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 12
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Mr. John Sinunous was a man of fine physique, great physical strength. [ ossessed a power of endurance and energy that seemed never to be ove taxed. and was of a vigorous, frank, outspoken organization, that possessed all the sterfing qualities of manhood, with a thorough disgust for all deceit and trickery. To all this was added a far-seeing, practical win 1. capable of shaping measures which proved to be the vitality of the concern and gave to it that leading position in all its line of mannfacture, and which. during the connection of John and Edward with the concern, kept its wheels in motion during the most trying hours of business depression. By a close and unremitting attention to their calling, both John and Edward accumulated a com- fortable competency without permitting personal gain to be the motive in any one of the many opportunities that frequently offered, or with- out the exaction of the " pound of flesh" in any of their dealings.
The charities of Jolin Simmons were always as ample as he could afford, men were always ina le without nuy mark of ostentation. While he was more or less prominently identified with every local enter- prise, and did tanch in an Enmible way to contribute to the wealth and prosperity of Saugerties, he was ever averse to prominent distinction or official life, andI only hell the official trust of a director of the First National Bank of Saugerties, from the date of its organization as "Bank of Ulster" until the close of his life, and also served one term as "director" of the village. He was twice married : in 1531, to Mrs. Nancy Minor Dewey, then of Sangerties, and who died about three months after marriage. Was again married on Jan. 22, 1834, to Caroline Campbell, of Southwick, Mass., who at this writing survives, and by this last marriage there was an issue of five children, of whom only the eldest, Ovid T., is survivor.
Mr. John Simmons died on Sunday, March 31, 1878, after a long and painful illness, of a cancerous affection of the tongue, resulting frutu the Ineeratious of a tooth.
EDWARD SIMMONS
was a son of the same parents as John, and was born at Wedgebury. Staffordshire, England, July 9, 1809. His early life was much the same as that of his brother John, and he is a self-made man. The principal portion of his career was spent in connection with his brother John at the Sangerties Iron-Works, as related in the sketch of JJohn Simmons. Milward was married to Jane Dymond, who died several years ago. Ile bas no family, und is a resident of Saugerties. lle is a director and vice-president of the Saugerties National Bank. In the fall of 1879 he was enlled to Pittsburgh, Pa., to give testimony in a cive before the courts relating to cold-rolled iron and the date of its first application, and his testimony in the case demonstrateil the fact that the parties claiming a patent -right to its application bad no legal right thereto.
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TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
energy has secured to him. The three were brothers, sous of Matthew Ladin, of Massachusetts, who had himself in early times engaged to a limited extent in the manufacture of powder. The Laflins now in the business are Sylvester 1l., at St. Louis, Fordyce L. and Henry D., at Saugerties.
Joseph M. Boies has now been in the active manage- tient of powder-mills for about forty years, and is believed to be the oldest manufacturer in the United States who has remained in the business steadily through consecutive years. He was born in Blandford, Mass., worked on a rough New England farm till he was twenty-one, then went into the mercantile business at Blandford and at Westfield, and finally became a partner of Walter Laflin in the manufacture of paper at Lee. His wife was a sister of the Laffin brothers, and a few years after their removal to Saugerties he came here, as stated above. It is due very largely to his efforts that a " powder association" was formed a few years sinee, embracing the Laflin & Rand Company, the Hazards, the Duponts, and other powder manufacturers.
UISTER IRON-WORKS.
In the fall of 1825 Henry Barely commenced building these works. In 1827 the Master Iron Company was formed, and took possession in the spring of 1828. Mr. John Simmons was interested in the company, and re- moved to this village in 1828 and took charge of the business. One or two furnaces had then been built, and some attempts unde at manufacturing iron. He had the works all remodeled, and in the fall of that year com- menced operations. At that time the land was subject to continual overflow at that point, and he devoted considerable time and expense to preventing this and placing the mills in their present condition. In 1842 Mr. Simmons left the mill, and came back in 1844 as managing contractor, -- that is, receiving the raw material and converting it into finished iron. The works had been managed in his absence by Mr. Young. In 1843 the works were shut down for a short time. They were then leased by Mr. Grey, of Boston, who resumed operations. Mr. William Burt was general superintendent.
