Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 46

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

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Van Rensselaer, vice-president, and Mr. Wyckoff, secretary. The com- pany purchased a tract of land of I. D. F. Lansing, for $12,495 Mr. Lansing reserving sufficient water from the mill privilege for four run of stone. Other lands also were purchased below the falls of the south side of the river, and both above and below on the Water ford side. The company now owns the entire water power of the river from half a mile above the falls to a mile below, with a total fall o 120 feet. The first dam built by the company was of wood and sit uated above the falls ; it was erected in 1831, but was carried away by ice on January 10, 1832. Another was immediately built below the site of the first, but was also partially destroyed by ice in 1839 and re built in the same year. The existing stone dam was built in 1865 and is one of the most costly and most substantial structures of its kind The gate house was finished in the following year; it is of brick 218 feet long, with front tower thirty-one feet high and a mail tower forty-three feet high. The dam is 1,443 feet in length and wa: build directly below and connected with the old dam, thus giving i additional strength. The cost of the dam and appurtenances wa. $180,000. The engineer of this great work was William E. Worthen of New York city, assisted by D. H. Van Auken, engineer for the com pany. John Bridgford, of Albany, had the contract for its construc tion. By means of this dam the entire flow of the Mohawk can b. diverted from its channel to do the bidding of the manufacturers. The water passes through, and is used from, five different canals, the first o which was constructed in 1834, is three-quarters of a mile long and has a fall of eighteen feet. The second canal, finished in 1843, is one third of a mile long, with a fall of twenty-five feet. The third is ha a mile long, with a fall of twenty-three feet and was partly constructe. in 1843, the remainder being taken from the old Erie Canal and brough

into use in the same year. The fourth and fifth canals are each half mile long, with twenty feet fall, and were finished in 1880. It will be see that these canals, each having a different level and all being connected make it practicable to use the water six different times. The availabl power thus created is estimated at 10,000 horse power, and it is sold t manufacturers at $20 per horse power per annum, including a quantit of land proportioned to the amount of power taken. The officers (

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the Cohoes Company are Charles C. Birdseye, president ; William E. Thorn, treasurer ; David H. Van Auken, secretary.

The Harmony Mills Company is only second in importance to the Cohoes Company itself. This company was incorporated in 1836 under the name of the Harmony Manufacturing Company, the name being given in honor of Peter Harmony, the first president and the founder of the company. Associated with him were Henry Plunkett, Peter Remsen, Francis Olmstead, H. J. Wyckoff, P. H. Schenck & Co., James Stevenson, Joseph D. Constant, William Sinclair, Van Wyck Wickes, Eliphalet Wickes, Le Bron & Ives, Teunis Van Vechten, John Hough - ton, Charles O. Handy, Francis Griffin, Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Ellis Winne, jr., Hugh White, Henry Dudley, Stephen Van Rensselaer, jr., and Benjamin Knower. Many of these were among the leading busi- ness men of that time. The company purchased a tract of land a quarter of a mile south of the falls and in 1837 erected a brick build- ing 165 by 50 feet, four stories high, equipped with water wheels, etc., at a cost of $72,000 ; three brick blocks of tenements were built at the same time. The mill was supplied with cotton machinery and the manufacture of cotton cloth began. For causes that cannot be ex- plained here the business was not profitable for a number of years after its establishment. Changes took place in the ownership and at in- tervals determined efforts were made to change the condition of affairs. Finally in 1850 a compulsory sale of the mills was made and the prop- erty was purchased by Garner & Co., of New York, and Alfred Wild, of Kinderhook. At that time the annual product of the mill was 1,500,000 yards of print cloth and 250 hands were employed. The new proprietors placed the entire management of the mill in the hands of Robert Johnston, a man of thorough practical knowledge of the business, executive ability of a high order, great industry, and entire devotion to the interests of his employers.1 He very soon inaugurated an era of prosperity and eventually made the Harmony Mills the largest and most complete cotton factory in America. He early as-

1 Robert Johnston was born in Dalston, England, February 1, 1807. He began working in cot- ton mills when a mere child and became an expert spinner. He came to this country in 1830 and worked in Providence mills until 1834, when he went to Valatie, Columbia county, N. Y., and for sixteen years had charge of a mill. He there made the first muslin-de-laine produced in this country. In 1858 he removed to Cohoes.

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sociated with himself his son, D. J. Johnston, who entered the com- pany's office at the age of sixteen years and became one of the pro- prietors in 1866.

