History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 81

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 81

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height, and has wings and an engine-house attached. It was, put in operation in 1850 with 8000 spindles, 180 looms, and a force of 165 hands. Its capacity of produc- tion was equal to 1,200,000 yards of goods annually.

The lower mill was erected and put in operation in 1870. Its dimensions are similar to those of the old mill, with the exception that it is four stories in height. The complete establishment occupies the oblong block bounded by State, Columbia, and Court Streets and the Chenango Canal, covering an area about 800 by 200 feet, or nearly four acres of ground.

The chartered capital of this corporation is $690,000, but the amount actually invested in the business exceeds $1,000,000. The number of hands employed is 700, The number of spindles in the two mills is at the present time 35,000, and the weaving department contains the equiva- lent of 1000 yard-wide looms. The motive power is fur- nished by three steam-engines, aggregating 700 horse- power. The manufacture is exclusively sheetings and shirtings, and the product annually reaches 6,000,000 square yards, in the production of which 5000 bales of cotton, equal to 2,500,000 pounds, are consumed. The dif- ferent widths of shcetings and shirtings manufactured by this company are stated below :

BROWN. BLEACHED.

36 in.

35 in.

40 “ 36 "

48 "

45 " or 5-4

58 " 54 " or 6-4

78 " or 9-4

72 " or 8-4

86 " or 10-4 81 " or 9-4

96 " or 11-4

90 " or 10-4

108 " or 12-4 100 kč

This company also manufacture a very fine and heavy 4-4 bleached shirting and 6-4 pillow-case muslin, of supe- rior quality. In addition to the label of the mills they are designated by name as " Nonpareils."

The establishment is in every respect a model one, and the goods produced among the best. They were among the most superior shown at the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876, and drew especial attention from both American and foreign experts. In the matter of awards they stood con- spicuous in a vast array of superior productions from both sides of the Atlantic.

The following are the present officers of the corporation : President, E. A. Graham ; Vice-President, T. K. Butler ; Secretary and Treasurer, E. Chamberlain ; Trustees, E. A. Graham, T. K. Butler, T. S. Faxton, Joel C. Bailey, A. J. Williams, A. C. Miller, and Wm. J. Bacon ; Superin- tendent, George H. Wiley.

THE GLOBE WOOLEN COMPANY .*

This company was originally organized as the " Utica Globe Mills" in 1847, with a capital of $100,000, and its buildings crected on Court Street and Nail Creek.

The first trustees were Alfred Munson, President ; Theodore S. Faxton, Vice-President; William J. Bacon, Secretary ; Martin Hart, Treasurer; Horatio Seymour,

All of same quality.

# The first woolen-mill in the United States was orected in Hartford, Conn., in 1791.

306

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Andrew S. Pond, Hamilton Spencer, Julius A. Spencer, and Palmer V. Kellogg. Samuel Churchill was the com- pany's agent.

In 1855 the company was re-organized as the " Utica Woolen-Mills," with a capital of $70,000. In 1859 the name was changed to " Globe Woolen-Mills Company." The capital was increased to $300,000 in 1868, at which it still remains.

On the 6th of September, 1871, the works were totally destroyed by fire. They were rebuilt on the same site (en- larged and improved), and put in operation in 1873.

The size of the building, No. 1, is 233 feet 10 inches by 50 feet ; of No. 2, 150 by 50 feet ; and each is four stories in height. The motive-power is furnished by a single en- gine of 350 horse-power.

The mills contain 20 sets of English cards, 48-inch ; 1 set of American cards, 44-inch ; and are completely fitted up with Platt's self-acting English mules, 100 broad 6-4 Crompton looms, and the most approved finishing machinery of French, German, and American manufac- ture. The amount of wool annually consumed is 1,000,000 pounds, and the annual value of products about $1,000,000. The number of hands employed is 400.

These mills are devoted exclusively to the production of fine fancy cassimeres. The goods are marketed entirely in New York City by Mr. Coffin, treasurer of the company.

The reputation of the goods manufactured by this com- pany may be judged from the following extract, taken from the report of the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876 made by Mr. Louis Chatel, agent for the French Government :

" I have many observations to make, and much to note, relating to the great progress which American manufactures have developed in spinning and weaving, but nothing so highly interested me as that of woolen clotbs. In this branch of industry I found that the goods of an association called the ' Globe Woolen Company,' when compared with other specimens exhibited by American honses, showed the greatest perfection in manufacture. The weaving is very regular, and the finish, so far from hiding defects in the fulling, only enhances the even qualities of the cloth. In making my comparisons; I take into consideration the quality of the raw material and the relative cost of pro- duction."

