History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 58

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664

USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 58
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 58

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The most important skin in the market, after that of the deer, is the du- mestic sheep skin. Of these in all forms it is estimated that 1, 200,000 are used annually. Probably not more than one quarter to one third of these are finished as kid, the grain side being used and colored, the remainder being consumed for gloves finished after the manner of buckskin, and also making the split skins or " fleshers." which are the flesh side of the skin after the grain has been removed and are used for bindings and the like. The "fleshers" used in this country are, however, mostly imported from England and Ireland. In sheep skins the best leather is said to he produced from the coarse-wooled sheep, as they produce the finest gram; the same rule holding good here as in deer skins, that the coarser the cover- ing of the skin, the finer the grain. The sheep skins vary as much in quality as the deer, and depend as much upon the section from which they come. Californian, Mexican, and even Australian sheep skins reach our market, but are not considered first rate stock. The coarse-wooled sheep of this country are said to furnish about as good a quality of skin tor glove purposes as any in the market, having an excellent grain for kid, and great elasticity, though the latter property much depends upon the method of tanning.

Probably the deer and domestic sheep furnish eight or nine-tenths of all the skins used for gloves. A few of the Cape of Good Hope sheep skins are used, but only a very limited number now, whereas formerly they were quite extensively used. The leather from this skin is very durable indeed, but lacks proper elasticitity.

Of the deer branch there are the antelope skins. Of the " domestic antelope " hides, obtained on our western plains, the annual production is said to be about 80,000 pounds, of which a large portion is dressed in this section. They produce an excellent leather, perhaps fully equal to deer skins of the same weight, for they are a small light skin, very soft, hut tenacious, and much of the nature of the well known chamois skin There have latterly been introduced into this market a considerable num ber of blesbok skins, taken from a fine large African antelope, but in quaists resembling the deer rather than the antelope. Some difficulty was et perienced at first, in dressing these skins so as to make them soft and j, hle, but that trouble is now about overcome, so that they promise to become. an important item in the supply.

There is also a South American water hog skin dressed here to quite in extent. They come from Buenos Ayres, and are a good skin for glass . Besides these there are some Patna or Cal utta cow hides, goat skins, and even buffalo skins, coming into market and dressed with success by some of the most enterprising and inventive manufacturers.

These various kinds of foreign and hitherto unknown and unused skins are coming into use for the reason both that the domestic deer skins afe annually growing more scarce, and also because they promise to the dis coverer of a serviceable new skin, an extra remuneration before others

177

THE MANUFACTURE OF GLOVE LEATHER.

shall have taken advantage of it. One party, during the war, invested in hog skins, a rather untried experiment at that time. He manufactured 20,000 of these skins in one year, and cleared on them an average of one dollar per skin. Others have been proportionately successful in their experiments in buffalo, blesboks and other new varieties of hides, and thus circumstances vouchsafe a reward to the discoverer, without the necessity of a patent. Besides the various skins there are annually large quantities of cloth manufactured into gloves, amounting in 1873 to $400,- ooo worth.

PREPARING THE SKINS.

Dressing the skins gives employment to a large number of hands. There are in the county about twenty-five "skin mills" employing twelve or more hands each where the entire process is completed. These mills. though not very showy, have an estimated value of from five to fifteen thousand dollars each, which with the money annually invested in labor in them amounts to a very large sum. The manufacturers are wont to divide the expenses of their product into three parts, viz .: First, the cost of the raw skins and materials; second, the tanning process; and, third, the cutting and making up. The skins are generally bought for cash, or, at most, on four months' tinie; the dressing is done almost entirely on " first of January " credit; the arrangement for cutting and making is cash or credit as the parties can agree, but the tendency seems to be toward cash in this direction, many of the manufacturers paying their hands monthly now, a thing never thought of formerly. Many of the large manu- facturers own mills, and thus control two branches of the business, em- ploying their mills to dress leather for others when not occupied with their own stock. A considerable amount of buck and sheep skin is annu- ally dressed in Fulton county, and taken elsewhere for manufacture; some for gloves, some for the shoe manufacturers, some for saddlery, and occa- sionally a lot for piano-makers. Much improvement has been made within twenty years in dressing buck skin and also skins heretofore mentioned, which were formerly considered valueless for the glove business. The leather, as formerly dressed, was apt to be too stiff and unyielding, and whenever a new kind of skin is introduced into market it is likely to be at first condemned because it presents these bad qualities; but the dressers are learning that each kind of skin needs its peculiar treatment, and in this way many skins have been rendered valuable which would otherwise be worthless, and more will, doubtless, some day be added to the list.