In 1853 an addition was built on the old mill 340 feet long, 70 wide and four stories high, with a capacity of 30,000 spindles. This, with the old mill is designated as Mill No. I. In 1857 Mill No. 2 was erected about half the size of the original plan ; it ran for five years with 20,000 spindles, and was then extended to 48,000 and employed 800 hands In 1844 the Cohoes Company built a cotton mill near the south end of their canal 200 feet long, four stories high, and in 1846 they erected another similar structure sixty feet north and parallel with the first; thes. two mills were afterwards connected by a central tower 60 by 70 feet, six stories in height, making a building 500 feet long with capacity of 32,000 spindles. This mill, now known as the Ogden, or No. 4, passed through various hands and in 1860 was purchased by the Harmony Company, who overhauled it and increased its capacity. The Strong Mill, or No. 5, was built at the intersection of Mohawk street and Canal No. 3 ; the original structure was erected in 1849 by William N. Chadwick, who operated it for about ten years. The Harmony Company purchased it in 1865, remodeled and enlarged it until eventually it had a capacity of 13,000 spindles. The north wing of the Mastodon, or No. 3, mill was built in 1866-67. The name "Mastodon " was given it from the find- ing of an almost perfect skeleton of a mastodon in a deep pot hole opened while excavating for the foundations of the mill, sixty feet be- low the surface. The bones were presented to the State. The south wing of this mill was built in 1872, and the whole comprises a continu- ous building 1, 185 feet long, 76 wide, with five stories and a mansard roof. The central tower is eight stories high and terminates in four smaller towers 128 feet high ; four smaller towers also stand equidistant on the wings. The machinery is driven by five turbine wheels aggre- gating 2, 100 horse power. The mill is supplied with the latest and best cotton machinery in the world, comprising 2,700 looms, 35 1 warp spin - ning frames, and other requisite machinery. It has 130,000 spindles, produces 100,000 yards of cloth every sixty hours and is in every way the most complete cotton mill in the world.

In 1872 the company purchased the paper mill just south of No. 2

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which had been operated by the Van Benthuysens for many years. It was enlarged, a mansard roof put on, and a tower built at the south end, making a building 250 feet long, 60 feet wide, and four stories high. This mill was supplied with machinery and used in the manufacture of seamless cotton bags. The company also operated for a number of years and up to 1872 a small mill at the head of Remsen street, on Canal No. 4, which was called the Egberts mill. In 1872 the machinery was removed to the Strong mill. The mills of this company are supplied with auto- matic fire extinguishers at a cost of over $30,000. Repair shops for machinery, carpenter shops, etc., give employment to a large number of hands. Two large storehouses with a capacity of 6,000 bales of cot- ton stand near the railroads, and the cotton used annually by the six mills aggregates 25,000 bales, from which are made 8,000,000 yards of cloth.

Thomas Garner, the real founder of these mills, died in October, 1867. He was born in England in 1805 ; his son, William T. Garner, succeeded him in the presidency of the company. William T. Garner's career was brought to an untimely end on June 20, 1876, by the cap- sizing of his yacht. In 1867 Alfred Wild retired from the company and was succeeded as agent by William E. Thorn, of New York, who be- came also one of the proprietors and removed to Cohoes. After the death of William T. Garner, his brother in-law, Samuel W. Johnson, then one of the firm, was elected to the presidency. While he was hunting on December 9, 1881, on Long Island, his gun was prema- turely discharged, wounding him so severely that he died four days later. In May, 1882, John Lawrence, of New York, was elected presi- dent. Upon the death of Mr. Lawrence William E. Thorn was elected president and treasurer of the company. John E. Priest is superin- tendent.

This great company has ever shown an appreciative wisdom in the treatment accorded their employees. During 1866-68 nearly $300,000 were expended in building tenement houses, grading streets, planting trees, making sidewalks, etc., which transformed the locality from open fields to thickly settled streets. There are more than 700 tenements with from four to ten rooms each, which are rented at a much lower rate than they would command in other hands ; they are rented to none

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but employees of the company. Over the company's office is a com- modious hall, 40 by 100 feet, where the Harmony Union Sunday school meets every Sabbath ; this school was established nearly forty years ago and has always been numerously attended. As a consequence of its beneficent policy with its employees the company has had little of the often prevalent labor trouble. In April, 1882, in consequence of trade conditions then existing, two weeks notice was given of a ten per cent. reduction in wages. On April 26, when the bells were rung no one appeared to go to work. For the next eighteen weeks the great mills were idle, with little exception, at the end of which time hands re- sumed work on the company's terms. Six months later every loom and spindle was in operation, many of the old hands who had sought to better themselves elsewhere having returned ready to work. In Feb- ruary, 1891, in consequence of the refusal of the company to grant ten per cent. advance in pay and one hour for dinner, a strike was inaug- urated ; it ended ten days later, the company granting fifty minutes for dinner and the advance asked.

