USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 29
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Lime and Plaster .- Matthias Britton was born in Dutchess county in 1820. In 1825 his father, Israel Britton, brought his family to Onondaga and bouglit a tract of land upon which father and son spent the remainder of their lives. Matthias followed farming till 1867, when in company with his son, Israel E. Britton, he bought a stone quarry and began burning lime and cement the next year. In 1870 M. Britton & Son leased of E. B. Alvord the premises at No. I Lock street, which they occupied for seven years. In 1877 they bought at No. 92 (now 325) North Salina street a frontage of 112 feet and extending back to the canal, on which they erected a sub- stantial three-story building, with the best machinery, and there con- tinued the manufacture of water-lime. In ISSo they put in machinery for a custom feed-mill and the two kinds of business were conducted on a large scale till the fall of 1889. Matthias Britton died in 1887. He was a man of strong qualities of body and mind, active, persevering, far-sighted, with a character above reproach. The surviving member of the firm, Israel E. Britton, has discontinued manufacturing at No. 325 North Salina street, and has remodeled the buildings into stores and flats. The machinery for grinding water-lime has been transferred to the quarry, where it is made in still larger quantities. The production of quick-lime has been developed
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till it is now the largest in Onondaga county. To the one kiln at the start nine more have been added, and the output is now 3,300 bushels per day. A large part of this is loaded on cars near by and sold to the great Solvay l'rocess Company at Geddes. In 1889 Mr. Britton purchased an interest in a gypsum quarry in Alpine, California, sixty-five miles north of Los Angeles, whither he went and spent the following winter. He took heavy machinery from Syracuse, Buffalo, and Chicago, and established works that produce 300 barrels of plaster of Paris every nine hours. The industry is very promising, as the quarries are developing new and unexpected quali- ties of excellence.
Becker Manufacturing Company .- The commencement of the knit goods manufacturing business in Syracuse must be credited to A. Park Sager, who started the industry alone in 1876. In 1879 Mrs. Albert Becker and her brother, A. Park Sager, established the first exclusive hand-made worsted goods manufactory in Syracuse, and opened a store in South Salina street, under the name of A. Park Sager & Co. In 1884 Mrs. Becker bought her partner's interest and Mr. Albert Becker organized the Becker Manufactur- ing Company, which has continued in a prosperous business to this time. The industry has been a great help through employment furnished to hun- dreds of poor people, and now supplies work to from 400 to 700 persons in the busy season.
Sager Brothers .-- A Park Sager associated himself with his brother, George J., after leaving the firm above described, and the firm of Sager Bro- thers is now located at 316 South Clinton street, where they occupy a five- story building. They employ about Soo knitters the entire year, and some 2,000 are employed in the industry in and about the city, mostly at their homes. Jacob Sager, father of the Sager brothers, come to Syracuse in 18.47, and George J. has been connected with the business interests of the city since 1853, and served honorably in the 149th Regiment during the war of the Rebellion.
The Syracuse Twist Drill Company .- This is a partnership company, the active member and manager being Thomas Hooker. The business was begun in a small way in 1877, room and power being rented for the pur- pose of Cobb, Herrick & Co., on the corner of Water and Grape streets. In 1881 the present site (now 936 Grape street) was purchased and a wooden building erected, which was destroyed by fire on the Ist of May, 1884. The firm immediately rebuilt with brick. In 1887 the works were enlarged and the building is now 32 x 100 feet, besides the boiler extension and a wooden carpenter shop. The original design was to adapt the well known twist drill of the machine shop to the use of woodworkers, more particularly those working in hardwood. The demands of trade have led
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to additions in the lines of carriagemakers' and electricians' drills, with a few other special tools. Their drills have become so favorably known that they are largely imitated, and a trade mark has just been registered to pro- tect their customers as well as themselves. They employ about forty hands, and their market covers the whole country and something of an export trade.
The Boomer & Boschert Press Company was organized in 1874 under the manufacturing laws of the State of New York, with the following offi- cers : President, A. A. Howlett; Vice-President, George B. Boomer; Sec- retary and Treasurer, W. D. Dunning; Superintendent, R. E. Boschert. It is devoted to the manufacture of power and hand presses and machinery connected therewith. It covers a great variety of presses, such as for lard, tallow, tankage, oils, cider, wine, leather and rubber belting, cloth, paper, etc. Their factory is located at 329 West Water street, with branch offices at New York city, Detroit, and Chicago. The present officers are: President, George B. Boomer; Vice-President, Rufus E. Boschert; Secretary and Treasurer, William D. Dunning. Their knuckle-joint presses are known all over the world as the "Standard." They also produce screw and hy- draulic presses for almost every purpose requiring great pressure.