The glove manufacturers in this section, only a decade or two since, did not essay the making of gloves from any material other than buck and sheep skin; the latter tanned and finished the same as the former, which it then closely resembles, and from which it cannot be distinguished by a novice. The same goods in both buck and sheep as formerly, though of a better quality, are still manufactured: but sheep skin now takes a great many forms which are an addition to former branches. One of these is that known as " kid." Formerly all kid gloves, so called, were imported from France, Germany or England, as a large proportion of the finer or lighter kids, made up with an over-and-over stitch, still continue to be ; but even the latter kind are now being made by a few manufacturers here, and it may safely be expected that the manufacture of this kind of goods will increase. Disastrous failure was predicted by the old fogies when kid manufacture began, but now Fulton county competes with the world on heavy kids, and is likely to do its proportion of the lighter kid trade. "Kid," as known in this market, is divided into two leading classes, termed " imported" and " domestic." They are all alike sheep or lamb. and not goat skins, as their name would indicate; but the former are skins imported from France or Germany, already dressed and brought here to be made up, while the latter are skins produced on our own soil, gathered from every State in the Union and brought here to be dressed. The Ful- ton county kid-dressers, it is said, excel the foreign workman in dressing the same kind of stock, but our native skins are of a different kind of texture from the foreign, hence the difference in the leather. The foreign sheep is a coarse-wooled animal, many times having its wool mived with hair more like the goat, while our sheep are finer-wooled, and it is said to hold true that the coarser the wool the closer and tougher will be the leather.

The glove manufacturers probably out up 20,000 dozen domestic skins annually, and more than as many more of the imported. Certain parties in New York and Albany " pull and beam " these skiny; pack them in a

salt pickle, from seventy-five to eighty dozen in a cask, and sell them in this state to the manufacturers in this section. The finer and greater part of these are lamb skins, but the process is the same for lamb and sheep skins. When thus received to be dressed for kid, they are first " drenched " or washed, to extract as thoroughly as may be the " pickle " from the skin. They are then placed in an alum bath, where they remain about twelve hours ; then removed and "staked." "Staking" is a process quite fre- quently repeated in the manufacture of gloves, and consists in stretching the skin and removing all wrinkles as much as possible by means of a thin, round-faced iron, placed in a standing frame over which the skin is re- peatedly drawn. The "arm-stake," mostly used by manufacturers, has a similar iron, but so arranged as to receive pressure from the shoulder. With the former, the skin is drawn across the stake, whereas the latter is moved over the skin, the effect produced being the same with each. After being removed from the alum bath and "staked," the skins are dried, prin- cipally in the sun, but sometimes in rooms heated by steam. After drying, the same process of washing. staking and drying is repeated with as great thoroughness as possible. When this is completed, the skins are sorted for coloring, the more perfect ones being selected for lighter colors. They are next washed again and are then ready to put in the egg bath, composed of the yolks of eggs. For this purpose a large quantity of eggs is used an- nually, taking on an average about one egg to each skin. The yolk of over 6,000 dozen eggs is annually used by some mills, the whites being thrown away. After being removed from the egg bath, the skins are ready to color, which is done by placing them-now a beautiful, clear, white color-flesh side down upon zinc or lead tables, and brushing over them the liquid dye, composed of redwood, lignum-vitæ, wood-citron, Brazil bark, and many other articles, according to the color to be produced, and afterward brush- ing over the skin a mordant of some kind to "set" the color. This mor- dant generally consists of alum, copperas and blue vitriol. After coloring, the skins are again dried, then dampened, and then rolled up in separate parcels, flesh side out, and packed away in barrels to "season," that is, to render every portion of the skin equally flexible and soft. When thorough- ly seasoned they are again " staked " and then " shaved." The shaving is done with a thin sharp circle of steel, set at a slight angle, having a hole in the center where a movable handle is placed. The skin is held at one side by bars like those used for the arm stake, and the workman, grasping the other side of the skin, draws his sharp knife over the flesh side, cut- ting off all superfluous particles, rendering the surface smooth and soft. The only remaining process is that of " padding," or rubbing the grain side with a pad made of woolen cloth or something of that sort, which polishes and tends to soften the leather ; after this the skins are ready for manu- facture into gloves. Some of these skins are not colored at all, especially the poor ones, being used for "welts " and the like.