Mr. Simmons continued to manufacture under the new loanagement. Mr. Grey suffered some financial embarrass- ment, and the lease passed to Mr. Joseph Tuckerman. Mr. Burt and Mr. Simmons remained in their respective pvitions natil 1854, when Mr. Burt left and Mr. Sinmoons twok entire charge of the works. Messrs. J. & L. Tueker- tan were leading merchants in the city of New York, and had acted at one time as agents of Mr. Grey.
In July, 1863, Mr. Simmons' connection with the mill ceased altogether, and Mr. William Mulligan, of the firm of Tuckerman, Mulligan & Co., assumed the management, and the mills have continued under the same control to the present time, and are owned by Tuckerman, Mulligan
The mills consist of one single and eight double pud- Fing furnaces, four heating-furnaces, six trains of rolls, sel one hammer. The motive-power is furnished by two immense iron overshot water-wheels, one of which is 30 fit in diameter and 30 horse-power, and the other 20 feet ta dimater and 80 horse-power. The former works the
Hammer, and the latter the rolls, and in fact all of the re- maining running-gear in the mill. They use abont 4000 tons of iron ore, 8000 tons of pig iron, and 12,000 tons of bituminou- coal yearly.
The mill is very picturesquely situated below the falls of the Esopus, and when in operation, especially in the even- ing, it presents a very attractive appearance. The mill, being open at the sides to allow the air to circulate freely, affords a fine view to spectators from without, who often gather to witness the stirring scene. Workmeu, naked to the waist, running about with great red-hot bars of iron ; the flames shooting out of those tall chimneys; the weird shadows falling grotesquely around ; the sharp contrast be- tween the brilliant light and the dense darkness beyond,- ali nuite to suggest the scenes of Dante's " Inferno."
The process of manufacture is very interesting and worthy of study. The furnaces are lined with ore to prevent them from being burned through. The pig iron is thrown in after the bottom is " set," and heated until reduced to a liquid state, during which process it is stirred either by the pudeller or his helper with various implements until the iron " sinks," when the dross is drawn off by tap- ping; after which the puddler slowly forms the remaining mass into a ball weighing about 100 pounds, at the same time further relieving it of dross so far as possible. When in proper condition it is taken out and dragged on an iron runway to the trip-hannaer, still in a red-hot state, where it goes through a process termed shingling. The hammer weighs about seven tons, and is operated by an immense iron shaft attached to the largest water-wheel, on which there is an immense iron ring known as the " Camb-ring," the ring and shaft cach weighing seven tons. There are four large eogs on this ring at equal distances apart, cach of which raises the hammer to a certain height and drops it upon the ball of iron beneath, pounding out whatever dross may be left in it. Those who work at the hammer are called " shinglers," and when at work they are elad in a thin iron armor, with a fine wire sieve over the face, to prevent their being burned by the millions of sparks which fly from beneath the ponderous hammer at cach blow. Near the hatomer is a large iron wheel, about 15 feet iu disancier, known as the squeezers, which, if the hammer break down, is used in its stead. There is a space per- haps a foot in width between the wheel and the frame,- this is at one side of it,-and this space gradually tapers off as it nears the place of exit, and allows the mass of iron to drop out after having been squeezed around the entire circumferenec, the motion of the wheel carrying it along and the space gradually narrowing. After this oper- ation, either by the hammer or the wheel, the mass of iron is taken to the rolls. made into various sized bars, then cut up, reheated, and passed through a train of rolls until the desired size is obtained. There are large blast-pipes at- tached to cach furnace to expedite the fusion of the metals.
THE ICE BUSINESS.
This, in later years, has become one of the most impor- tant industries of the town, giving employment to a large number of men, and involving the investment of a heavy capital. The Knickerbocker Ice Company has store houses
60
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
at four places, -Turkey Point, a little above Turkey Point, at Eves Port, and at West Camp. Cottrell, Williamson & Co. operated largely at Glasco. The National Ice Com- pany have their store-houses just above West Camp, on the boundary line between Ulster and Greene Counties.
PAPER-MILLS-FIRM OF J. B. SHEFFIELD & SON.
In the fall of 1825, Henry Barclay, the founder of Sau- gerties, erected the original mill on the site of the above- named mills, and in October, 1827, it was put in operation. The manufacture of paper was continned by Mr. Barelay down to 1851, a period of nearly twenty-five years. In that year Mr. J. B. Sheffield and Norman White rented the mill, and prosecuted the business under the firm-name of " J. B. Sheffield & Co." The lease expiring in 1857, the firm purchased the property. In 1867, Mr. White sold his interest to Mr. Sheffield and retired from the firm, Mr. Shefield becoming sole owner. In 1800, William R. Sheffield, son of Mr. J. B. Sheffield, came into partnership with his father, and the name of the firm was J. B. Shef- field & Son. Mr. J. B. Sheffield died Jan. 22, 1879, but the business is to continue under the same firm-name until the expiration of the period named in the last articles of part. nership.