The manufacture of knit goods is one of the most important industries of Cohoes though conducted under depressing trade conditions at the present time. Egbert Egberts is given credit for the founding of this line of manufactures in this country. He began experimenting on a power machine for making knit goods at Albany in 1831, and called to his aid Timothy Bailey. a young mechanic. The knitting machine had already been invented, and one was purchased in Philadelphia by Mr. Bailey and brought to Albany ; his contrivance was applied to it and a fabric made by turning a crank. Removing now to Cohoes, Joshua Bailey became interested in the invention and water power was applied to the machine, eight of which were built by Timothy Bailey and put in operation. Carding and spinning yarn soon followed and thus the foundation of the great industry was laid. Secresy was maintained for some time, the doors being fastened with spring locks. Even Gen. George S. Bradford, who operated the factory on contract, was com- pelled to bind himself not to enter the knitting room. This first mill stood on the ditch just north of the site of the later Erie mill ; it was afterwards removed to a building near the site of the Troy Manufactur- ing Company. The second mill was built by Mr. Egberts in 1850, on

JOSIAH G. ROOT.

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the corner of Remsen and Factory streets. In 1852 Thomas Fowler placed knitting machinery in a building previously occupied by Timothy Bailey, and in the same year Mr. Egberts transferred his mill to Charles H. Adams. About this time Mr. Bailey organized a knitting company, making three separate establishments in 1853, which were employing 750 hands and producing 45,000 dozen goods annually. Mr. Adams occupied the Watervliet Mill until 1862, when he leased the building to Alden, Frink & Weston and built on Ontario street. This industry in- creased in magnitude and importance at a rapid rate, and while some few did not not meet with anticipated success, the majority prospered. An account of the mills in operation at the present time will necessarily embrace a history of the business of the past to a great extent. The Egberts mill was operated by Charles H. Adams until 1870, from which time it was conducted by John Wakeman until 1881, Mr. Adams still owning the property. Wakeman was succeeded by Neil & McDowell for a short time. It is now operated by a company of whom J. D. Lawrence is president, and John Donahue, secretary. The company was organized in 1893, with $50,000 capital, and now employs 150 hands.

What is now the Victor Knitting Mill Company operates a mill which was conducted from 1860 to 1880 by Henry Brockway. The present company succeeded, with J. A. Brooks, president and treasurer ; George P. Gray, secretary ; P. H. Kane, superintendent.

The Tivoli Hosiery Mills were established in 1855 by Josiah G. Root. In 1863 the firm became J. G. Root & Sons, and from 1869 to 1874 the style was J. G. Root's Sons, when the present organization, the Root Manufacturing Company, began its existence. Andrew J. Root is pres- ident and trustee ; Charles Douglas, secretary ; Thomas Kennedy, sup- erintendent. About 500 hands are employed.

The Globe Mill began operations, with Le Roy & Lamb, proprietors, in 1872, and has continued to the present time. Mr. Lamb died in January, 1885, and in 1890 a partnership was formed by Amelia White, W. B. Le Roy, M. A. Becker, and R. N. Vandervoort. A second mill was built soon afterwards ; 325 employees.

The Star Knitting Company has been in existence many years. On January 14, 1895, the capital was increased from $50,000 to $20 0,000.

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Andrew M. Church, president ; A. I. Whitehouse, secretary ; George HI. Morrison, treasurer ; David M. Ranken, superintendent; 175 em- ployees.

The Ontario Mill, before mentioned as having been established by Chadwick & Co., was operated until 1888, when the Cohoes Knitting Company was organized, with a capital of $25,000. M. T. O'Brien, president and treasurer ; Thomas Kilduff, secretary. About 125 employees.

The Kensington Mills, formerly operated by Root & Waterman, were taken by the Hope Knitting Company, which was organized in Janu- ary. 1891, with a capital of $100,000. James O'Neil, president ; J. H. Shine, treasurer; Peter McCarty, treasurer ; 175 hands.

The Ranken Knitting Company, established by Henry S. Ranken, was one of those that were not successful. After its failure the plant was purchased by the Halcyon Knitting Mill Company, which was organized in 1895 by William Nuttall. About 150 hands are em- ployed.

