USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II > Part 11
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XI .- INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Saugerties is a town of many and varied industries. It has some excellent farming lands. These lie along the val- ley of the Piattekill and the Esopus principally, or upou the tributaries of these streams. The uplands in some por- tions of the town also have some arable land, and still other portions are adapted to grazing. The soil along the river is a elayey loat, in other parts there is a sandy and gravelly loam. The lands that can be plowed yield all the produc- tions adapted to this section of the State. Perhaps it may be said that the agricultural interests are not the chief in- dustrial pursuit, and yet the following statisties from the ecusus of 1875 compare favorably with other towns. Farmers have the advantage common to all these river towns of easy shipment and ready access to the best mar- kets of the world during the season of navigation. Fruit and other productions of the farin requiring careful hand- ling reach New York in excellent condition by boats, barges, and sloops.
INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS.
The forms in the town of Saugerties were valued accord- ing to the census of 1875 at 81,641,590; the buildings other than dwellings at 8272,502; the stock at $160,665; the tools and implements at 876,716; the fertilizers bought at $1561 ; the gross sales from farms at 897,015; the area plowed at 4020 aeres ; the area in pasture at 33.11 aeres ; the grass lands at 8750 acres ; hay produced at 0313 tons; grass seed, 53 bushels; barley, 35 bushels; buckwheat, 6659 bushels ; Indian eorn, 20,021 bushels; cats, 28,300 bushels; rye, 14,563 bushels; spring wheat, 231 bushels ; winter wheat, 3315 bushels ; corn sown for fodder, 7 acres ; beans produced, 14 bushels ; peas, 15 bushels ; hops, 1100 pounds; potatoes, 20,744 bushels ; apples, 23,421 bushels ; cider made, 1088 barrels; grapes, 4309 pounds; wine made, 8273 gallons ; maple-sugar, 1354 pounds; maple- syrup, 168 gallons ; honey collected, 2470 pounds ; horses on farms, 576; mules, 2; value of poultry owned, 86402; value sold, 82407 ; value of eggs sold, $5838; neat eattle on farms, 780; milch cows, 1014; beef slaughtered, 82; butter made, 96,858 pounds ; milk sold in market, 22,936 gallons ; sheep shorn, 336; weight of clip, 1537 pounds ; lambs raised, 316 ; sheep slaughtered, 47; killed by dogs, 14; hogs on farms, 1156; pork made year before, 169,144 pounds.
MILLS.
At Sangerties village on the Esopus stood the old grist- mill mentioned in the will of John Perseu, 1748. It was
57
TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
on the north side of the creek; close up to the falls, above the site of the old lead-mill. There was not munch attempt at building a dam. A few logs were placed so as to direct the current through the short race to the water-wheel and deepen it somewhat. This mill existed down to the time of Mr. Barclay's operations here. Mr. Peter Post, to whom we are largely indebted for these and other items of early history, states that it was a venerable old building, and very likely the identical one devised by John Persen, and probably a hundred years old or more when taken down by Mr. Barclay. This mill became the property of Robert I. Livingston about 1800 or earlier, and was operated by John Kipp and later by Moses Mulek.
There was also an early saw-mill on the site of the present irou-works, owned by Hendrick Schoonmaker; the power was furnished from the falls by a raceway around the bank ou that side of the creek. There was another grist-mill on the Esopus above, near what is known as Stony Point. This was owned, 1800 to 1810, by Petrus Mynderse. It passed to his son, John Mynderse, and was included in the Barclay purchase of water-power. The building of the dam at the falls thus deepened the water above so as to de- stroy the water-privilege at the old Mynderse mill. There was also an early grist-mill, owned by Peter Myer, on what is known as Muddy or Tannery Creek. This was probably not run since 1800, and may be considered one of the very old mills of the town. There was a tannery also on this creek near the present place of Josiall Myer, and from this circumstance the creek derives one of its naDies.
If we trace the Esopus southward just before reaching the Kingston town line we find the site of the old Brink saw-mill, now occupied by a mineral paint-mill, owned by the Ripley Brothers. On the opposite side of the stream was a grist-mill operated by Dr. Sharp. This disappeared many years ago. Passing the junction of the Plattekill with the Esopus, and tracing up the valley of the former, the first mill-site improved was that occupied by the grist- mill of Nicholas Demyer. This was a mill of early times, perhaps before 1800. It was given up ten years ago or more. Next above was the fulling-mill and the carding- machine of Tjerck Low. They were run by Tjerek Ooster- houdt, and a few years later by became the owner. The property is now owned by Mr. Silsinger, and he operates a set of turning-works. Next above may be mentioned the Van Aken mills, both a saw- and a grist-mill, now owned By James Porter. These were established quite early in the history of the town, and were owned by the Low fanily.