The Farmers' Fertiliser Company was organized in February, 1880, and incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. Its principal office is in Syracuse, and its factory and storehouses in the town of De Witt, on the Erie Canal, and on the N. Y. Central and West Shore Railroads. Its prin- cipal business has been in the State of New York, and its officers and stock- holders are nearly all citizens of Syracuse. Situated in the center of the State, on the great arteries of commerce, and being the only company man- ufacturing fertilizers in this part of the State, its business has increased from year to year, and its products are as well and favorably known as those of any concern doing business in this State. Beginning with an output of 600,000 pounds the first year, it has gradually increased this to 12,000,000 pounds, and of this Onondaga county takes of its products as much as any other three counties. The manufacture of fertilizers involves the produc- tion of sulphuric acid, by which the ground animal and fossil bone is dis- solved. Sulphate of ammonia and sulphate and muriate of potash are re- quired, and imported from Germany, and nitrate of soda, bone, and bone ash come from South America.
The Goodstock Manufacturing Company .- This company was estab- lished in 1881 in Port Byron, N. Y. In the spring of 1887 the business was bought by C. A. Peters, who is now the sole owner. The factory was first in the Hotel Burns Block in West Fayette street, but in 1889 the new brick manufactory at 106, 108, and 1 10 Noxon street was erected, 40 x So feet, and
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four stories high. Ten men and fifty girls are employed in the factory and sixty girls outside. The product is flannel and negligee shirts, of which about $75,000 worth were sold in the past year.
The Novelty Manufacturing Company .- This manufacturing establish- ment had its inception in 1872, and began with the manufacture of novelty picture frames by Clarence G. Brown, on the upper floor of the brick build- ing in Gifford street, just west of the creek. This frame was then a novelty and found ready sale. At first one or two men only were employed, and Mr. Brown traveled and sold the product. The demand increased at a marvelous rate, and the old knitting- mill building on the same street was occupied, and the facilities for manufacturing largely extended. Mr.
Brown's father, the late H. K. Brown, took an active interest in the business for a time. Other articles in woodwork, such as light chairs, fancy cabinet ware, cabinets, brackets, and all the numerous home conveniences and dec- orations, have been added to the product. The elder Mr. Brown retired from the business in 1884, and Edward C. Abeel acquired an interest at the same time. Meanwhile the works were removed to their present commo- dious building erected for the purpose in Dickerson street. The property represents an investment of between $60,000 and $70,000. Over 100 men are employed, and the annual product reaches more than $125,000 in value. The goods are shipped to all parts of the United States and many foreign countries. In the past year a five-story building 50 x 60 feet has been added to the plant, with all the latest appliances. They have in course of construc- tion large and improved dry kilns, and when their new 100 horse-power Corliss engine is placed they will have one of the most complete wood- working establishments in this part of the country.
The Wales Manufacturing Co. was organized in 1833, and succeeded to the business of George Beadle in the manufacture of fare boxes, such as are used on street cars for the collection of fares. Under the supervision of W. S. Wales, the President of the company, the construction of the box was immediately remodeled, and in connection with new patents a new and more satisfactory box was developed. The business has been continually increas- ing until the box is now found on the principal roads of this country, as well as on roads in South America, Australia, England, and other foreign countries. This company within the past year, in order to keep up with the increasing business, has bought lands and erected its own buildings, corner Park avenue and Liberty street, and has extended its business to the manufacture of supplies for electric railroads and novelties in general.