During the year 1868 the buildings were largely rebuilt and improved, the manufacture of paper being suspended for a few months. In 1872 the mill, which was a wooden structure, was totally destroyed by fire, July 19th. It was supposed to have caught from a gas jet in the finishing-room. They were rebuilt in the short space of seven months, during which the nearly 1,000,000 bricks were laid, and several manufacturing establishments were kept at work night and day making the new machinery, some of which was very expensive and even elegant, the paper-machine alone costing $20,000. Since the mill again started there has been no suspension of work, even during the panie following the disastrous year of 1873. Nearly 200 hands are employed, and the manufacture amounts in finished work to an average of six tons per day.
The main building is an imposing brick structure of three stories, with a peak and two large wings, the whole being covered with substantial slate roofs. It is 42 by 150 fect, and the wings each 110 feet long, one of them being 33 feet wide and the other 42. The ceilings are about 1.4 feet high throughout, making the rooms very airy and pleasant for the workmen, and are besides well ventilated. The mo- tive-power is furnished by five Leffel turbine water-wheels, two of 40 inches, one of 26 inches, one of 151 inches, and one of 23 inches. The wheels give 420 horse-power. The water supply is practically inexhaustible. The water used for cleansing is brought from a spring one and a half miles away, flowing through a large pipe to a reservoir 8 feet deep and 60 feet square, having a capacity of 600,000 gallons. The water is very clear and in strong contrast with that of the Esopus, which is often muddy. The mill uses four tons of rags per day, one-third of them linen, bought abroad, and the other two-thirds cotton, bought principally in the middle and western portions of the State. The rags are received in the main building and pass into a sorting-room, in which a large force of women separate
them after they are first passed through a dusting-machine. The rags are then put through a couple of cutting-machines, which chop them into small pieces. From these machines they are carried on an endless belt through another dust- ing-machine, which blows an incredible amount of dirt out of them,-ten per cent. of the weight of the rags as brought to the mill proving to be mere dust, and besides other forms of waste aud rubbish equal ten to fifteen per cent. more. The rags are then dropped into two immense rotary boilers. They are each 6 feet by 16, and will hold three tons of rags. In these boilers, aided by steam, lime, and soda-ash, the dirt is thoroughly loosened. The rags come out quite dark, and next pass into two iunnense washers, into which constant streams of clean, fresh water are constantly run- uing. The rags are made to cireulate around the washer and pass through a beating roller, which picks them apart. They then pass under another machine, which by pressure · expels the dirty water from them. From the washers the rags are dropped into huge eement chests, covered with chloride of lime, and left to bleach for one week. The re- sources of this establishment are so great that the contents of 144 washers ean be kept bleaching at one time. The bleached rags next pass into the tanks for beating into pulp and for coloring. This last is effected by the use of Prus- sian ultramarine and earmine, with other chemicals. The pulp is next placed in a tank mixed with a large quantity of water, and from that is fed direct to the paper-machine. The large amount of water secures great thinness and even- ness of distribution. As it enters the machine it is only experienced eyes that can detect that it is anything more than water. Passing over a Fourdrinier wire, the water dis- appears, and then over the rollers the finished paper moves rapidly from the machine.
The paper-machine is a magnificent affair, 100 feet long, very finely finished and complete in its operation. The stream of paper is S4 inches wide, aud after passing the "dandy-roll," which imparts the water-mark, it goes over about 400 feet of rollers before it reaches the cutters, which requires about five minutes' time. Unlike some processes, the paper is here dried upon the machine. The paper next goes to the ealender-room, where vine calenders, attended each by two girls, are steadily at work. The calender- machines are composed of six rollers, half of them paper and the other half chilled iron. The ruling-nachines are in the same room, and these are models of successful ma- chinery. Finally the paper passes into the packing-room above, where it is assorted into perfect, medium, ordinary, counted iu quires, folded, pressed, stamped, wrapped, and cased.
The manufacturing part of this establishment is run night and day, but the packing-room is rou only in the daytime, except when the demands of trade are especially large.
