History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 76

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 76

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NCC

"EDEN HILL," RESIDENCE OF JOHN P. ADRIANCE, ESQ., POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

"FALLKILL IRON WORKS," POUGHKEEPSIE, N. 1

(ALBERT TOWER PROJECTOR AND BUILDER.)

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CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

company was incorporated March 26, 1875, for " the manufacture of pig iron and the products thereof," with a capital of $150,000, by J. B. Brins- made, A. Tower and Henrie M. Braem, who were the first trustees. It is the successor of the Pough- keepsie Iron Works Co., which was organized in 1848, and in that year erected the furnace now de- signated No. I, at the Union Dock, at the foot of Union street. That furnace was constructed for the purpose of smelting ores by the use of char- coal, but owing to the difficulty in procuring that fuel, was adapted to the use of anthracite coal. Joseph Tuckerman and Wm. Bushnell were the parties interested. Mr. Tuckerman retained his interest but a short time, though, after a few years, the property passed into his hands, and he asso- ciated with himself Edward Bech, with whom he continued till the close of 1854, when he sold his interest to Mr. Bech and others from Hamburgh and Copenhagen, who, with some changes in indi- vidual ownerships, continued operations until the present stock company was formed in 1875. A. Tower was made President of the latter company, Henrie M. Braem, Treasurer, and J. B. Brinsmade, Secretary. There has been no change in the offi- cers. The second stack in this locality was built in 1854, and operated by Edward Bech. The works have been under the supervision of A. Tow- er since 1850. The capacity of the first stack is 25 tons, and of the second, 30 tons per day-their capacity having been doubled as compared with former years by improvements in the method of treating ores.

In 1860, the two stacks at the foot of Hoffman street were erected by the Poughkeepsie Iron Works Co., and before the expiration of the year a stock company was formed under the name of the Fall- kill Iron Co., which was composed of the same parties as constituted the Poughkeepsie Iron Works Co., with the addition of Judge James Emott. The capital was $200,000; but in May, 1867, it was increased to $700,000, and other partners ad- mitted, among whom were George A. Parker, of New York, and J. B. Brinsmade. The two stacks owned by this company are of equal capacity, and have a joint capacity of eighty tons per day. The first directors and officers of the Fallkill Iron Co., were James Emott, President ; Edward Bech, Treasurer; and A. Tower, who is also the Super- intendent. Mr. Emott still holds the office of President. The present Treasurer is Henrie M. Braem ; the Secretary, J. B. Brinsmade.

Both companies manufacture pig iron, the Fall-

kill Iron Co., producing 25,215 tons per annum, and the Poughkeepsie Iron Co., 19,463 tons. They unitedly employ 160 men, to whom between $6,000 and $7,000 is paid on monthly wages.

The Fallkill Iron Co., own a hematite mine in Union Vale, and an interest in a magnetic ore bed on Lake Champlain. The principal towns in this County in which ore is obtained are Fishkill, Beek- man and Union Vale, the production in 1880, ex- ceeding that of any previous year. Limestone, for a flux, is obtained from Duchess, Ulster and Greene counties.

J. Silberman & Co's. manufactory of silk thread for weaving, though a recent enterprise, is among the more important manufacturing establishments in Poughkeepsie. It is located on the corner of Main and Smith streets, and is a branch of this company's manufactory in New York city, the thread for the warp and filling being prepared for the weaving, which is done in New York. The business here gives employment to about 150 per- sons, about two-thirds of whom are females. That branch of it conducted in New York gives employ- ment to between 700 and 800.

G. D. Eighmie is doing an extensive business in the manufacture of the Eighmie Imported Patent Bosom Shirts and the Eighmie Patent Elastic Seamless Drawers, both of which are his own in- vention. He commenced this business in 1876. In 1878 he erected a building at his present loca- tion, Nos. 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 Crannell street, commencing operations therein on Monday, August 26, 1878. But the increase in his business has necesitated four additions to that within the last two years, thus trebling his facilities in his present location, and giving the works a present capacity of fifteen hundred shirts per day. He now employs some one hundred and fifty persons, all of whom, except about twelve are females. The value of the manufactured products is about $300,- ooo per annum. The monthly pay roll averages about $2,600.