On a branch of the Plattekill from the southwest is the Spellman saw-mill. On this site was the old saw-mill of early days, ruu by Abram Wolven. On the Plattekill, at Bine Mountains, is a grist-mill, built perhaps, 1820 to 1-25, by Joshua Fiero, now owned and run by James Low. On a stream flowing from the northwest part of the 1. wn and emptying into the Piattekill on its northern bend was a prist-mill by Mr. Shoub. This was not one of the earliest mills. It was given up a few years since, and the property is now owned by Wm. F. Russell.
At West Saugerties there was a saw-mill before 1800, probably abandoned many years ago. Not far below that 8
site is the present grist-mill of the Myers Brothers, built by their father. Near the above mills was a saw-mill, built by the Ulster Lumber Company. After the dissolution of that company it became the individual property of the present owner, Jacob Carn. Near this Carn saw-mill was the well-known Plattekil! Tannery. This was quite an carly enterprise, and was abandoned twenty-five years ago. In the north part of the town the Cauterskill, from Greene County, makes a sharp bend to the south, and euters this town for a short distance.
Near the town and county line is located the early Trumpbour grist-mill, and also a saw-mill. These prob- ably date back to the early settlement. They are still in use, owned and operated by Zacharias Smith, who is a grandson of Jacob Trumpbour.
On the Sawkill, at the present place of Martin Ter- williger, is a grist-mill known to have been erected before the Revolutionary war. The building has been repaired and partially rebuilt. In the time of the Revolution it was owned by Egbert Schoonmaker, and remained in his hands for some time after. It passed to John M. Schoon- maker, his son, and next to Samuel Post. It afterwards became the property of his grandson, Samuel M. Post. From him it was transferred to Derrick Terwilliger, father of the present owner. At the mouth of the Sawkill was the old saw mill of 1700, or about that date, from which is said to have been derived the name Saugerties, as elsewhere men. tioned. There has been no mill there probably for a hun- dred years past, but it is doubtless the first water-privilege improved in town, though the old Persen grist- mill, at the talls of the Esopus, may date back nearly to the same time. In the neighborhood known as " Churchland" there was formerly a tanuery owned by John Gillespie. The present grist-mill at Sangerties village was established in 1874 by Ozias Cooper. The buildings were created by the Shef- fields for Mr. Cooper, and the latter pot in the machinery. Mr. Cooper rau the mill for about two years, and then formed a partnership with Mr. A. Freligh. Not long after Mr. Cooper sold out his share, and the mill passed to the control of the Freligh Brothers, by whom it is now operated. It is mostly a custom-mill, though doing considerable feed business and occasionally fouring to some extent.
MANUFACTURE OF POWDER.
In the year 1832, or about that time, Matthew Laflin established the business of making powder about six miles west of Saugerties village, known as Fish Creek. He had previously for a year or two been engaged in manufacturing axes at the village near Sheffield's paper-mill. The powder- works consisted of a full set of the several buildings neces- sary to the business of a small mill. About two years later his brother, Luther Laflin, came on from Massachusetts and took a half-interest in the powder business, the firm- name being " L. & M. Laffin." They made from 30,000 to 50,000 kegs of powder yearly, employed 20 to 30 hands directly in connection with the mills, and the business gave employment to many others as teamsters, freighting, coop- erage, etc. About 1827, Winthrop Laffin, another brother, from Lee, Mass., of the firm of W. W. & C. Laflin (one of the largest paper-manufacturing firms in the State), came
59
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
to Saugerties. He built a powder-mill on the Cauterskill, within Greene County, the firm of L. & M. Laflin taking a half interest in that establishment. About 1838 the firm of L. & M. Lafin associated with themselves Solomon A. Smith, from Southwick, Mass., and the firm-name became " Laflins & Smith." Abont this time the Cauterskill mill was suspended for a time. It was owned at that time by " Laflins & Smith," Winthrop Laffin having soll his inter- est to them. In 1840 or 1841, Joseph M. Boies, from Lee, Mass., bought a one-half interest in the Cauterskill mill, " Latlins & Smith" retaining the other half. The firm- name for that mill was then " Laflins, Smith & Boies." The business at each place increased, and greater facilities were added as necessity demanded. Abont 1549, Matthew Laffin withdrew from the concern, having previously gone to Chicago to open up Western trade. Sylvester II. Laflin (son of Luther Laflin), who had been managing the trade at St. Louis for several years, bought the interest of Matthew Laffin in the mills at Saugerties and on the Cau- terskill, and became a general partner in the whole business.