In 1877 a new building was added, in which separate machinery in part was placed, increasing considerably the capacity of the mills.
Mr. W. R. Sheffield devotes his immediate and personal supervision io the entire business. Mr. T. P. Handbridge is the bookkeeper, and Mr. William Dean superintendent and foreman.
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TOWN OF SAUGERTIES.
HUDSON RIVER BLUESTONE.
The following article was prepared by Mr. Leon Barritt, of Saugerties. It combines a large amount of valuable in- farmation relating to one of the most important industries not only of Saugerties but of Ulster County.
"The first bluestone (trade name) quarried as a matter of commerce in the United States was at Mossy Hill, in the town of Coeymans, Albany Co, N. Y., about 1929-30. This quarry was owned by ono Alisha Smith, of New York, but was opened and worked by Messrs. Briggs, Hubble & Stevens, of Cocymans.
"In 1831, Silas Brainard, a bridge-builder of Connecticut, whilo engaged in his calling in the town of Saugerties, learnel of the blue- stone quarry at Cocymans and visited it. On returning to Saugerties he found the saque elass of stone on the farin of William Van Valken- burg, situate three miles west of the village of Saugerties, and pur- chased 20 acres of said farm for $2000, and opened thereon a quarry. In the following year his nephew. Nelson Brainard, a present well- known marble dealer in Saugerties, and the late Judson Brainard, brother of Nelson, purchased the remainder of the Van Valkenburg fria-somno 80 neres-for $1200, and opened thereon quarries of very superior stone. About this time Elisha Parks opened a quarry at what is now known as Quarryville, and in a short time associated with himself a Mr. Crutu, of Dutchess County. Many quarrymen came from Albany County, and the business rapidly extended until at the present writing bluestone quarries are worked from the Heller- berg Mountains south of Schenectady down along the Hudson and Catskills, thence along the line of the Delaware and Hudson Canal to the Alleghanies in Pike Co., Pa., and millions of dollars have be- come invested in the greit industry. The supply is practicably inex- kau-tible, and the business is really in its infancy. The principal quarries are in the counties of Ulster, Greene, Albany, and Sullivan.
"Of these, U'lster undoubtedly has the most extensive. Mr. J. O. Beers, of Saugerties, for many years interested in the bluestone husi- ress, informa the writer that he followed the outeropping bluestone strata in 1862 for three months, on foot, from the Helderberg Moun- tains to Pike Co., Pa., where he says the strata ends as abruptly as the wall of a precipice. The pioneer quar yinen s ld their stone direct to dealers in the large cities, but gradually this systemu has been absorbed by dealers establishing themselves at the principal stono outlets, from which havo grown some of the largest moneyed institu - tions in our county. Numerous attempts have been made to revive the old system, but they have all signally failed.
" Ou the Hudson the principal bluestone of thets are Cocymans, Cats- Lill, Smith's Dock, West Camp, Malden, Saugerties, Glasco, Kiugs- tun, Rondout, aud Wilbur. Ou the line of the Hulsou and Delaware Canal there is scarcely a place but what is a polut for the shipping of stune. Pond Eddy, Lackawaxen, and several other places on the Erie Railroad produce large quantities. More stone is shipped an- hbally from Malden, Saugerties, and Glasco, however, thun from all the other points combined.
"The first stone bright at Malden wus by the firm of lubhle & Krith, of Coxsackie, in 1926-37. Wooster & Baker, of the same place, were the first to buy iu Saugerties, aud opened there about the Have time. About 1528-29, Bigelow & Kellogg (Edward Bigelow «h.l Steven Kellogg) and G. & C. Ishamn commenced buying and hipping from Malden. Steven Kellogg died a short time after this, an I was succeeded by his son Nathan ; the firm- name changed to E. A. D. Bigelow. They continued in the business until 1:04, when the B.g-low Bluestone Company was formed, with a capital of $300,000, Nathan Kellogg, President and Treasurer; 11. Bogardus, Secretary. Kosom & Hotaling and It. N. Woodward were among the early Forchasers of stone at Malden. John Maxwell purchased, about 1. f., the interest of P. J. Hotaling in the firm of Ransom & Hotal- JE¿ the business being continued under the firma-name of Ransom & Maxwell. Two years later Charles Merrill became a partner, the 'a natue changing to D. Ransom & Co. About 1>53-54, Mr. Ran- : a retired, the firm.mme changing to Maxwell & Merrill. Mr. Mer- sut retired in ISST, and one year later, Maxwell & Co., as the firm wa, they knowu, sold their entire business to E. & D. Bigelow. T. $ 1". i.ham retired from business this time, leaving the Bigelow Blue- " ne Company in full control of the business at Malden and Glasco, s :. ! with a large interest at Saugerties. This company was managed : " ar veral years by E. & D. Bigelow and Nathan Kellogg. On the retirement of the Bigelows and Kellogg, the affairs and management
of the company passed into the control of II. T. Cnawell, of Troy. and John Maxwell and F. K. Field, of Malden. They made exien- sive improvemeuts iu the buildings, manufacturing departments, aud docks, and for several years their annual sales amounted to one and a quarter million dollars per year.