The works of the Dutchess Manufacturing Co., were established in the fall of 1875, by Lasher, Haight & Kelly, (Warren P. Lasher, Louis Haight and Timothy G. Kelly,) for the manufacture of ladies' cotton and woolen skirts, and was conduct- ed by them till January, 1878, when they closed out the business and were succeeded by Forby & Lasher, (Wm. F. Forby and Warren P. Lasher,) who continued it till the death of Mr. Forby in the early part of 1879, when J. Frank Hull, Jr., acquired Mr. Forby's interest, and the business

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

has since been conducted under the name of Lasher & Hull.

Gifford, Sherman & Innis, manufacturers of dye woods and logwood extracts, represent one of the oldest as well as one of the most important industries in Poughkeepsie. The business was established in 1813, by Nathan Gifford, who, in 1838, associated with himself H. R. Sherman, un- der the firm name of Gifford & Sherman. In 1842, George Innis became a member of the firm, and the business has since been conducted under the name of Gifford, Sherman & Innis, though Mr. Gifford severed his connection with it in 1852, and Mr. Sherman died in 1858, having maintained his connection till his death, while Aaron Innis, brother of George, acquired an interest in 1849. The business is now conducted by George and Aaron Innis.

The business was established on the present site, in a building which had been previously used as a grist and plaster-mill. That building was de- stroyed by fire in 1849 ; and in that year the build- ing now known as "the old mill" was erected. Since then four additional buildings have been erected from time to time, as the demands of an in- creasing business required, the last in 1880. Employment is given to about one hundred and twenty-five persons. Connected with the estab- lishment, also, is a machine shop, in which five men are employed. This is the oldest establish- ment of its kind in this country, and with the ex- ception of one at Green Point, and another at Bull's Ferry, near New York, is the only one in the State. There are only seven other establishments of the kind in the country. The dye wood is manufactured for the use of the dyers, and is im- ported-the logwood from the West Indies, and the other woods from the East Indies, South and Central America, Africa and Europe.

C. M. & G. P. Pelton are engaged in the manufacture of two-ply and three-ply ingrain car- pets and pins, at the lower end of Mill street. This business was established in 1837, by Charles M. Pelton, who remained the senior partner till his death, Jan. 14, 1878. He was born Oct. 15, 1805, and spent his early life in Monticello, Sulli- van county, removing to Poughkeepsie in 1837. His brother, G. P. Pelton, became associated with him as partner about 1848, and the business has since been conducted under the above name.

The business was established on the present site, in a building which was partially destroyed by fire July 1, 1854. A portion of the front part

of the present building is that portion which sur- vived the fire. The manufacture of carpets alone was commenced in 1837. The manufacture of pins was added about 1848. The carpet business has more than doubled. It is conducted on the lower floor, and pins on the upper. About one hundred persons are employed in both depart- ments, more than one-half of whom are females. Two turbine water-wheels and two steam engines, with a united capacity of one hundred horse- power, constitute the motor. Steam was first in- troduced about 1848, previous to which time water alone was relied on.

The Poughkeepsie Glass Works are one of Poughkeepsie's more recent, but most valuable in- dustries. They were established some eighteen months since by a stock company, with a capital of $85,000, for the manufacture of hollow glass- ware. They are located on the river bank, in the north part of the city, near the upper furnace, and give employment to about one hundred persons. The following are the trustees named in the articles of association, which are dated Poughkeepsie, Nov. 19, 1880, viz : Wm. P. and Charles D. Ely, Charles W. Reed, George O. Baker and George H. Hoyt, all of Clyde, N. Y., and Henry C. Wis- ner and Evan R. Williams, of Rochester.

Arnold & Co's Chair Factory is an old estab- lished industry and one of considerable magnitude. The business was commenced in 1844, by S. Chichester, who conducted it for two or three years, and was succeeded by Strong & West, and later by West & Frost. About 1852, David Ar- nold succeeded West & Frost, and continued the business till his death in 1864, when Wm. C. Arnold, his son, C. N. Arnold his grandson, and C. S. Andrus succeeded to the business, which has since been conducted under the name of Ar- nold & Co. The factory is located on the west side of North Water street, near Mill street. Fif- ty persons are employed in the factory, while from two hundred to five hundred women and children are employed in caning chairs. In 1880, 60,000 chairs were made, with either cane or perforated veneer seats.