The raw material is purchased principally in Ohio and Australia.

Oficers : President, T. S. Faxton ; Secretary, Edwin T. Batsford ; Treasurer, W. W. Coffin ; Agent, Robert Mid- dleton.

UTICA STEAM WOOLEN-MILLS.

A company under this title was organized in 1846, with a capital of about $100,000, it being the first of the great steam manufactures put in operation. The first directors were Andrew S. Pond, President; Samuel Churchill, Secre- tary ; Thomas Collins, Treasurer; Dolphus Skinner, Nich- olas Devereux, George T. Taylor, Benjamin Cahoon, Ham- ilton Spencer, and C. Goodrich. William C. Churchill was the agent. The buildings were erected in 1847, upon Columbia Street and Nail Creck. The machinery consisted of 30 carding-machines, 50 looms, and 2400 spindles. The number of hands employed was 175, whose wages amounted

to about $36,000 annually. Three hundred thousand pounds of wool were consumed in the course of the year, and 150,000 yards of broadcloths of various qualities pro- duced.

The works became the property of A. T. Stewart, of New York, in 1869, under a judgment sale. Mr. Stewart made considerable improvements and additions, and oper- ated the mill until his death, and his partners continued work until December, 1877, when business was suspended and the mill closed.

ONEITA KNITTING-MILLS. (Jay Street, between First and John.)

The knitting business by machinery was commenced, on a small scale, in the same block where it is now located, about twenty years ago, and continued for a number of years by various individuals. The present extensive work's were put in operation, in 1874, by Messrs. Wild & Dev- ercux, in the building previously occupied for the purpose, with new and improved machinery. The real estate is the property of John F. Seymour, Esq., and is leased by the firm.

The business at first gave employment to about thirty hands, which number has gradually increased until at the present time sixty are employed, about forty of whom are females. The amount of working capital invested is about $25,000, and the production of finished goods reaches the value of $75,000 annually. They are marketed through a commission house in New York. Considerable amounts are also disposed of at retail at the mill.

The mill is fitted up with three sets of cards, and spin- ning and knitting machinery to correspond. The amount of raw material consumed per month (both cotton and wool) averages from 25,000 to 30,000 pounds. The classes of goods manufactured are principally shirts and drawers, of which over one hundred dozen per day are manufactured. The raw material is purchased in New York City and Utica. The motive-power is steam.

UTICA STEAM KNITTING-MILLS. (Lowery & Williams.)

S. S. and J. L. Lowery commenced the knitting business in 1863, with an investment of abont $10,000, and continued until 1866. The present firm, A. S. Lowery and J. L. Wil- liams, was formed in 1867. The present capital employed, including stock and machinery, is $50,000. The real estate is leased.

When first put in operation, the business gave employ- ment to 40 hands. The number at the present time is 125. The mill contains four sets of cards, with spinning and weaving machinery to match. The amount of raw material consumed annually is about 200,000 pounds, including about equal amounts of cotton and wool. The stock is purchased in New York and Utica, largely of Lowery Brothers, cotton dealers in the latter city. The value of the annual produc- tions is abont $150,000, of which the principal portion is sold on commission in New York. The sales in Utica (wholesale and retail) reach $30,000 annually. The firm makes a specialty of ladies' fine underwear, and also manu- facture men's and children's wear to a considerable extent. The mills are located on Fulton and Franklin, near John

OWEN PIXLEY AND CO.

OWEN PIXLEY &Co

MANUFACTURERS OF LADIES FINESHOWS

MANUFACTURERS & WHOLESALE DEALERS IN CLOTHING

HOLBROOK AND LUDLOW

OWEN

AKLEY PIXLE

AND

Co.

CO.

WHOLESALE NOTIONS & FURNISHING GOOD

J.C.HIEBER &CO.R WHOLESALE DRY . GOODS.P

J.C.HIEBER

BALLOU BLOCK, UTICA, N.Y.

LITH. BY L. H EVERTS, PHILA, PA

307

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Street. The sales-rooms are on Bleecker, near Genesee Street.

The knitting industry of Utica is an important and inter- esting feature of her manufactures, and bids fair to enlarge to still greater proportions.

MANUFACTURES OF CLOTHING.

