised principally by the young people, who sang in the white churches the jubilee songs of their people, followed by collections.

Among the first members of this church were Henry H. Barr, who has faithfully stood by the church in all of her struggles. He was always ready to give the preachers a shelter, and contribute liberally for the sup- port of the Gospel. Born a slave, and coming North after the war, by his industry he has been able to buy a comfortable home. Though over 70 he still works at his trade. Through all his ups and downs he has helped Zion.

When Rev. H. R. Phoenix left the church, there was a debt on the lot of $150. Rev. James A. Wright, successor to Rev. Mr. Phoenix, laid the matter before the secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, who raised the money, and for security the trustees of the church turned the property over to the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, which they still hold under certain con- ditions.

The following pastors have served the church for longer or shorter terms: Rev. Solomon Jones, Rev. Elias Washington, Rev. Z. H. Tyler, Rev. J. E. Allen, Rev. George C. Smith, Rev. William H. Washington, (deceased), Rev. George C. Smith. The present pastor (July, 1894), is Rev. George C. Carter. Through his energy the church has been revived, and the building is under. going repairs; when finished it will be neat and attractive. Rev. Mr. Carter has the reputation of being one of the best financiers in his connection, and is a man of education.

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCI- ATION of the city of Watertown, at the present time is under the management of nineteen of the business men of the city. The following are the officers of the Associ- ation: Colonel Albert D. Shaw, President; George V. S. Camp, Vice-President; Harvey R. Waite, Recording Secretary; George B. Massey, Treasurer; Frank A. Ingraham, General Secretary; B. T. Simpson, Physical Director. The Association building is located at the corner of Washington street and Public Square, and is the generous gift of John A. Sherman, now deceased, a noble-hcarted Christian gentleman, whose aged widow still survives, at the age of 87. A reading room is furnished with eighty of the best papers and magazines of the day, and is free to all men. A library of 1,100 volumes, free to members. A. gymnasium equipped with the most approved apparatus. Bath rooms sup- plied with shower, needle, sponge and tub baths. Sixteen classes each week are under instruction in the gymnasium, during the winter; in summer a well-fitted athletic field is furnished the young men. Educational

classes in mechanical drawing and book- keeping are maintained during the winter. Religious meetings are held each Sunday for boys, also for men, and a Bible training class for men. Young men, coming strangers to the city, may find a list of good boarding places, and often may be aided in finding employment.

The Association has a very efficient Women's Auxiliary, the first one organized in the world. Its object is to devise ways and means to render the Association more efficient among young men.

The noble building which Mr. Sherman bequeathed to the Y. M. C. A. of our city, stands upon the finest site fronting the grand Public Square, and is a conspicuous and splendid monument to his philanthropy and interest in the exaltation of the lives of young men. In the not distant future the building will no doubt be re-modeled, and made even more imposing than it is at present. Its loca- tion will always render it a commanding centre for the purposes for which it was given, and it will always keep in sweet mem- ory the unselfish benefactor whose appreci- ative heart led to its being dedicated to the objects he had in view. Such high appreci- ation of the claims young men have upon the wealth and culture of the age, is of the highest value, and Mr. Sherman's noble deed will add largely to the moral forces of succeeding ages in our fair city.

We regret to say that we have been unable, after diligent inquiry, to obtain any reliable data relating to the Catholic Church in Watertown, to the Stone Street Presbyterian Church or to the Congregational organization. With these exceptions we have given a fair sy- nopsis of the city's churches and societies. There are some minor organizations outside of the regular order, which we have not al- luded to-but they are mostly short-lived or sporadic, making but slight permanent im- pression upon society.

THE WATERTOWN STREET RAILWAY COMPANY.

Through the courtesy of the gentlemanly superintendent, Mr. H. G. Manning, a Boston man, we are enabled go give the main details of this organization, whose electric cars afford so great a convenience to our people, and add so much to the business appearance of the streets of Watertown.

The date when the franchise was granted by the city, was November 22, 1887; work of construction commenced November 24, 1888; road was opened for traffic, May 20, 1891.

The officers of the first organization were A. D. Remington, President; E. S. Goodale, Secretary and Treasurer; W. A. Cole, Super- intendent. The directors were: John C. Thompson, New York city ; A. D. Reming- ton, S. F. Bagg, E. S. Goodale, E. M. Gates, J. Mullin and G. B. Massey, all of Watertown.

Length of track, main line, Pearl street to city limits, 318 miles.

241

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Length of sidings, 18 mile.