M. Vassar & Co.'s Brewery is one of the old- est, and, from the noble benefaction it has virtu- ally evolved-Vassar College-the most remarka- ble of Poughkeepsie's business enterprises. In 1805, James Vassar began the brewing business in Poughkeepsie. He purchased of the heirs of Baltus Van Kleeck a lot of land lying between Main and Mill streets, the former of which, west of

39I

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

Washington street, was then recently opened. On that lot, says Mr. Lossing, he built a brewery, in a part of which his family dwelt while he was erect- ing the house which became their future residence. The first Vassar brewery, says a contemporary writer,* was built in 1806. It was a very small building, situated on the Fallkill, and contained a small tub and kettle, the capacity of which was "the traditional two barrels." The brewing was " repeated as often as the population, which at that time was 1,500 all told, required it."

In 1809, Mr. Vassar built a larger and more commodious brewery to meet the demands of his increasing business. This building, which stood on Vassar street, was destroyed by fire May 10, 18II. Mr. Vassar had no insurance, and the loss proved a serious one. It was followed two days after by the death of his eldest son, John Guy Vas- sar, who was suffocated amidst the ruins, in a re- cently emptied beer-vat charged with carbonic acid gas, into which he descended with the hope of saving some hops it contained. Other losses of property followed, and business ventures failed, and when past fifty years of age, James Vassar and his wife with their family, which then numbered seven children, were reduced to comparative poverty. Almost disheartened by the gloomy and unpromis- ing future, he finally leased and closely tilled four- teen acres of land on the New York and Albany post-road, a little north of the Fallkill, in the sub- urbs of Poughkeepsie, where he and his wife passed the greater part of the evening of their lives in com- fort and serenity. Mrs. Vassar died in March, 1837, and her husband survived her only three years.

Matthew Vassar, their second oldest son, was born April 29, 1792, in East Dereham, in the rich maritime and agricultural county of Norfolk, Eng- land. He revived, in an humble way, the business of brewing, using for that purpose the dye-house of George Booth, the husband of his sister Maria, who was then engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth in Poughkeepsie. He made three barrels of ale at a brewing, and sold and delivered it in small quantities to the citizens with his own hands. In 1812, he hired a basement room in the court house, the building now standing, and opened a "saloon" for the sale of ale and oysters-the first oyster sa- loon established in the town. Thus his days were spent over his brewing apparatus in the dye-house, or in disposing of his "grains" about the village ; while his evenings, until midnight, were devoted to his customers in his " saloon."

In 1812, Matthew Vassar erected on the site of the brewery destroyed in 1811, a more extensive one, with a capacity of about forty barrels. It is a plain, substantial stone building, and is still stand- ing, though it has been converted from its original use to a storehouse, and is soon to be removed. Additions to these were made from time to time, a principal malt-house having been constructed in 1814. These buildings, which extended from Vas- sar to Bridge streets, were, with the exception of that part of the brewery erected in 1812, destroyed by fire on the morning of Oct. 10, 1862.

Mr. Vassar struggled on alone, unaided by influ- ence or capital, for about two years. In the spring of 1814, he formed a copartnership, under the name of M. Vassar & Co., with Thomas Purser, an Eng- lishman of considerable fortune, and also of some experience in brewing, who furnished the means for increasing the business. The business at the court house was abandoned, and Mr. Vassar's whole attention given to the manufacture of ale. The partnership business was successful, but owing to failing health Mr. Purser withdrew after about two years. His place was supplied by Nathan and Mulford Conklin, who were then carrying on an extensive mercantile business in Poughkeepsie, but in 1829, Mr. Vassar purchased their interest. Dur- ing this period Mr. Vassar experienced various vi- cissitudes, and on two or three occasions losses by fire and flood brought him to the verge of bank- ruptcy ; but after he had conducted the business about twenty years, “ a tide of uninterrupted pros- perity bore him on to the possession of a large for- tune."

In 1832, the business had become too large to be well managed by him alone, and he took in as part- ners his nephews, Matthew Vassar, Jr., and John Guy Vassar, sons of his deceased brother John Guy. 'The brewery on Vassar street soon became too small for the increasing business, and in 1836, the present extensive " brewery and maltings," with a capacity for sixty thousand barrels annually, and occupying a plot of ground three hundred and fifty feet square on the river bank, was erected. The two "maltings " are capable of producing one hundred and twenty-five thousand bushels of malt during the season, and are run to their full capacity. So great was the increase of their business at this period that it became necessary to use the two breweries in Poughkeepsie, also one in New York, and another in Lansingburgh.