In J854 nine of the principal buildings at the Saugerties exploded, killing cight of the workmen, skillful men and employees of long experience, involving the firm also in heavy financial loss. Luther Laffin and Solomon A. Smith, who by this time had acquired a handsome competence, deelined to rebuild, though they did not immediately retire from an interest in the business. At this time Joseph M. Boies bought a general interest in the Saugerties mills, with the condition that he should rebuild them and take entire charge of the fabrication of powder. The Cauters. kill will and the Saugerties were then consolidated nuder one management, the firm-name being " Laflins, Smith & Boles." Luther Laffin withdrew about this time, selling his interest to his sons, Fordyee L. and II. D. Latin, the firm-name continning the same.
Sylvester HI. Laffin took charge of the business at St. Louis, which had become one of considerable magnitude, and Solomon A. Smith at Chicago, both settling West. Soon after this Solomon A. Smith sold his share in the business to his son, Solomon A., Jr., who retained it until his death.
The business continuned under the same firm-name for about ten years longer, or nutil about 1504. The military events had of course rendered the demand for powder im- mense, and the operations of the company were on au ex- tensive scale. Meanwhile the firm had bought a set of mills at Plattsville, Wis., and run them under the firm- name of " Lafiins, Smith & Co." They admitted to a share in the business Solomon Turck and John Turck, who had been in the Lafins' employ for many years, and these men took entire local charge of the Wisconsin mills. In 1864, " Laflins, Smith & Boies" transferred all their in- terests in the powder business to a stock company with a paid-up capital of $300,000. The name of the association was " The Laffin Powder Company." Joseph M. Boies was chosen president, and remained in that position during the existence of the company. Meanwhile the business in- creased under the vigorous management. The desirableness of further consolidation became apparent for the purpose of more extensive manufacture, and the securing a more certain
market and more remunerative prices. The firm of Smith & Rand at Kingston owned powder-mills at Esopus, at Newburg, and also at Carbondale, Pa. The Laflin Powder Company had bought what was known as the Raynor Mills, at Scranton, Pa., and they were run by " Laflins, Boies & Turck." These Pennsylvania mills at Scranton and Car- bondale, belonging respectively to Smith & Rand, and to Laflans, Boies & Turck, were then consolidated under the name of the " Moosie Powder Company," with a capital of $300,000. Henry M. Boies, son of Joseph M. Boies, was chosen president of that company, in which position he has served to the present time, residing at Seranton, Pa. All these interests were then consolidated, about 1867, into a new company, known as the "Laflin & Rand Powder Company." A. T. Rand was elected president, and Joseph N. Boies became general superintendent of all the mills embraced in the combination. The paid-up capital of the company is $1,000,000.
In 1871 or 1872 the Laffin & Rand Powder Company purchased a controlling interest in the Schaghticoke Mills, Rensselaer County. These had been in existence for many years, and were managed by the "Schaghticoke Powder Company." They are still run under that name, subject. of course, to the general supervision of Laffin, Rand & Co. The president of the Schaghtieoke company is William P. Bliss.
The mills at Saugerties and on the Cauterskill were dis- mantled and abandoned about the year 1874. The prin- cipal reason was the failure of the water-power or its uncertainty and irregularity after the timber had been so largely cut away in late years upon the country drained by these streams. The machinery was used in the construe- tion of the Passaic Mille, New Jersey, twelve miles from New York, where the Laffin & Rand Pewder Company built about that time an excellent set of mills, in some re- spects the best in the United States, at an expense of $350,000. J'his company have acquired still other mills.
The present capacity of the baffin & Rand powder- mills for production is as follows :
Schagl'icoke Mills, New York 500 keys daily.
Empire Mills. Esopus, N. Y.
600 46
Orange Milla Newburgh. N. Y 150 ..