" In the spring of 1875," John Maxwell purchased all the vessels. tools, and stones the company had on hand, and leased their entire establishment for a long term of yeurs. Mr. Maxwell is still operat- ing under this agreement, and is continually adding to his facilitica for manufacturing, and to-day is undoubtedly the largest bluestone dealer in the United States. From 400 to 500 men are employed in quarrying the stone be buys, and in his mill, and ou his yard at. Mial- den, where he employs, on an average, 125 more. During the sum - uier season his pay-roll at Malden alone amounts to nearly $1000 1.er week. He purebases stone at Malden, Saugerties, and Glasco, also on the line of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad, on the Delaware and Ihudson Canal, on the Erie Railroad and several of its counec- tions, the stone reaching tide-water from the latter source at New- burg, Jersey City, and Newark. Ile has wholesale depots at Roch- ester, on the Erie Canal, at Newark, N. J., Philadelphia, Pa., and Malden. His manufacturing establishment at Mahlen is three or four times larger than any other similar institution in the country. It is run by a Is0-horse steaui-engine, and consists of 14 gangs of saws. O planes, and 2 rubbing-beds. Of this department George A. David- son is the gentlemanly and competent superintendent.
" In 1875 the sales of Mr. Maxwell amounted to nearly $900,000, but in consequence of the late depression in money matters bis sales last year (1878) were less than half that amount. The demand for stone is increasing, however, and it is estimated that the combined sales of stono on the lludlou River, Erie Railroad, etc., will amount to 81,000,000 this year.
" The shipments of the Messrs. Burhans & Brainard, of Saugerties, for the year 1878, amounted to about $75,000. They have every facility for the manufacture of stone: they have 2 gangs of saws, 3 planes, and I rubbing-bed. They employ about 10 cutters, 10 mill meu, and a large number of quarrymen. They are large quarry owners, and some of the largest stones quarried are taken out by tbem. This firm was established in 1861. The superintendent of their will, E. B. Knight, is the original inventor of the stone-planing machine now in general use.
" Wellington Porter buys and ships from Saugerties and Glasco about $75,000 worth of stone annually ; he does not do any mauufac- turing, however. lle employs about 20 inen, 8 of whom are stone. cutters. Watson Crawford, of Smith's Doek, deals in bluestone to some extent. William B. Fitch, Sweeney Brothers; Nathaniel Booth, - Cummings, and -- Hommell, of Wilbur, and 11. 11. Boice, of Kingston, are the only remaining dealers in Ulster County. Of these Mr. Fitch is the largest dealer, and ranks next to Maxwell in the country. lle has the only manufacturing department in Wilbur, but it is nut as large ns that of Barhans & Brainard's, at Saugerties.
"Bluestone was first quarried for flagging, and all stone found thicker than necessary for that purpose, and which are now the most valuable, were either broken or thrown away as worthles :. Conze- quently many quarries that were worked out of flagging and aban- doned have since been reopened and proven most valuable. Bluestone is now used for flagging, curbing, paving, cross-walks, copings, water- tables, door- and winlow-sills, and everything. in fact, that stone is usedl for in connection with buildings. Bluestone is being used for trimmings in some of the linest buildings erected in New York. The works of Mr. Maxwell at Malden are at present engaged in turning out some of the finest manufactured stone that they have ever produced. They are for the elegant new residence of Williamu H. Vanderbilt, on Fifth Avenue, New York. Bluestone is coming into very general use for sidewalks, and for this purpose has no superior, as it bas great strength and durability, and possesses a degree of roughness which is not lost by wear or action of the weather. It will dry very quickly, as its color draws the sun, and when smooth or wet is not at all slippery, aud absorbs no moisture whatever.
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