This branch of industry dates as far back as 1835; when R. V. Yates and John P. Martin began, on a limited scale, what was then comparatively an unimportant branch of manufactures, but which has increased quite steadily until, at the present time, the amount of capital invested, the number of hands employed, and the annual value of pro- ducts are enormous. The amount of capital employed by the four manufacturing firms in Utica at the present time aggregates over $500,000, and the annual sales reach the surprising sum of $1,500,000.

It is often remarked by strangers that the number of clothing, hat, cap, and boot and shoe establishments in Utica seems excessive, outnumbering as they do those of Syracuse, and even Rochester ; and the wonder is how they all live and apparently do a flourishing business. The secret lies in the fact that Utica, although nominally much smaller than the cities named, is in the heart of the finest farming and dairy region of the State, and surrounded on all sides by an immense number of thriving and wealthy towns and villages and a thickly-settled and rich agricul- tural region.

In the line of clothing the facilities for manufacturing are surpassed by those of very few cities in the land. Here are extensive manufactures of cotton and woolen goods, cheap labor, and excellent shipping facilities in all directions by rail and water.

The quality of the goods produced by the numerous fac- tories located within a radius of fifteen miles of Uiica, and especially those of the woolen-mills, is well known through- out the country, and this alone is a most important item in considering the clothing business. The trade generally understands that an invoice of goods from Utica is a gnaranty of excellence in quality and make-up.

As before stated, the manufacture of clothing was com- menced in Utica about 1835, by R. V. Yates and John P. Martin, and the business has been continued under various firms to the present day.

. About 1850 or 1855, C. A. Yates & Co. commenced the manufacture of clothing, which was continued to 1870, when they were succeeded by the present firm of Griffith, Roberts & Butler, which is composed of M. H. Griffith, James Roberts, and J. M. Butler. This firm is employing a capital of $200,000, and their annual sales average from $350,000 to $400,000. Five traveling agents are en- ployed, and the productions are sold generally throughout the Northern and Western States. A branch house is located in Minneapolis, Minn., which is doing an extensive busi- ness.

The goods include all grades of men's, youths', boys' and children's clothing, and a very large number of work- men are employed.

The appliances are complete in every department, in- cluding Warth's celebrated steam-cutting machine, which

performs beautifully the work of a score of expert hands. The house is located at 15 and 17 Whitesboro', and 54 Genesce Streets.

OWEN, PIXLEY & CO. ( Corner John and Main Streets.)

This firm is individually composed of John Owen, Philip Owen, and Henry D. Pixley. The history of this house takes us back to about 1838, when P. V. Kellogg & Co. commenced the business on quite an extensive scale, and continued under various firm-names to 1870. For many years this was the heaviest house in this line in the city,- and did a very large business. In 1870 they closed out their trade in Utica and removed to Chicago. The firm of Owen, Pixley & Co., then just organized, purchased the fixtures of the retiring firm, gave employment to their workmen, and began business in Franklin Square, where Kellogg & Co. had carried on business for a number of years. The new firm commenced with an investment of about $80,000, which sum has been gradually increased until at the prosent time they have $200,000 invested ; and from a force of 200 hands at first employed, liave con- tinued increasing until the present number of employees reaches an aggregate of between 600 and 700.

The firm have eight branch houses, located as follows : one in Lockport, N. Y., one in Oil City, Pa., two in Indianapolis, one in Fort Wayne, onc in Terre Haute, and one in Greencastle, Indiana, and one in Bloomington, Ill. From three to four traveling agents are employed, and the total annual sales exceed $500,000. All grades of men's, youths', boys', and children's clothing are manufactured from selected stock. The firm has an interest in the Granite Mills, of Oriskany, and use largely of their manu- factures. They also consume a large amount of the goods of the celebrated Globe Woolen-Mills, of Utica, and the Empire Mills of Clayville, Oneida Co., and in addition purchase extensively, in New York and Boston, of Ameri- can and foreign fabrics. The sales of manufactured goods are principally in the Northern and Western States. The house occupies for its sales- and manufacturing-rooms three floors of Ballou's Block, corner of John and Main Streets, opposite Bagg's Hotel.