Pas. sie Mills, New Jersey
600
Cressena Mills, Pottsville. la .. 250
Moosie and Rushdale Mills of Moosic Pow-
der Company, Pennsylvania. 1000
Od er small mills, Pennsylvania, 100
66
Latin & Rand's interest in Portland Mills,
Maine .. 300
.6
Mills at Plattsville, Wis. 250
..
Total 4050
This statement is made taking mining powder as a stand- ard. Three sets of the above mills, running on high grades of powder, make only half of the quantity given.
The Laflin & Rand Company also own a large interest in the Lake Superior Mills, in the Windsor Mills of Canada, and in the Hamilton Mills of Canada. It is believed that this company at the present time are the largest private manufacturers of powder in the world.
Of the original Laflins engaged in the powder business. Winthrop and Luther died at Sangerties. Matthew is still living in Chicago, at the age of seventy-six, a well-pre- served, vigorous man, enjoying the wealth his well-directed
*
John mmende
JOHN SIMMONS.
John, the son of John and Pho-be Edwards (Cosely) Simmous, was born at Deepfeld, in the parish of Sedgley. Staffordshire, England, May 22. 1799, His ancestry were followers of William the Conqueror, some of them being of his retinne. Tho father of the subject of our sketch was an iron- worker of note atul manager at lligh Field Iron-Works, neir Bilston, Staffordshire, England. His family were nine children, -five sons and four girls. John, the eldest of the family, was placed at work at the carly age of eleven years with but insignifi- cant rudiments of elementary education, and while working as a boy took upon himself a course of self-training, and learned to write by using a pointed stick and forming letters and words in the san 1. Ile por eszed an aptitude for learning, and became a fair general scholar, atol having a peculiar filing tor mechanies, became a mvedaniriin of more than avera e ability He learned the iron industry, more par- ticularly continuing biurcif to the operation of pulling furnaces and the manufacture of rolled iren, in all the appertainings of which he was a practical as also a skilled workman. Prior to his departure from England for America he was in France for seven years, in the employ of Marchal Marmont, constructing iron-works and managing the same atter they were in operation. During his sojourn in France he acquired the language, and could converse and write the same with proficiency to the end of his life, though having but little occasion for its use after his arrival in this country. Mr. Simmons came to this courtry in the latter part of the winter of 1828, in the sailing ship "Salem," which made a remarkably quick passage, being only twenty- three days from Liverpool, England, to New York City.
Ilis fante as an iron-worker had preceded him, and on his landing he was at once in receipt of offers for his employment. A very siugular fact oreurs bere,-that while he knew of none of his name at home beyond his family connection, almost the first party tendering hiu: an engagement en his arrival in America was of his family name. His length of stay in New York City was of short duration, and re- euperating from the effects of the voyage, he visited Saugerties late in March, 1828, in the company of Henry Carey, W. Young. ant one or two others who were interested in the iron plant that has been started by Henry Barelay, and which was then known as the l'Ester Iron Company. Alter a few days' sojourn at Saugerties the party repaired to Cold Spring. N. Y., for consultation with the other members of the Ut-ter Iron Company. aml'on April Is, ISes, Mr. Simmons enterel into a contract with the Ulster Iron Company to become their maunger at Saugerties. Immediately entering upon his duties, he constructed the " forge" or pulling department, and devoted him-
-
self energetically to the manufacture, which, owing to the bad planuing and arrangeurent of the " plant" and the want of skilled operatives. offered many obstacles and involved many seasons of trial and bar labor : but a self-reliance in his own abilities, aided by his thorough practical knowledge of all the branches and manipulations of his avocation, made him the complete master of the situation, and soon brought order aud discipline out of the then existing chaos. His employers soon recognized his value to them by a voluntary increase of pay beyond the termis stipulated in the contract. Mr. Simmons put up an iron-helve of his own design, for the purpose of shaping the puddle-balls for the rolls. It was the first of the kind in use in this conutry. He was also the originator of what is known as the " Double Pud ling. Furnace," and je Sting was first done in this country as the Saugerties concern. It was also here that the " boiling" process was first introduced, and some time before its use chewhere. M. Simuions was also the originator of the "water-jamb:" that were successful iu application and working, and it was he who applied the bridge-box to the furnaces in which to use water and air equally.