It is claimed that Christian G. Bach, who came from Germany in 1836, and settled in Fulton county, milled the first sheep skins milled in the county, in the mill now owned by McLaren, near the cemetery in Johns- town village.

l'he process of tanning deer skins is somewhat different. The hides he in lime liquor for three or four days, and are then taken out and dried, say twice a week, for four weeks in summer and six weeks in winter, lime being added each week. The flesh is first taken off, then the grain, and then the hair, which is called frizzing. Next the skins are parched in the sun. Milling is the next operation, a process which thoroughly permeates the skins with oil, making them supple, and opens the pores. They are then taken to the beam shop and subjected to a process called "seudding." which consists in shaving off the mucous on the grain side. l'arching or drying down is only used for tight or very heavy skins, which are afterward again soaked when they become soft and better fitted for the mill. It may be remarked that the refuse of the skins produced by these various pro- ceres is sold, when dry by the pound, and when wet by the bushel, for making glue. The skins are then thrown into a liquor made of soda ash, which takes the oil entirely out in about 12 hours, when the hides are said to be " half scoured." This liquor is saved, and with an addition of aent is sold for calf skin and morocco work. The skins are then dried and scoured clean ; they are next taken to the finishing room, dampened, put on a stretcher and stretched. If very heavy or uneven, they are put through a sphtting machine. Then they are taken to the stakeroom, where they are still further stretched and all remaining wrinkles taken ont. Dry Ochre is now rubbed on, or the skin is smoked, as desired. A. Simmons, who began the business in 1845, is said to have been the first man in the

178

THE HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

county to smoke skins. The first smoke-house was made by driving four stakes, and surrounding them with a rag carpet ; it would smoke two or three hundred a year, whereas Mr. Simmons now smokes from 150,000 to 175,000. The skin is next placed on a rapidly revolving emery wheel, until perfect smoothness is attained, when the operation is complete. The skins are hung out on the lines about eight times doring the process of tanning, and are handled thirty or forty times in the course of their preparation for making up. No formula, recipe or patent is a sufficient guide in the process, for at every step great care and discretion must be exercised, which can only be obtained by years of practice and ex- perience.

The " bark-tanned " leather is also a prominent item in the business. The same stock is often used for making these goods as for making kid, but instead of completing the process as for kid, the hides after being washed are treated with bark liquor until tanned, then worked over ma- hogany tables and next, stretched to their utmost, are tacked upon boards to dry, and finally worked until soft and pliable. More varieties of these leathers, perhaps, might be adduced, but this is probably sufficient to show the general line. The imported kid is furnished by nearly all dealers in glovers' findings to a greater or less extent. Step by step these new kinds of leather and different branches of manofactores have crept in and ad- vanced in quantity and quality, notwithstanding competition without, and ridicule from old fogies at home, and much improvement may yet be made and doubtless will be.

CHAPTER III.

FULTON COUNTY'S RECORD IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION-HISTORY OF THE 153D NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.

The 153rd Regt. N. Y. State Vols. was raised in 1862 under the second call of President Lincoln, for 300,000 men. Seven of its companies were from the counties of Fulton, Montgomery and Saratoga, the other three from Clinton, Essex and Warren. The regiment was mustered into ser- vice at Fonda, Oct. 18th, 1862, and left for Virginia the same day. On arriving at Washington, Oct. 22d, it was at once ordered to Alexandria, Va., and there encamped. While here the regiment attained a high degree of discipline through the efficient attention of Col. McMartin and his officers. The men, however, suffered considerably from typhoid pneumo- nia, measles and small-pox. Col. McMartin was at length compelled to resign through an accident and failing health. By his generous and im- partial conduct he had won the hearts of his officers and men, and they bade him adieu with deep regret. Col. Armstrong also resigned, and Maj. F. P. Davis was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment.

At that time Alexandria was a vast depot of military stores. Its forti- firations were considered of but little avail if the enemy should make a sudden dash upon the town under cover of night. The troops were often aroused from their slumbers and formed in line of battle, across the differ- ent roads leading to the city, remaining under arms till dawn, to repel any attack. For fourteen consecutive nights this regiment lay behind tempo- rary barriers of quartermasters' wagons, in the open air, expecting the enemy.