Length of track from city line to Brown- ville, 314 miles.

Length of sidings on Brownville branch, 18 mile.

Total length of track, 612 miles.

The track is laid with 50 pound iron, and the gauge is 4 ft. 812 in.

The schedule time over whole route is 30 minutes, and cars are started every 12 minutes.

The superintendent's office is in Pamelia, nearly opposite the Steam Engine Works. Fare is five cents from the city to end of route at Superintent's office, and five cents from there to Glen Park or Brownville.

The franchise granted this company is a valuable one, and growing more and more so as the city increases in population. It has already secured foothold upon popular favor, and the directors and manager are doing all in their power to make the road most service- able to the people. The capital invested and the bonded debt amount to $208,796.28, as per last return to the Railroad Commissioners of the State. The present officers are as fol- lows: Hon. B. B. Taggart, President; C. A. Starbuck, Vice-President; E. S. Goodale, Secretary and Treasurer; H. G. Manning, General Superintendent. The directors are as follows : Jno. C. Thompson and J. A. Lebkencher, New York city; C. A. Starbuck, E. S. Goodale, S. F. Bagg, Hon. J. Mullin and G. W. Knowlton, Watertown.

It is perhaps just and proper to state that in the fall of 1890, Mr. John C. Thompson, President of the Eames Vacuum Brake Com- pany secured control of the stock and pushed the road to completion, very little having been done up to that time. He became presi- dent of the road in October, 1891, remaining until June, 1894. The present efficient oper- ation of the road is due to his personal efforts, and he voluntarily relinquished the presi- dency, thinking that the president should be a prominent Watertown man, his (Thomp- son's) headquarters being in New York city. He still controls the stock of the company, and to his persistent efforts the people of Watertown owe the road and the beautiful summer park at the Glen.

THE BANKS OF WATERTOWN.

The earliest movement towards the estab- lishment of a bank in Jefferson county, was made in 1807. A petition was sent to the Legislature, praying for a loan to the county of $150,000 on good landed security, in bills of credit to be made a legal tender. This was not granted, upon the ground that the consti- tution of the United States prohibited State governments from making anything but gold and silver coin a legal tender. In 1808, the State loan of $10,339.86 was received by the county, and in 1837 the United States deposit of $130,779.86 for loans to the people.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BANK

Was the first banking institution organized in Jefferson county. Its projectors were the pioneers in the business enterprise of this sec-

tion of the State, who were determined to develop its resources, and felt the need of a bank to facilitate exchanges. The bank was incorporated by an act passed April 17, 1816, on a petition from John Brown, Roswel Woodruff, Eliphalet Edmonds, David I. And- rus, Ethel Bronson, Jabez Foster, Egbert TenEyck, Hoel Lawrence, Frederick White, Abel Cole, and others, to continue until Janu- ary 1, 1832, with a capital not exceeding $400,000, in shares of $10 each. Elisha Camp, of Hounsfield, Jesse Hopkins, of Henderson, Ebenezer Wood, of Ellisburg, Jabez Foster, of Watertown, Clark Allen, of Lorraine, Samuel C. Kennedy of Rodman, Ethel Bronson, of Rutland, John Durkee, of Champion, Thomas Brayton, of Wilna, Silvius Hoard, of Antwerp, Musgrove Evans, of LeRay, John Paddock, of Brownville and Eliphalet Edmonds, of Adams, were appoint- ed to apportion the stock and locate the site of the banking house. These met at Water- town, and after a prolonged and exciting strife between Watertown and Brownville, the latter, uniting with other interests, suc- ceeded in getting it located at Adams. The directors, elected June 20, 1817, were John Paddock, Hoel Lawrence, Ebenezer Wood, Clark Allen, David I. Andrus, S. F. Hooker, Elisha Camp, Frederick White, David Hale, Samuel C. Kennedy, John Cowles, Eliphalet Edmonds and Joseph Sterling. The first president was J. Paddock.

The bank went into operation with a paid- up capital of only $50,000, and, such was the scarcity of money, only a fraction was paid into the bank at the time of its opening.

The bank did not succeed at Adams, and, after a temporary suspension, was, in 1824, by an act of the Legislature, removed to Watertown. Each director, by this act, was required to own at least $500 stock. The charter was further amended, April 14, 1830, and the capital was increased to $80,000. May 19, 1836, the capital was increased from $80,000 to $200,000, and commissioners ap- pointed to receive subscriptions in shares of $10 each. In 1837 an ineffectual effort was made to get this act repealed. In 1828 it be- came one of the safety-fund banks, and re- mained such until 1853, when it was reorgan- ized under the general banking laws of the State. In 1865 it became a National Bank, and remains such to the present time.