The Syracuse Bamboo Furniture Company .- This company owes its ori- gin to Henry Loftie, who, in 1888, under the style of the Syracuse Split Bamboo Fish Rod Company, began the manufacture of split bamboo fish
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rods. That business increased rapidly. In cutting up a bamboo pole for these rods there are only about four or five feet of the butt that can be used; the remainder of the pole was supposed of course to be useless. The vast accumulation of waste suggested the manufacture of bamboo .easels, which were at that time quite a rarity. Two or three patterns were made and put on the market as an experiment. They sold with surprising rapidity, and several more styles were added ; also a table and two styles of umbrella stands. The waste material was soon exhausted and they were compelled to use the entire poles. Heretofore only Calcutta bamboo or the dark col- ored material had been used, it being impossible to use the Japan or white. bamboo, owing to a method of fire mottling which, after much time and a great deal of experimenting, was at last discovered, and they were then ready to defy competitors. Each week showed a steady increase in the sales of furniture, and many new and original articles were added to the line, including easels, screens, tables, chairs, divans, couches, cabinet man- tels, and chamber suits. In fact almost every conceivable article in fancy furniture is made. A few of the remarkable features of this furniture are its extreme lightness, at the same time it combines the greatest strength and durability ; its beautiful natural finish exists in the enamel, which is very hard and smooth. The tools used in working this have to be of the best steel, and even then require frequent resharpening. The firm ships its furniture to nearly every State and territory in the Union, selling the larg- est dealers in nearly all the large cities ; they also sell many goods for ex- port. The business has grown with wonderful rapidity. Where they first bought the poles in bundles of fifty, they now purchase entire cargoes of from 50,000 to 100,000, almost entirely for the manufacture of furniture. In spite of the great importance this furniture business has assumed they have not neglected the fishing rod business, and are now making one of the finest grades of rods on the market. They also manufacture a full line of trolling baits, including the glittering gang bait invented and patented by Mr. Loftie. Many other specialties are also made, nearly all of which are con- trolled by patents. Owing to the steady increase of business the firm has been compelled to change its quarters several times during the past three years, and now occupies the stores Nos. 237 to 245 West Onondaga street, and a large storehouse on Temple street. They employ seventy-five hands.
The Warren- Scharf Asphalt Paving Company is a corporation organ- ized under the laws of the State of New York in 1884, for the purpose of laying sheet pavements of Trinidad asphalt in the United States and Can- ada, or in any other field. It was organized with Cyrus M. Warren as its President, and with Samuel R. Scharf as its General Superintendent. Mr. Warren is one of the foremost chemists in this country, and has made a
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careful study of the nature and properties of asphalt and its allied products for many years. Mr. Scharf is known as one of the highest authorities on the construction of all classes of pavements, and has had long experience with the Trinidad asphalt pavement, being among the first to lay it. In the short period of the existence of this company it has laid considerably over a million square yards of pavement, and has extended throughout a large part of this country and Canada until it covers in its operations twenty- two cities, and has the reputation of doing its work in a thoroughly first- class manner. In Syracuse, N. Y., this company has laid asphalt pavements for the last two years, the amount during 1889 being approximately 17,000 square yards in James, Townsend, and West Onondaga streets, and in 1890 30,000 square yards in James street, West Onondaga street, and West Gen- esee street. The present officers of the company are William R. Warren, President ; Samuel R. Scharf, General Superintendent ; William Burnham, first Vice-President ; and S. Whinery, second Vice-President. During the season of 1890 there were constantly employed in the construction of the three streets paved in Syracuse from 300 to 350 men, besides many more by contractors furnishing supplies for the work. In addition to this labor employment was the shipment of 800 car-loads of freight in and out of Syra- cuse, divided among all the different railroads passing through the city, aggregating some 32,000,000 pounds or 16,000 tons of freight. The capi- tal of the company is $750,000, and its principal office is at 81 Fulton street, New York city.
The Steam Gauge and Lantern Company .- This company was incorpo- rated in Rochester, N. Y., February 7, 1881, with a capital of $250,000. The factory was destroyed by fire November 9, 1888, and the business trans- ferred to this city during the month of May, 1889. The present officers and Trustees of the company are as follows: John Dunn, jr., President; O. F. Howe, Vice President ; P. L. Salmon, Secretary and Treasurer; D. B. Sal- mon, E. S. Jenney, O. N. Howland, and F. L. Felton. The factory is located at 221 Wilkinson street. There are now about 250 employees. The prin- cipal product consists of tubular lanterns, tubular street lamps, tubular sta- tion lamps, locomotive head-lights, switch lamps, railroad lanterns, etc., in many forms and designs. The patents for lamps in the Patent Office num- ber many thousands, many of which are owned by this company.
Elevators .- In October, 1883, E. W. Houser bought the stock, fixtures, and machinery of H. M. Graves, who first manufactured hand elevators in Syracuse. To this business Hr. Ilouser added steam-power and hydraulic passenger elevators. In 1891 C. C. Decker was admitted to partnership, the style of the firm being the Houser Elevator Company. They have two large shops. Their sales are extensive and extend from New York to
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Minneapolis. The company will soon increase its plant to meet the de- mands of its growing business. When first begun the industry was located at 74 East Water street. It is now at Nos. 314, 316, and 318 in the same street.