It was also at the Ulster Iron-Works that were first manufactured in this country what are known as small or fine hoops, Mr. Simmons personally drafting and constructing the " train" for their manufac- ture. This branch of the iron manufacture has become an important factor of the industry, as the uses to which " hoops" are applied are wide and varied. Mr. Simmons also devoted himself to the interest of the operatives by the establishment of a "regular pay-day," which was then unknown and unrecognized by any of the establishments in the country,-most of them having a store in conucetion with the works, and it was in these the operatives did their trading and received Iunited sums of ench'advances upon orders issued in their favor from the general office. The accounts between the employer and endoyed were only balanced when such relationship closed. The introduction of a " regular pay-day" was recognized and gradually extended itself to the different establishments of the country. The father of the subject of this sketch, as also all of his brothers and sisters, were in- vited to come to America by Mr. Siuunmons, he recognizing the oppor- tunities offering for their employment and advancement, and they arrived in America in 1850 and isbl, and all located at Saugerties. The brothers, all being iron- workers of more or less ability and skill. entered into the employment of the Ulster Iron- Works. but the carrer of all, excepting Edward, was early terminated by death. Edward, wto arrived in Iral, was an operative roller, and as such bas had nu peer. He co-operated with his brother John, and the two became the real moving powers of the concern; under the general direction, plou- ning, and management of John, with the nicety of execution in the
EDWARD SIMMONS.
finish and rolling as conducted by Edward, the manufacture of the works rapidly rose into favorable consideration with the consumers, and it very soon enjoyed the reputation of being the leading brand of iran of the country for its uniformity of quality and its excellence of finish. The sterling character of the manufacturing parties imparted itself to their product, and " Cister Iron" was recognized and known as the leading mark of the country, and this position it enjoyed with- out disputation until the retirement of the Messrs. Simmons in 1863.
In the limits to which we are confined we cannot tell of the many and various tests to which the product was subjected by private parties and at the guverument navy yards, in all of which it maintained its character without thaw or blemish, yet we umst speak of one test to exempdify the value of the product : About 1810 the government was .biring to make ebain-cable, and wanted an iron of certain tenacity, which was disproportionale to the size they wanted to use. They applied to the various works then in the country, and John ani Edward untertook the matter for the Ulster Iron Company, and it was in this work and at this time that the system of " chilled" or "cold-rolling" was introduced by John and applied by Edward, and afterwards long used at the Saugerties concern before its application «Jewhere in the country. The . ize of iron called for by the govern- Twent was 24 inches round ; after its innnufacture it was made into I. in cable, and then subjected to the tests that were to be applied Fre its acceptance. Mr. Win. Young, the president of the Ulster Iron Company, was present at the Washington navy yard on the application of the test. It stood twice the amount of the test to wwith it was to be subjected. Mr. Young wished it to be further betel, the officials refusing under the idea that they would break the bwin. Mr. Young insisted, and agreed to bear the loss of the chain it they would assume the risk of the machine by which the test was applied. It resulted in a further application of a test strain. The rable links were drawn together so cfusely as to resemble a solid bar firon, and the machine gave way without causing a defect in the charin. The result was deemed of such importance that the links wete reared up at the navy yard gates in order to exhibit the quality that was capable of being produced in this country.
Mr. John Simmons remained nt the U'Ister Iron-Works untit the carly spring of 1: 12, and then accepted a favorable opening at Frost- Furz. M., building at that point an iron-works of his own design wul ffaming, und which at the date of their construction received the encominia, of the iron-masters as being the finest, be-t arranged, asi best adapted of any in the country. In the years 1812 and 1 . Il the works at Saugerties began to go on very irregularly. Arrange- Rottels were made with the Uhter Iron Company and Mr. Horace " ry, of Boston, Mase., by which the fatter became the lessee of the "Flow" with the understanding that the agreement was void on the part of Mir. Grey unless Mr. John Simmons would return to Sanger- Tro and assume the management of manufacture. Mr. Simmons pantol Frostburg in the winter of 1844, and with his brother Edward restarted the U'heter Iron Works as contractors of the manufacture, ani the early reputation of the product of the works was soon re- ... sila. John and Edward continued as contractors until July, Ihn, when John retired from the contractorship in favor of his son,
Ovid T., who, with Edward, carried on the same until July 1, 1863, when the entire Simmous connection with the works was ended. During the contractorship of Edward aud Ovid T., John was acting as the representative of Messrs. J. & L. Tuckerman, who became the owners of the concern about 1-48, on the failure of Mr. Grey ..
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