Through all these years, reaching from 1824 to 1894, this institution has been promi- nent in affording financial assistance, and its stockholders have received a fair return for their money invested therein. Since 1857, T. H. Camp has occupied the position of president.

THE WATERTOWN NATIONAL BANK

was organized in 1882. It has a capital of $100,000. Surplus and profits, $85,000. George W. Knowlton, Jr., President; Sidney Cooper, Vice-President; N. P. Wardwell, Cashier.

Directors: George W. Knowlton, Jr .. J. R. Miller, Albert Bushnell, Harrison Fuller, A.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

D. Remington, B. L. Taylor, B. B. Taggart, J. Mullin, Jr., S. F. Bagg, George W. Wig- gins, Sidney Cooper.

This is one of the safest banking institu- tions of Watertown, ably managed, with courteous and attentive officers. It possesses the entire confidence of the business com- munity.

THE NATIONAL BANK AND LOAN COMPANY

Was organized as a State Bank by George C. Sherman, January 20, 1849, under the name of the Watertown Bank and Loan Company, with a capital of $100,000. This bank was reorganized August 8, 1865, under the national banking law, with its present name, with a capital of $75,000. In 1853 the bank erected the banking house on the corner of Washington and Stone streets, which it still occupies. This bank has remained in the family of George C. Sherman since its first organization, the sons succeeding to it as a portion of their patrimony.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SAVINGS BANK

Was incorporated April 5, 1859, with twenty- two trustees named in the act, thirteen of whom met some time before the 1st of July following and elected permanent officers, as follows: James I. Steele, President; Fred. Emerson, Vice-President; John L. Marsh, Secretary and Treasurer; Lafayette J. Bige- low, Peter Haas, and Merritt Andrus, Loan Committee. The trustees adopted a code of by-laws, and limited deposits to a minimum of twenty-five cents, none less than one dollar to draw interest, the latter being established at five per cent. In 1861 there was a general reorganization, and a new board of trustees was elected, who elected new officers, except vice-president. The deposits at the date of the last published report on Jan. 1, 1894, amounted to $1,913,971.72, and the loans and discounts to $2,107,705.72. This is a very strong bank.

OFFICERS: T. H. Camp, President; D. W. Baldwin, 1st Vice-President; George W. Wiggins, 2d Vice-President; George H. Sherman, Secretary; George Smith, Trea- surer ; A. T. E. Lansing, Assistant Treasurer.

TRUSTEES: T. H. Camp, George W. Wig- gins, Addison M. Farwell, D. G. Griffin, Ross C. Scott, D. W. Baldwin, N. P. Wardwell, A. L. Upham, R. H. Huntington, J. R.

Miller, Henry M. Stevens, J. A. Lawyer, Alden F. Barker, George H Sherman, C. W. Clare.

THE CITY NATIONAL BANK,

Organized in May, 1890, capital $100.000, with the following Directors: G. Lord, John E. Kemp, John Prouty, R. E. Hungerford, P. B. Grant, P. V. Poor, Robert Lansing, B. Brockway, and R. E. Smiley. G. Lord, President ; John E. Kemp, Vice-President. May 2, 1891, the President, G. Lord, died, and J. E. Kemp was made President, John Prouty, Vice-President, George H. Walker, Director. Oct. 6, 1892, John Prouty died, and R. E. Smiley was made Vice-President. C. M. Rexford and B. Brockway having died, F. D. Roth and N. R. Caswell were made Directors. Officers at present (1894) are: John E. Kemp, President; R. E. Smiley, Vice- President; J. O. Hathway, Cashier; G. B. Kemp, Assistant Cashier. Directors: John E. Kemp, George H. Walker, R. E. Smiley, F. D. Roth, Robert Lansing, P. B. Grant, C. M. Rexford, N. R. Caswell. P. V. Poor. Capital, $100,000; surplus profits, $16 000.