B. D. Bramer .- In 1856 Chauncey Stevens was the principal harness manufacturer in the city, and among his employees was B. D. Bramer, who is now engaged in the same business in East Fayette street. In 1858 Mr. Bramer was located in the Dillaye Block, and sold out to Palmer Shaw and removed to Fabius, where he remained until 1864. In February of that year he returned and bought out Shaw in company with D. M. Bailey. The firm of Bailey .& Bramer continued until November, 1869, when Mr. Bailey died and Mr. Bramer purchased the interest of his partner, and has since carried on the business alone. Mr. Shaw was the oldest harnessmaker in the city, having carried on the business since 1827 ; but he has recently retired.
J. S. Carter. - This business was established in 1867 by Gardner B. Weeks in West Water street. He was succeeded by J. S. Carter, at 83 South Clinton street, who removed to 28 and 30 James street, where he re- mained four years. He then located at 69 Warren street, and remained one year, when he removed to 47 and 49 West Jefferson street, where he oc- cupied a four-story building erected especially for his business. He re- mained there five years, and then removed to his present location, 303 to 309 Lock street, where he purchased land and built his five-story brick block in 1889. He employs forty hands, and manufactures a complete line of dairy apparatus. His trade extends over the United States and exports to South America and Australia.
Perfection Oil Tank Company .- This business was established about 1875 by Wilson & Blye, in West Fayette street. They were burned out, and then located at No. 59 North Salina street. Mr. Blye bought his part- ner's interest and afterwards sold out to Hopkins & Abbott, who removed the business to 61 West Water street. On the 1st of November, 1886, the present company took the business. The tank which they make has a wide reputation for excellence.
Baldwinsville Centrifugal Pump Works .-- The plant of this establish- ment is located at 230-236 West street. The business was first inaugurated at Baldwinsville in 1861 by White, Clark & Co., who continued it until ISSo, when it was purchased by Clark & Van Wie, and in the following year they removed the business to Syracuse. In March, 1884, Irvin Van Wie became sole proprietor. All styles of vertical, horizontal, and suction pumps are made, with capacity ranging from 100 to 40,000 gallons per minute.
Boggs & Clarke .-- This firm was organized in 1883 and is composed of H. H. Boggs and W. P. Clarke. The important article of manufacture is
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centrifugal pumps of all kinds and a wide range of capacity. General ma- chinery is also a part of their business. The works are located at Nos. 535- 539 South Clinton street, where from ten to twenty men are employed. Their product is sold largely to paper and pulp-mills, tanneries, dry docks, quarries, and contractors.
Howard & Jennings .- Biddlecom & Howard in 1876 began the manu- facture of pumps, and seven years later Dwight P. Jennings bought out Mr. Biddlecom's interest and the firm became Howard & Jennings, as at present. Wooden pumps have always been their leading article of manufacture, and they have also made chain pumps for the past ten years. Ten hands are employed and 3,500 pumps are made annually. The firm built the block which they now occupy in Church street.
Bakers and Confectioners .- Joseph Walier, a native of Switzerland, be- gan his trade in Austria in 1845, while yet a boy. After four years he went to Poland, where he remained about two years, and then traveled through Germany and France to Madrid, Spain, where he remained a year and a half; thence he went to the West India Islands, stopping for a time at Ha- vana, Jamaica, Kingston, Turk's Island, and St. Domingo, spending two years in all at these various places. From the last named point he came to New York city, where he worked at his trade as he had done in the places previously mentioned. After two years in New York he came to Syracuse in 1855, and worked ten years for Reuben Wood, who was the first fancy candy manufacturer in this city. In January, 1866, Mr. Walier took a part- ner, and the firm of Walier & Erhard opened a candy factory in North Sa- lina street. In 1868 they removed to the corner of Clinton and Walton streets, where they remained together for twenty years. Since that time, when Mr. Erhard withdrew from the firm, Mr. Walier has carried on a very prosperous business at the same location.
Daniel Schmeer manufactures confectionery at No. 515 North Salina street, where three hands are employed. Mr. Schmeer has been a resident of Syracuse thirty years, and has held the office of School Commissioner four terms, or eight years.