The motive-power is furnished by a six horsc-power engine, which drives all the machinery used in the estab. lishment, including sewing-machines, sponging and hoisting apparatus, and the wonderful improved Warth's cutting- machine, which is among the most curious and valuable inventions of this inventive age. It is mounted on a long table, and arranged to traverse in all directions, in which it is guided by means of a simple lever or handle, and turns out every description of garments, cut from as many as 32 thicknesses of cloth at one movement, and with a ra- pidity that equals the combined work of 20 expert cutters, This remarkable machine is manufactured in New York, The entire establishment is heated by steam, furnished by a boiler located under the sidewalk expressly for the pur- pose, and is in every department systematically arranged and complete.

ROCKWELL & WHITE. ( Nos. 4 and 6 Catherine Street.)

About the year 1850, H. J. Wood commenced the man- ufacture of clothing in the building now occupied by the

308

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

above firm, and continued it down to 1874, when Messrs .. James Rockwell and Henry L. White became associated in business, and purchased the interest of Mr. Wood. The capital employed by this firm is $50,000, and their annual sales of manufactured goods are given at $300,000. The sales are mostly in the State of New York. They employ five traveling agents, and sell to dealers. Their manufac- tures include all grades of men's, youths', and boys' clothing, made expressly for their customers from the best-selected materials.

H. H. COOPER & CO. (Reynolds' Block, John Street.)

This house was established Jan. 1, 1871, by Cooper, Chamberlain & Horn, who commenced business on the corner of Genesee and Broad Streets, where they remained until 1874, when, finding their rapidly-increasing business demanded enlarged facilities, they removed to their present. location, where they occupy one of the finest and most commodious business buildings in the city. On the 1st of January, 1874, previous to the removal, the firm changed to Cooper & Chamberlain, Mr. Horn retiring, and subse- quently again changed to H. H. Cooper & Co.

The manufactures comprise all grades of men's, boys', and youths' clothing, and give employment to about 300 hands: Five traveling agents are employed by this house, and the sales, which are principally effected in the States of New York and Pennsylvania, reach an annual aggregate of $350,000.

The business of this firm is conducted strictly on a cash basis. The best of material is selected, and the manufac- turing department is under the most careful and economical supervision, every pains being taken to produce only stand- ard goods of uniform quality and finish.

SHOE MANUFACTURE.

This branch of industry was commenced in Utica, about 1862-63, by James M. Wiswell, who subsequently became, associated with James H. Thompson. In 1866, J. Newton Cloyes purchased Wiswell's interest, and the firm became Thompson & Cloyes, who continued the business until 1872, when Mr. Cloyes became sole proprietor, and has carried it on to the present time.

When the business was commenced by Mr. Wiswell, it was on a limited scale, in the attic of the building now occupied by Mr. Cloyes. He at first employed from five to ten hands, and put in operation the first Mckay machine ever brought to Utica.

In busy seasons the establishment has employed as many as 125 operatives. At the present time from 80 to 90 are at work. Mr. Cloyes has about $25,000 invested, and turns out 300 pairs of shoes per day. The goods manu- factured consist exclusively of ladies', misses', and children's fine wear. The sales for 1877 were $125,000, and the prospect is excellent for a production of $150,000 worth the present year.

The stock is purchased in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, and the market is principally in New York and the Western States.

The factory is located at No. 12 John Street.

REYNOLDS BROTHERS. (John and Catherine Streets.)

This establishment was first put in operation by R. S. and William H. Reynolds, on Fayette Street, in 1865. In 1867 they removed to Nos. 21 and 23 Blandina Street, where they were partially burned out in 1873, and removed to their present location the same year.

The original capital (as stated by the firm) was $25,000, and the number of hands employed 100. The present capital is given as $300,000, and the number of hands employed 350.

The manufacture reaches a daily total of 1000 pairs, and the annual sales a value of $600,000.

The goods are sold mostly by agents to regular customers, dealers throughout the Northern and Western States. The production"includes all varieties of women's and misses' wear, including calf-skin, pebbled-goat, kid, and morocco. The stock is purchased in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, which are the great markets for shoe- and leather- findings.

The factory of this company is 100 by 50 feet in dimen- sions, and the work is distributed over five floors, from basement to attic, all connected by a steam elevator.

Another brother, George A. Reynolds, was admitted to a partnership in 1866. William H. Reynolds died in 1874.

The establishment has three of the celebrated Mckay machines in operation, with all other necessary machinery and appliances. The motive-power is furnished by a steam- engine of 15 horse-power.

HOLBROOK & LUDLOW. (Ladies' Fine Shoes, Nos. 9 and 11 John Street.)