At various periods Mr. Vassar brought into the business, as partners, his brother James, James

* The American Brewers' Gazette, May, 1880.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

Vassar Harbottle, Alfred R. Booth, John Guy Vas- sar, 2d, Erastus Reeve, J. L. D. Lyon and Oliver H. Booth, to the latter of whom-one of his nephews -- he sold his interest in May, 1866, and devoted the remaining two years of his busy life (he died June 23, 1868,) largely to the fostering care of that grand institution which perpetuates his name, and was founded by him five years previously for the thorough education of women .*

There are no less than four other breweries in operation in the city. The principal of these is Frank's Sons' Brewery, located at 11 to 21 Tulip street, which was established in 1858, by Frank & Klady, (V. Frank and Philip Klady,) who erected in that year for brewing purposes a building which stood to the south of the present one, and was burned about 1862. The present building was erected immediately after the destruction of the other and two ice houses ; a barn and storehouse were subsequently added. Frank & Klady con- ducted the business for seventeen years, till Sep- tember, 1875, when they dissolved, and V. Frank continued it until 1878, when he surrendered it to his sons, W. H. and V. Frank, Jr., who still carry on the business. Ten men and a capital of be- tween $60,000 and $70,000 are employed. In 1880, 7,915 barrels of lager were made.

The Kaal Rock, Gaas's and Beigel's breweries are less extensive. Kaal Rock Brewery, located on Kaal Rock, was established about 1866, by Miller & Winkler, who operated it only about a year. It was bought at sheriff's sale by Frederick Gillman, who has since carried on the manufacture of lager, and whose family are the only ones em- ployed in the business. Gaas's Brewery, located at 68 Main street, was established in 1871, by John Gaas, who has since carried on the business. He makes about 500 barrels of lager per annum. L. Beigel's Brewery, at 116 North Hamilton street, was built about twenty-six years ago, by Jacob Plowl, who carried on the business for five or six years, till 1861, when L. Beigel purchased it, and has since conducted it. The brewery which was at first of small capacity, has been several times enlarged by Mr. Beigel, who now employs three persons and makes 700 to 800 barrels of lager per annum.

The Southwick Tannery, situated on the river bank, in the south part of the city, is not only one of the oldest of Poughkeepsie's many manufactur -. ing establishments, but is the only survivor of its

kind in the county, which once contained numerous tanneries, Poughkeepsie having not less than four till within a few years. In 1807, Zadock South- wick removed to Poughkeepsie and built the house and tannery now owned and occupied by his grandson, Willet H. Southwick. He laid down fifty vats, and all of his nine boys worked with him in the tannery and currying shop, or at the store in the village, where the hides and pelts were bought and the leather sold.

Edward C. Southwick was born in 1797, and in 1816, in company with his brothers Willet H. and Robert B., succeeded to his father's business in Poughkeepsie, under the style of W. H. Southwick & Co. The tannery contains fifty-four vats, gives em- ployment to some twelve men, and tans about 2,500 to 3,000 sides per annum, mostly harness leather.

The Poughkeepsie Pottery was established about 1820, by John Ball, and has since been conducted successively by Ball & Bogardus, Edward Silbey, John B. Caire & Co., (Jacob and George Caire, sons of John B.,) who acquired possession about 1842, Jacob Caire, about 1852, Lehman & Riedin- ger, in 1854, Riedinger & Caire, in 1857, and Adam Caire, who acquired the interest of his part- ner, Philip Riedinger, at the death of the latter Dec. 3, 1878, and has since carried on the business. The works are located on Bayeux and Bridge streets, with the office at 141 Main street. They give employment to thirty persons, and require a capital of $50,000. The annual manufactured product, consisting of common earth and stone ware, drain and sewer pipes, and flower pots, in the construction of which the Woodbridge and South Amboy clays, both from New Jersey, are used, is valued at $100,000.

The Dutchess Iron Works, located at 430 to 438 Main street, were established on their present site in 1823, by Wood & Frost, (Charles Wood and Solomon B. Frost,) the latter of whom afterwards sold to John Adriance, who subsequently pur- chased Wood's interest, and at a later period asso- ciated with himself Richard B. Gilbert. Isaac H. Coller afterwards purchased Gilbert's interest and was associated with Mr. Adriance, under the name of Adriance & Coller, for six and a half years, when Mr. Adriance sold to William Bushnell, who, together with Thomas R. Payne, W. A. Candee and Edward German, successively held that interest for brief periods, when it was purchased by Mr. Coller, who also bought the interest of David H. Barnes, who was associated with Messrs. Adriance

* Vassar College and its founder, by Benson J. Lossing, 203-4 ; and The American Brewers' Gazette, May 10, 1880.