On the 20th of July, 1863, the regiment was ordered to Capital Hill bar- racks, Washington. Its duty here was guarding the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, examining travelers' passes, patrolling the city, con- voying troops to the front, and prisoners to Point Lookout, and guarding Contraband Camp, Central Gaard-house, Carroll and Old Capitol Prisons. Surgeon Hendee and Quartermaster Livingston resigned while here, and Dr. Snow, Ist Assistant, became surgeon.

On the zoth of February, 1864, the regiment embarked on the steamer Mississippi for New Orleans, where it arrived February 28th, landing at Algiers, opposite that city, and occupying the Belleville Iron Works. Thenve it proceeded by rad, March 3d,to Brashaer, So miles distant. Cross- ing Grand Lake at Brashaer, the troops marched up the beautiful valley of the bayou Teche. On the 5th, they arrived at Franklin, and reporting to Gen. Franklin, were assigned to the ist brigade, ist division, roth army corps. On the 15th, they were again on the move toward Alexandria, on the Red river, arriving there March 24th, where they found Gen. Banks awaiting them. On their way thither Joseph Hawkins, of Co. K, died of exhaustion.

On the 28th of March they left Alexandria for Shreveport, 170 miles distant, which was in possession of the enemy. Gen. Lee led the cavalry division, the 13th corps followed, then the Ist division of the 19th corps, next the 13th and 19th corps trains with ten days' rations. The Ist brigade of the 19th army corps, to which this regiment was assigned, was commanded by Gen. Dwight, and consisted of the 29th, 114th, 116th and 153d N. Y. regiments. The country now supplied the entire army with beef, vast numbers of cattle being secured daily. After a march of 36 miles the army came to Pleasant Hill, and halted for the train to come up.

On the 8th of April, the 153d regiment was detailed to guard the divi- sion train, and, consequently, in rear of the army. On that day the cav- alry and 13th corps, being in advance, were met by the enemy at Sabine Cross Roads, and being overpowered by superior numbers, fell back in confusion. Gen. Emery, apprised of the disaster in front, drew up his (Ist) division at Pleasant Grove, three miles below Sabine Cross Roads. The rebels, pressing the retreating forces, at length charged upon Emery with great impetnosity. For an hour and a half he gallantly resisted their repeated onsets, until darkness put an end to the conflict. The Union troops continued on the battle field until midnight, when they were ordered back to Pleasant Hill, this regiment covering their retreat. The next morning the enemy, having discovered their retreat, followed them to Pleasant Hill. Our troops took position to resist the onset. At length the enemy drove in their skirmish line and made an attack in force on their left. Five times they charged on the ist brigade, and were as often driven back. This was the first battle in which this regiment had taken part. In his report of it, Col. Davis says : "My men behaved nobly, and I attach much credit to the noble manner in which my line officers acted. Lient .- Col. Strain, Maj. Sammons and Adjut. Davis rendered me valuable assistance in keeping my line together and maintaining my position." For three hours the conflict raged, when, night coming on, the work of death ended. Our troops lay on their arms in line of battle all night, but the enemy, taking advantage of the darkness, had removed. On account of the scarcity of water and rations the army began to retreat, April 10, to- ward Grand Ecore, a small town on a bluff of the Red river. This place was reached the following day.

Gen. Dwight now became chief of staff to Gen. Banks, and Col. Beal, of the 29th Maine, was assigned to the ist brigade. April 23d the army left Grand Ecore. As it moved out the town was fired. This was said to be the work of a rebel, and done to apprise the enemy of the army's departure. After a forced march of 40 miles, the force went into camp, at midnight, near Cloutierville, but at 4 o'clock the next morning was again on the way to Cane River Crossing. This place was in possession of the rebel general Bec, with 4,000 men, who were fortifying Monet's Bluff, which commands it. At this point the situation of the army was indeed critical. The enemy was closely pursuing them in the rear; Gen. Bee, strongly fortified, was in front; C'ane river on the right, and a dense swamp and forest on the left. . The ist brigade was thrown forward into a wood, which the enemy began to shell; as they fired too high, however, they did but little injury. At length our forces made a vmultancous a !. tack. The enemy replied with great vigor to our batteries, but Birge var- ried the Huff and forced them to retreat. Our troops now being ordered to cross the river, the zd Vet. Cavalry, the 116th and 153d pressed forward and were among the first to occupy the heights.