This firm commenced business in the building now occu- pied by them on the 1st of December, 1874, with a capital of $40,000, which has been steadily increased until at the present time it amounts to $150,000. At first about 50 hands were employed. The number now reaches 230. 700 pairs of shoes are manufactured daily. The goods produced are mostly the finer grades of French and Amer- ican kids, and principally for ladies' and misses' wear. The manufacture of boys' fine shoes has recently been added. The firm also manufactures the leading standard pebble-goat and calf goods. Six traveling agents are em- ployed, and the goods are sold directly to leading dealers throughout the country. The market extends to Florida; California, and Oregon, and large sales are made in all the leading Western cities. The firm of Lord & Taylor, New York, purchase their goods to the extent of $30,000 annu- ally. The total sales for 1878 will reach $300,000. The number of pairs manufactured annually is about 175,000.

The firm occupies six floors, 44 by 105 feet. The ma- chinery in operation consists of 2 Mckay machines, 3 Tapleys, 3 cdge-setters, 2 planers, 2 buffers, 2 levelers, 60 improved Wheeler & Wilson and Weed sewing, and 7 American Button-hole machines, the latter handled by the Singer Sewing-Machine Company. These last have a capacity for making 1000 button-holes each daily. The motive-power is furnished by a 20 horse-power engine. The building is heated by steam throughout.

309%

HISTORY. OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

MANUFACTURERS OF IRON. .

PECKHAM'S FOUNDRY .- This is the oldest establishment of the kind in this region, having been originally put in operation by Seth Peckham, in the town of Westmoreland, Oneida Co., in 1817; from thence he removed to No. 22 Catherine Street, Utica, in 1819, where the business was conducted by him until 1827, when John S. Peckbam bo- came proprietor; and continued until 1835. Up to this date the business had been confined to the manufacture of- plows. In 1835, J. S. and M. Peckham commenced the manufacture of stoves, and about 1857 established the manufactory now occupied on the block bounded by Broad, Catherine, and Third Streets, and the Canal Basin. The manufacture of plows was discontinued about the time of the removal. The beginning of the business by Mr. Seth- Peckham was on a limited scale, and during a period of- over sixty years it has gradually increased to its present extensive proportions. The capital now invested, including real estate and personal property, aggregates $200,000, and the gross sales of products for the past year reach $220,000. The firm manufactures all varieties of wood- and coal-burning stoves, except those known as " Parlor Cook," and they handle them as dealers. Their trade is mostly with job- · bers, and reaches the Canadas and New Brunswick on the north and east, Maryland on the south, and every portion of the west. Steam is the motive-power, and the estab- lishment is in every respect first-class. The salesrooms and general headquarters are at No. 22 Catherine Street.

RUSSEL WHEELER & SON. ( Stove- Works, Columbia Street.)

The original of this establishment was put in operation in 1842 by Joel C. Bailey, for the manufacture of stoves, machinery, and castings, and for job work generally. In 1844, Russel Wheeler and Stephen A. Bailey were admit- ted as partners, and the firm became Bailey, Wheeler & Co. About 1854, Russel Wheeler purchased the interest of J. C. Bailey, and the firm changed to Wheeler & Bailey. In 1865, Mr. Wheeler purchased the interest of his part- ner, S. A. Bailey, and transacted business in his own name until 1877, when his son Frank E. Wheeler became a part- ner, and the firm assumed the present name, Russel Wheeler & Son.

Mr. Bailey originally commenced the business in a frame building. In 1844 the present salesroom and office build- ing was constructed of brick. About 1845 a machine- shop and furnace building was erected in the place of the old wooden structure, which was removed. In February, 1847, 100 feet of the eastern portion of works, extend- ing back 120 feet, was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of $11,000. The burned portion was rebuilt the same year, and considerably enlarged and improved. The large and convenient brick building for the storage of patterns was erected about 1866. In 1867 the salesroom was en- larged by an extension to the rear.

The lots front on Columbia Street 158 feet and extend back 120 fect, all of which space is covered with buildings excepting an inner court. The original capital employed in 1842 was about $10,000, which has been gradually in- creased until at the present time the working capital is

$75,000: The number of hands at first employed was about 15. At the present time it is between 50 and 60. The products annually approximate $80,000 in value. Sales are made mostly by agents, directly to dealers in New York and the Western States.

The firm manufactures every variety of ranges, cooking and parlor stoves, and agricultural furnaces, for both wood and coal; wagon skeins and boxes, and all kinds of machin- ery castings and job work generally.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 81

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920