J. H. Parsons & Co., were among the large manufacturers of many years ago. In December, 1884, the Parsons Manufacturing Company was organized, with J. H. Parsons, president, who still holds the office. In January, 1895, William A. Nuttall, then vice-president, retired from the company, as also did Charles H. Disbrow, then secretary. Samuel Parsons, son of J. H. Parsons, succeeded to the office of secretary. About 200 hands are employed.

The Erie Mill was operated for many years under M. E. Moore & Co., the original proprietors. They were succeeded by William Moore, and he by Moore & Tierney on September 1, 1895 ; 140 employees.

What is known as the Granite Mill is now operated by the William Moore Knitting Company, and employs about 150 hands.

What is now the Mohawk River Mill was formerly operated by W. H. & D. Aiken and by W. H. Aiken & Co. The firm of Aiken & Davitt was organized in January, 1896, and employs about 125 hands.

The Riverside Mill, operated some years after 1867 by H. S. Bogue, is now in possession of H. Bochlowitz, who took it in 1886, and employs more than 200 hands.

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The Paris Mill was formerly the Clifton, operated by George E. Brockway. It was taken by John H. Murphy in the fall of 1891, and on January 1, 1896, the firm of John H. Murphy & Co. was formed. They employ 135 hands.

The Pearl Knitting Mill has been operated for about ten years by John F. Quinn, but did not take its present name until five years ago. About 175 hands are employed.

The Pacific Hosiery Mills are operated by Clark & Holsapple, in the manufacture of merino shirts and drawers.

J. A. Nuttall conducts the Empire Mill, employing 125 hands, and Horrocks & Van Benthuysen are proprietors of the Atlantic Mill, which employs 120 hands.

Among the large number of mills that have from one or another cause been closed are the Standard Hosiery Mill, by Newman & Adams ; the Elk Mill, by A. Paul ; the American Hosiery Mill, by Gregory & Hiller ; the Crown Knitting Mill, by Thompson & Lefferts; the Anchor Hosiery Mill, by C. F. North & Doyle; the Eclipse Mill, by Wood, Pierce & Co .; the Enterprise Mill, by John Scott & Son, which is now being closed up.

Besides the two leading industries which have just been described, Cohoes has not been deficient in other lines of manufacture. It is only a comparatively few years since the manufacture of axes and other edged tools was an important industry. Daniel Simmons was the pioneer in this business, beginning it about sixty years ago ; he had been a black- smith in Albany, where he made a few axes by crude methods. When the discovery was made in 1825 that cast steel could be used for such purposes with refined borax as a flux he promptly adopted the dis- covery in making axes and soon acquired an extended reputation. In 1826 he removed to Berne, Albany county, obtained water power and erected a small plant, with trip hammers and other machinery. When these facilities became inadequate he removed to Cohoes, where he founded the early establishment that became known throughout the world for the excellence of its product. In 1843 White, Olmsted & Co. started a second edged tool factory, which continued to 1857. A third factory was established in 1863 by Alden, Frink & Weston, under the firm name of W. J. Ten Eyck & Co .; this was on the site of the rolling

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mill. The business failed in 1866 and a new company, the Ten Eyck Manufacturing Company was organized, with David Cowee, president ; George R. Seymour, treasurer ; R. H. Thompson, secretary, and W. J. Ten Eyck, superintendent. This firm closed up their business in 1872, and the factory, after being taken and operated for a short time by Will- iams, Ryan & Jones, and then by Sheehan, Jones & Ryan, was burned in January, 1873. Sheehan, Jones & Ryan moved into the pipe factory building on Saratoga street, and continued several years longer, with various changes in the constitution of the firm. The business was finally closed up. A new Ten Eyck Manufacturing Company was formed in February, 1876, by Abram, Albert, and Jonas Ten Eyck, D. H. Clute, and George Carrigan. Their works were near the south bounds of the city and continued in operation until October, 1877. In March, 1880, the Cohoes Axe Manufacturing Company was formed by George Camp- bell, John Clute, J. H. Parsons, William S. Gilbert, and Ethan Rogers. This was a successful establishment for a number of years, when the business was closed up. No edged tools are now made in Cohoes.