The Union troops continued their retreat toward Alexandria, the base of supplies, which place they reached on the 25th of April, ard encamped near our gunboats and transport -. Here they remained until the 13th !! May, when they again took up their march, now toward the Mississippi. the fleet leaving at the same time As the troops left Alevandua a tete broke out in such a way as to make it impossible to prevent a gener if err flagration. There was some skirmishing by the troops on this march, and once they met the enemy in force. It was on this route that the Battle. ... Mansura occurred, but it was fought principally with artillery on the U'nun sıde.

On the 17th of May the army reached the Atchafalava river near Sims. port, where the transport- were found awaiting it. The river, Goo feet wide at this point, was bridged with 19 transports fastened together, and on the 19th the troops and trains passed over. On the 2zd they reached Marganzia Bend on the Mississippi. Here the 153d suffered much through sickness and death. On the ist of July the 153d and rath te; ments took the steamer Crescent for New Orleans, where they arrived on

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179

BATTLES OF THE 153d IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

the zd, and the following day moved down the river under sealed orders. They soon learned they were destined for Fortress Monroe. Arriving there, they were at once ordered to report in Washington, which they reached July 11th, 1864. The 153d took position in the rifle pits beyond Fort Saratoga. At this time Gen. Early was foraging in Maryland, menac- ing Washington, and causing our troops considerable uneasiness.

This regiment, with the 6th and 19th corps, under command of Gen. Wright, were at length sent, with other troops, in pursuit of Early. After moving from place to place for several days, they at length settled tem- porarily at Harper's Ferry, August 5th. On the 7th of August Gen. Sheri- dao was placed in command of the " Middle Department," composed of the late departments of West Virginia, Washington and Susquehanna. On the 10th of August, 1864. the army began its march up the Shenan- doah Valley, passing from town to town, and occasionally making short stops. While camping at Charlestown, Cadman, of Company A, and Charles Thornton, of Company H, of the 153d regiment, while making some purchases for the mess at a farm house near by, were captured by guerillas. In the melee the latter was killed; the former was taken to Richmond and confined in Libby Prison. Both were highly esteemed. , Leaving Charlestown, the army returned to Harper's Ferry, camping on the ground twice before occupied. On the 28th of August the force was ordered up the Valley. Again marching or countermarching, skirmishing with or pursuing the enemy, or being pursued by him, was the order of the day. It soon became apparent, however, that the army was about to make a determined advance. On the 18th of September all surplus bag- gage was sent to the rear, and early the following morning the force was in motion.

Early held the west side of the Opequan creek. Sheridan was in his front and on his right. The cavalry had driven the enemy and cleared the passage of the Opequan. This was now forded by the infantry, who advanced along the turnpike through a deep ravine about a mile in length. Early had hoped to prevent their entering this ravine, but in this he failed. It now remained for him to seize the upper opening and prevent our troops from forming in line of battle; or, failing in this, he hoped after the Union troops had formed to mass his whole strength against them, and by holding the gorge to cut off their retreat.

The battle of Opequan creek or Winchester, was fought to gain posses- sion of this ravine, the key to Winchester. At ten o'clock, A. M., the 6th corps left the ravine, and filing to the left, advanced on the open plain in two lines of battle, the first of which carried one of the enemy's rifle pits. The 19th corps closely followed the 6th, Gen. Grover's division join- ing them on the right. Dwight's division, to which the 153d belonged, was sent as Grover's support. While their brigade was forming, it received re- peated volleys from the enemy, who were behind and protected by a ledge of rocks. The burden of the conflict in the early part of the day came upon the 19th corps and Rickett's division of the 6th corps, who for hours held the approaches to the ravine-while the 8th corps was swinging around the enemy's flank-Early, in the meantime, having massed his forces against them. At 3 o'clock, the cavalry, with the 8th corps, charged the quemy's left flank. The entire army now advanced. The wood in which the enemy had concentrated was.quickly carried, and the foe fled from it in great haste, leaving behind their guns and accoutrements. The retreat soon became a disastrous rout. The enemy fled through Winchester in confusion. Col. Davis, of this regiment, was in command of the ist brig- ade. In the hottest of the fight, he was at the front cheering his troops. At one time he seized one of the regimental color standards, and bearing it aloft, pressed forward, inspiring his men with new enthusiasm.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 58

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 664

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664