Syracuse Biscuit Works .- This business was inaugurated by Francis Hall, who was succeeded by George S. Larrabee on the Ist of March, 1883. About the same time George Young began the same business in Noxon street. The two concerns were consolidated on the Ist of March, 1886, under the firm name of Young & Larrabee. C. W. Young, the senior part- ner, is the son of George Young, who has for years been engaged in the same line of business in Utica. The firm bakes bread, crackers, fancy bis- cuits, and cake, and manufactures confectionery on a large scale. They em- ploy six traveling men outside of the city, and seven men for city and 85
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suburban trade. They also employ 125 people and sixteen horses, and their product has an annual value of over $300,000.
There are about thirty-five small baking establishments in the city, who employ seventy-five persons, and use about seventy-five barrels of flour daily.
The Smith Premier Typewriter .-- This manufactory is owned and oper- ated by L. C. Smith, and is now working 278 people in manufacturing the justly celebrated typewriter of the above name. There are also employed outside of the factory, in various cities, sixty-five assistants. Their ma- chines are shipped to nearly all English speaking countries, and have been on the market about two years. The typewriter is manufactured under the patents of Alexander T. Brown, of Syracuse.
Byington, Kendall & Co. -- January 1, 1890, Byington, Kendall & Co. succeeded to the business of the old Becker Manufacturing Company. In June, 1891, they moved to their present quarters, comprising a store 134 feet deep with two floors and basenient. The firm's specialties are under- wear, liosiery, fancy knit goods, and yarns. They employ in the busy sea- son some 300 people.
Jacob Amos .-- Jacob Amos came to Liverpool, N. Y., from Germany in 1840. About 1850 he built the Amos Hotel in North Salina street, and eight years later opened a flour and fced store, which latter industry was the outgrowth of the manufacture of farina, started by Mr. Amos a few years previous in the Dunlap mills at Jamesville. In 1862 he moved his business to Syracuse, and rented four stores in Water street, where the Amos Block now stands. Three years afterward two more stores adjoining were rented, and a steam mill was established in these quarters, which had a capacity of grinding 125 barrels of flour, 30 barrels of farina, and a large quantity of feed daily. In 1867 he erected a mill at Baldwinsville capable of turning out daily 150 barrels of flour, 75 kegs of pearl barley, and 50 kegs of farina. This he continued alone till 1876, when his sons, Charles L. and Jacob, jr., were admitted to partnership, under the firm name of Jacob Amos & Sons. In 1878 they bought the Barker mills in West Water street, which constitute the present Amos mills, and increased their capacity to 400 barrels per day, and in 1881 substituted the old four runs of stone with the best Hungarian roller machinery, necessitating an outlay in both mills of $75,000. They were the first to adopt this system in this section. MI. Amos died in 1883, and. his sons continued the milling business as Amos Brothers till 1887, when Charles L. died, and the firm became and still is Jacob Amos. The motive power is furnished by two Corliss engines and four boilers. The total output of the two mills in IS90 was 130,460 bar- rels of flour, besides a large quantity of farina and mill feed. The value of
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the business that year amounted to over $1,500,000, and sixty people were given employment.
Hughes Brothers .- This firm (all born in Syracuse) was formed in 1877 by the two older brothers, Charles and James Hughes, to which the younger brother, Eugene Hughes, was admitted in 1880. Their father, James Hughes, founded the business in 1850, where the Phoenix Foundry now stands. He removed to the present location in Gifford street in 1861, and died in 1869. The yard was rented to other parties till his sons became old enough to assume its management. Their business has grown steadily till they have become the heaviest operators in Central New York. They built the Court-House in Scranton, Pa .; the Paulus Church, Sixtieth street, New York city; numerous locks on the canal ; and the present City Hall. But a contract they are now engaged in eclipses all others. They are building in Chippewa county, Michigan, a lock in the famous Sault Ste. Marie ship canal, around the rapids in St. Mary's River, that connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron. The growing importance of this canal, which already does a third more business in eight months than the great Suez Canal does in a whole year, demands a larger channel, and the Hughes Brothers, and E. T. & A. M. Bangs, of Fayetteville, are under contract with the United States government to have completed within three years a lock 1,200 feet long, 100 feet wide, with side walls 45 feet high, and a water lift of 23 feet, which reaches the enormous quantity of over 80,000 yards of solid stone, and costing $1,300,000. When completed it is believed it will be the finest lock in the world. For several years past their stone quarries at Split Rock, the Indian Reservation, and Fulton, with their contract work, have furnished labor for 200 men, and their annual business has exceeded $300,000.
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