THE NATIONAL UNION BANK

Of Watertown was organized as a State bank under the name of the Union Bank, June, 1852, with the following incorporators and stockholders : Henry Keep, George S. Goodale, N. M. Woodruff, Walter N. Woodruff, Abner Baker, who subscribed $2,000 and upwards to the capital stock of $100,000; Washington Genet, Orrin C. Utley, Loveland Paddock, Daniel Lee, J. H. Dutton, E. Q. Sewell, who subscribed $1,000 each; W. K. Hawks, John White, and John C. Sterling. The first election was held August 3, 1852, at which a board of thirteen directors were chosen, who, at their first meeting, elected Henry Keep president, W. K. Hawks vice-president, and George S. Goodale cashier. On August 16, 1853, W. K. Hawks was elected president, and was succeeded by Abner Baker, August 7, 1855, John White being elected vice-presi- dent at the same time. August 4, 1856, S. B. Upham was chosen cashier, and served in that position until his death. August 8, 1865, the State bank was reorganized under the national banking law, with its present name. W. W. Taggart is now (1894) presi- dent, and A. L. Upham, cashier.

SOME LEADING INDUSTRIES.

THE WATERTOWN STEAM ENGINE COM- PANY .- This business is now upon an enduring basis, with enough capital and a long list of customers. It was originally located on the corner of Mill and Moulton streets, and con- ducted by Messrs. Hoard & Bradford. There has been for several years an attempt to give to Mr. Bradford (an excellent man, and a fair mechanic), too much credit for the beginning and extraordinary growth of this portable engine business. But the author, who was

intimately acquainted with all the facts, and knew the men, deems it due to the truth of history to accord to Hon. Charles B. Hoard at least seven-eighths of all the credit due to any one connected with that early and im- portant business enterprise.

The present Company is the outgrowth of a business established by Hoard & Bradford in 1849, and continued by them until they were succeeded by Hoard & Sons. The firm was fortunate at the beginning in having sold one

243

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

of their smallest engines to John A. Haddock, then editor and proprietor of the Democratic Union. Into this office one day came Horace Greeley, the great Tribune editor, and he looked at the little engine with astonishment at the way it was handling the first cylinder printing press ever introduced into Northern New York. Haddock was feeding his press as well as acting as " chief engineer." In the New York Tribune of July 13, 1850, appeared the following extract from Greeley's corres- pondence. He had come to Watertown to deliver a temperance lecture:

The best thing I saw in Watertown was the turnout of two thousand people on a wild, stormy night to hear a dry talk on temperance. The next best was a new portable steam engine, invented and manufac- tured there by Messrs Hoard & Bradford. The two- horse engine I examined was running a Napier power-press briskly, while burning as much fuel as a common kitchen range. Certainly, a ton of pea coal would suffice to run it a fortnight, day and night. The time must be at hand when every thrifty farmer and nearly every mechanic, will have such an engine of his own, and chopping straw, turning grindstone, cutting wood, churning, threshing, etc .. will have ceased to be a manual and become a mechanical operation.

Printing (press-work) by hand must rapidly disap- pear before the approach of this engine, which will be running on wheels and driving a scythe before it, or drawing a plow behind it, within five years. We have hardly begun to use steam yet.

From that time the business rapidly grew, but later on, Mr. Bradford, who was a timid man, and not by any means the inventor or the main force in the origin of this steam engine business, became alarmed at their great success, and sold out his interest for $25,000. [See more in relation to the matter in Mr. Hoard's biography, page 44.] Mr. Hoard's failure to make money out of the gun contract, led to the transfer of the busi- ness to other hands, and, as we have said, the present company was organized.

Their output of late years has been three engines per day, averaging 25 horse-power each. If crowded to their utmost they could turn out about 1,000 engines a year of an average of 40 or 50 H. P., a total of 50,000 H. P. per year.

Capital employed, including surplus and borrowed, is about $600,000. Value of present plant about $200,000.

The officers are: J. C. Knowlton, Presi- dent; G. C. Sherman, Vice-President; S. F. Bagg, Secretary and Treasurer; C. D. Palmi- ter, Superintendent.

Finding their former quarters somewhat cramped they moved in 1889 to their present location, where they have about twenty acres of land, and where they have equipped new shops built wholly on one floor, with modern cranes for handling heavy machinery and abundant switches for facility in receiving and shipping. They have put in new and modern tools and there are few plants in the United States capable of turning out work as cheaply.

THE EAMES VACUUM BRAKE COMPANY, AND THE NEW YORK AIR BRAKE COMPANY .- Among the mechanical industries of Water- town that have risen to position of importance and materially contributed to establishing this

city as a manufacturing centre, none have been more successful than the enterprise of these two companies.