ADAM CAIRE.

POTTERY & SEWER PIPE MANUFACTORY.

POTTERY & SEWER PIPE WORKS

OFFICE.

14""

143

Miss FRO Cd LY

NO TAI-MAIN ST. .

POUGHKEEPSIE POTTERY AND SEWER PIPE MANUFACTORY. (ADAM CAIRE, PROPRIETOR. )

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CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE.

and Coller, under the name of Adriance, Coller & Barnes. Mr. Coller has since carried on the busi- ness, having been associated one year with George Hannah, and for a like period with John S. Shafter. The foundry and a building formerly used as a machine shop, but at present used as a store-room, were erected by Messrs. Adriance & Coller ; and the salesroom, office and machine shop, the latter in 1878, by Mr. Coller. A general foundry and machine business is done, and employment given to some six persons.

The Poughkeepsie Foundry, located at 372 and 374 Main street, was established in 1831, by Solomon V. Frost and Benjamin Vail, who operated it several years. Mr. Frost afterwards be- came associated with his brother Aaron, who had been interested in the Dutchess Iron Works. The business was afterwards conducted successively by Dolan & Farrell, Gregory & Vandewater, Benjamin Arnold and Aaron Frost, in 1844, Benjamin Arnold, Benjamin Arnold & Son, and Levi M. Arnold, who conducted it many years, till his death, Sept. 24, 1864. In 1865, Thompson & Carpenter (Daniel R. Thompson and Benjamin F. Carpenter,) succeeded to the business and con- ducted it till Jan. 1, 1869, when Carpenter sold to James H. Dudley. Thompson & Dudley carried it on till May, 1870, when Thompson sold to John Howe, who died October 16, 1870. Mr. Dudley purchased the interest of his partner, and has since managed the business, with the excep- tion of one year, (1873,) when it was rented to Charles P. Angell, March 1, 1874. Mr. Dudley associated with himself as a partner Henry W. Bullard, and the business has since been conduct- ed under the name of Dudley & Co.

Connected with the establishment is a machine shop, which was started some years after the foundry. The present machine shop was built in 1868, and the foundry soon after. The original foundry, which stood in rear of the present one, was destroyed by fire in January, 1878.

The establishment gives employment to from twelve to eighteen persons, and uses a capital of $30,000. The chief articles of manufacture are cauldrons and sugar cans, though a general jobbing busines is done.

The Sedgwick & Stuart Manufacturing Co., was incorporated Dec. 1880, with a capital of $20,- ooo, "for the manufacture and sale of machinery and tools of all and every kind." The incorpora- tors and trustees were, Alonzo Sedgwick, Robert James Stuart and Annie B. Sedgwick of Pough-

keepsie, and Wm. Stuart, of Westport, Conn. A. Sedgwick was elected President ; R. J. Stuart, Treasurer, and E. N. Brown, Secretary.

The company employed some thirty persons, and do a general machine and foundry business in addition to the manufacture of hardware.

The Albertson Edge Tool Co., which was formed in 1867, was composed of B. Albertson, John T. Halsted, James Wickes, James A. Seward and Wallace Smith. Mr. Albertson had previously car- ried on the business in a small way for a few years, and became associated with the other members of the company, who were capitalists, and expected to build up an extensive business. The partnership business, which was of four years' duration, proved unsuccessful, and was purchased and continued about a year by Mr. Seward, one of the partners. In 1872, Mr. Albertson resumed his former mode of business, first in Catharine street, and in Sep- tember of that year in his present location on Main street. He employs four persons on the manufacture of coopers', ship-carpenters' and butchers' tools. The company employed some ten persons.

Edward Storm is engaged in the manufacture of carriage hardware at 437, 439 and 441 Main street, which business he established at his present location in 1856. He employs about forty persons and produces annually manufactured goods to the value of about $100,000. The motive power is furnished by a forty horse-power engine.

Barratt Bros., located on Rose St., are engaged in the manufacture of glazed and fancy papers, which they also import from Germany. The business was established in the fall of 1866, in the building now used as a hat factory on Mill St. near its junction with Main St., and continued there for five years, when (in 1871) the building they now occupy was erected at a cost of $3,500. They give employment to some twelve persons, about one-half of whom are females. The motive power is furnished by a fifteen horse-power engine. The value of their manufactured goods amounts to from $20,000 to $25,000, per annum. Their im- porting business was commenced in 1873, and now amounts to $20,000 per year.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 76

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868