In 1856 the Cohoes rolling mill was built, originally to produce steel and iron for the Simmons axe factory. In 1863 Jonas Simmons and E. N. Page in partnership built a puddling furnace and a heating furnace. The capacity was soon doubled to twelve tons of iron in twenty-four hours. On March II James Morrison purchased the Sim- mons interest and the firm of Morrison, Colwell & Page was formed. Under this management the business rapidly increased, and at the time of the fire of January 5, 1883, they had ten double puddling furnaces, one scrap furnace and four heating furnaces in operation ; also six axe poll machines the cost of which with the royalty was $65,000. The entire works were rebuilt in substantially their present form immediately after the fire, and with a capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 tons of finished iron annually, of a very superior quality. Mr. Page, the superintendent, is eminently qualified for his position and much of the success of the mill must be attributed to him. The present firm consists of the Mor- rison estate, Thomas Colwell, and E. Page.

The copartnership existing under the name of the Empire Tube Works was formed in January, 1872, by B. T. Benton and James More- head, of Brooklyn, A. B. Wood, of New York, and James Morrison and

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Thomas Colwell, of Troy. In that year they built the mill on North Saratoga street and began the manufacture of wrought iron pipe in the winter of 1873. Mr. Benton died soon afterward and the mill was rented to Albert Smith and James Morehead, who formed a partner- ship as Albert Smith & Co .; this partnership was dissolved May I, 1874, Mr. Morehead retiring. A. G. Curtis, of Troy, purchased an in- terest and took charge of the manufacturing. The business was success- ful until 1876, at which time a pipe combination was formed which leased the mill from the firm for the purpose of closing it. Thereupon Albert Smith & Co. sought a new location and in July of that year Mr. Curtis bought the ground formerly occupied by the old Ten Eyck axe factory and the firm began the erection of a new rolling mill. Three months later the new plant was in operation with greater capacity than the old one. From that time until 1880 the business continued with moderate success, all branches of the iron business being in a depressed condition. At this time James Morrison bought Albert Smith's inter- est and the firm name was changed to A. G. Curtis & Co. New life was infused into the concern, prosperity returned to the iron trade, the plant was enlarged, new machinery was added and an era of pronounced success began. On January 25, 1883, Mr. Curtis died in Florida, and the firm was organized as Curtis & Co., consisting of Henry Aird, Mary M. Curtis and John Donn. Mr. Aird became associated with the firm January 1, 1878, as foreman, and soon mastered every detail of the business; in recent years the establishment has been practically under under his direction. The value of the annual product is more than $500,000.

The works of the Cohoes Iron Foundry and Machine Company were commenced by William T. Horrobin in 1868 where they are still situ- ated. In 1877 the business passed to Robert Johnston, and from him to his son, David J. Johnston. He died in October, 1894, and the busi- ness is now in his estate. Jerome Garland is general manager. From sixty to ninety hands are employed in the manufacture of cotton ma- chinery and several kinds of special machines.

Campbell & Clute Machine Shop .- The firm of Campbell & Clute was formed January 1, 1863. by George Campbell and John Clute, both practical mechanics. They are still in business on the same spot

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whereon they began, making a specialty of knitting machinery. Mr. Clute has perfected a machine for knitting silk, and another for knitting a peculiar worsted fabric. From thirty to sixty hands are employed.

Tubbs & Severson started a machine shop in 1873. Mr. Severson retired in 1878 and Mr. Tubbs continued the business. After several other changes the firm of Harrobin & Vincent was formed and took the shop, but recently failed. The firm is now Tubbs & Hall. The building occupied by them was built by Harris Brothers in 1868. Gen- eral machine work is carried on.

What is known as the old Lansing mill is now occupied by the Troy and Cohoes Shirt Company, of which George E. Gardner is president ; Joseph A. Leggett, vice-president ; James A. McPherson, jr, secretary ; George H. Morrison, treasurer. The company has been only recently formed and manufactures the Cycle and T. & C. brands of shirts, col- lars and cuffs.

The Cohoes Furniture Company, C. R. Trost, proprietor, was estab- lished in 1879, and soon became an important industry. A large busi- ness has been done in the manufacture of desks, as well as in furniture for household use.

Besides these various important industries a considerable business is done in the manufacture of paper boxes, sash, doors and blinds, knit- ting needles, cotton batts, etc. On the island are located the Rensse- laer Scale Works, the Cascade Knitting Mills (operated by G. H. Mc- Dowell & Co.), the Continental Knitting Company, the Wilson Box Company, and some other minor establishments, all of which contribute to the wealth of the city. The island was formerly in the Fourth ward of the city, but in 1895 was made the Sixth ward by itself.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 46

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374