The Eames vacuum brake was invented by F. W. Eames in 1875. A company was in- corporated in 1877 with a capital of $500,000. and work was commenced in one of the old stone buildings on Beebee's Island. The company did business with more-or-less suc- cess until 1883, when eastern capital became interested, and the business was extended. A year or two later it became necessary to build a compressed air brake in addition to the vacuum system, to successfully compete with other and old concerns manufacturing the air brake, which had been adopted as a standard on the trunk lines of the country, the vacuum brake not being interchangeable. For this purpose, Mr. A. P. Massey, mechanical engineer for the company, succeeded in in- venting a system of air brakes interchangeable with the Westinghouse system. This gave new life to the business, and a company was formed within the Eames company, with a capital of $5,000,000, styled "The New York Air Brake Co." Large shops were erected, covering the entire western portion of Beebee's Island, about two acres. These two com- panies combined give employment to five or six hundred hands. The pay roll has reached $6,000 per week, and it will undoubtedly go higher in the near future.

THE BAGLEY & SEWALL COMPANY .- The business of this important firm was originated by George Goulding in 1838. In 1853 the firm of Goulding, Bagley & Sewall was formed, continuing the business until 1861, when it was succeeded by the firm of Bagley & Sewall, which carried on the business until 1882, when the present stock company was formed, under the name of The Bagley & Sewall Company.

The business is that of a general foundry and machine shop, the specialties being the manufacture of paper and pulp-making machinery, and machinists' bench vices. The Bagley & Sewall Company began the manu- facture of Fourdrinier paper machines in 1890, and met with an immediate and pro- nounced success, standing easily in the front rank of manufacturers of such machinery. Their machines have been placed throughout the paper-making districts of the United States and Canada, from Maine to the Pacific Coast, and have, without exception, earned for themselves a most enviable reputation for unequalled capacity of production and

economy in maintenance.

This enterprise is one of the class which is especially beneficial to the community where located, as the employés are largely skilled craftsmen, earning the highest rate of wages.

The capital invested exceeds $250,000. The output is about $300,000 per year. In ordinary times they employ from 175 to 200 men-mostly skilled mechanies.

POSTAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY began business in 1890. They are specialists in wiring for bells, electric light, but are pre- pared to do all kinds of work in their line.

244

WOOD SHOP

SAW MILL

COMPANY.

MACHINE SHOP

.H. BAB COCK

_ H.H.BABCOCK

COMPANY.

OFFICE

VANDERCOOK GO 44/4

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

245

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

THE H. H. BABOOCK COMPANY .- Organized under the laws of the State of New York in 1882, with a capital of $100,000; since in- creased to $300,000. Present officers: H. H. Babcock, President; R. P. Flower, Vice- President; G. H. Babcock, Treasurer; F. W. Babcock, Secretary. Annual output between 4,000 and 5,000 carriages. Annual business nearly half a million dollars.

The foundation of the business was laid by Henry H. Babcock in 1845, who commenced at that time making wooden pumps, which business grew to quite large proportions until about the year 1871, when iron pumps were put on the market at a very low price, and displaced to a certain extent the wooden pump. Mr. Babcock, seeing the price of iron growing steadily less, and the price of pine steadily advancing, was compelled to gradually work out of the pump business and turn his plant and machinery to other uses. About 1874, himself and sons added to their business the manufacture of flouring mill machines, which was carried on until the year 1880, when they commenced the manu- facture of carriages and carriage parts. In 1882 the business was merged into a stock company composed of H. H. Babcock, G. H. Babcock, J. W. Babcock, F. E. Babcock, Roswell P. Flower and Anson R. Flower, since which time they have erected buildings with floor-space amounting to over ten acres. The business employs nearly 350 hands. Mr. H. H. Babcock was the originator of this now important carriage industry in Watertown, where he has been for many years a respected and honored citizen. He has reared here an interesting and capable family, his sons are now his able lieutenants, and they are ex- celled by no other firm in Northern New York for enterprise and public spirit. Their works are on a permanent and enduring basis, spread over much ground, conveniently arranged in every detail. The completeness of economy in managing such an establish- ment will be apparent when we consider that $75 now buys as complete and durable a wagon as $150 was paid for in 1865. The advantages of concentrated effort have never been more strikingly demonstrated than in this business of carriage building, in which Mr. H. H. Babcock has always been in the lead. Their New York works are at 406, 408, 410 and 412 Broome street.

THE HARMON MACHINE COMPANY-Began business in 1891. Organized to do a general machine shop business, including foundry and heavy forging. Manufacture hydraulic pulp- grinding machinery, and repair all machinery used by the manufacturers on Black River.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 53

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094