Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 39

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Iron Manufactures .- The pioneers of the iron manufacturing indns- try in the village are said to have been Nathaniel Wiley, who started a machine shop as early as 1820, and R. Bingham, who began making castings about the same time, but at this time the exact location of their buildings is unknown. In 1824 the machine shop of Goulding & Wiley (George Goulding and Nathaniel Wiley) was one of the impor- tant iron working industries of the village. Mr. Goulding began the business in 1823, on Norton's (Sewall's) island, and made mill-gearings, factory machines and an occasional steam engine. This was the be- ginning of operations which ultimately led to the founding of the pres- ent Bagley & Sewall company, which is among the largest industries of its kind in the northern part of the state.

The Bagley & Sewall company of the present day is the outgrowth of the foundry and machine shop started by George Goulding in 1823, and from his little building have grown the vast structures which cover almost two acres of land and furnish almost constant employment to

364

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

more than 125 mechanics. Following Mr. Goulding's proprietorship, came that of the firm of Goulding, Bagley & Sewall, and still later (1862) that of Bagley & Sewall. On July 6, 1882, the Bagley & Sewall company was incorporated, with a capital of $100,000, by George A. Bagley, E. Q. Sewall, L. A. Johnson, W. D. Sewall and A. D. Rem- ington. As is well known, the works of the company are on Sewall's island, a locality noted for the number and magnitude of its manufac- tures. The present officers of the company are George A. Bagley, president ; Charles D. Bingham, treasurer; Steward D. Lansing, secre- tary; and George A. Bagley, Mrs. E. Q. Sewall, Mrs. V. K. Kellogg, William C. Stebbins and Charles D. Bingham, directors.

The Watertown Steam Engine company, concededly one of the most important industries of its kind in northern New York, had its origin in a little, crude mechanical contrivance constructed by Gilbert Brad- ford in 1848, when he was foreman in George Goulding's machine shop. The steam engine or boiler, or whatever it may have been called at the time, led to the invention and construction of the portable steam en- gine, the first one of which ever manufactured and put into successful use, was the product of the old Hoard & Bradford shop, and the result of the mechanical ingenuity of Gilbert Bradford. His first engine had a capacity equal to one-half horse power, and he applied vainly to George Goulding and William Smith for aid in developing a more ex- tensive manufacture, for they regarded the thing as "dangerous to life." At last Mr. Bradford found a partner in Charles B. Hoard, and the firm of Hoard & Bradford began business at the corner of Mill and Moulton streets, in 1851. Soon afterward one of these primitive en- gines was used to run the press in Major Haddock's printing office, and there in 1850 it attracted the attention of Horace Greeley, on the occa- sion of a public address delivered by him in the village. He was so struck with its novelty and utility that he made mention of the engine in the Tribune of July 13, 1850, and also publicly alluded to it in his capacity as commissioner of the United States at the London fair in 1851. The result was a wide advertisement for the firm, and in 1853, and frequently afterward, the plant was greatly enlarged to fill the orders for portable engines. In this year Mr. Bradford sold out and the old firm was succeeded by Hoard & Sons (the sons being Norwood, Pitt and Floyd Hoard) who continued the business with good success through the panic period of about 185%, employing from 100 to 150 men, running nights (and occasionally on Sunday) to fill their orders.

365

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

In 1861 the firm secured a contract to manufacture for the govern- ment 50,000 Enfield rifles, for which purpose the buildings were remod- eled, but in the course of a few more years business reverses overtook the firm, and its creditors (the local banks) made a proposition to D. W. Baldwin, Gilbert Bradford and others to organize a stock company and continue the business of building portable engines.

The Portable Steam Engine and Manufacturing company was the result of these negotiations, and was incorporated August 15, 1865, with a capital of $10,000, by Isaac 11. Fisk, David W. Baldwin, C. A. Sherman, Gilbert Bradford, William Winch, 11. Cooper, T. H. Camp, Lotus Ingalls, S. B. Upham, Norris Winslow and J. G. Harbottle. Under this organization and management the business was continued until 1822, when the company was merged in the Watertown Steam Engine company, incorporated January 15, with a capital of $100,000, but subsequently (June 17, 1873) increased to $200,000. The incorpo- rators of the new company were Isaac H. Fisk, Gilbert Bradford, Wm. Winch, Chas. A. Sherman, T. II. Camp, D. W. Baldwin and I. P. Powers. This company has since maintained a continued and health- ful existence, and is to day one of the leading industrial concerns of northern New York. The old works at the corner of Mill and Moulton streets were occupied (and on various occasions enlarged) until 1890, when the company moved to the western part of the city, and resumed business on a twenty-acre tract of land with buildings better suited to its requirements. The works inchide half a dozen or more buildings, the largest of which is 600 feet long. The manufactures include high - speed direct connecting engines, stationary, portable and agricultural engines, and also boilers of all kinds. The works employ about 225 men. The officers of the company are John C. Knowlton, president ; G. C. Sherman, vice president; Wm. H. Hathway, treasurer; S. F. Bagg, secretary; and John C. Knowlton, G. C. Sherman, I. P. Powers, D). W. Baldwin, Geo. B. Massey, O. E. Hungerford and G. V. S. Camp, directors.

In 1825 William Smith had a furnace and machine shop on Beebee's island, on the site now occupied by the foundry and machine shop owned by George A. Lanee. This building is better known as the Gilderoy Lord plow works. Lance & Cornwall succeeded Lord, and George A. Lance followed the firm. Smith's second foundry building stood about on the site of the air brake company's foundry. Hle en- gaged entensively in manufacturing castings, mill-gearings, stoves,

366

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

hollow ware and agricultural implements. In 1841 Cooper & Woodruff built on the north side of the river, at the head of the present dam, a machine shop and foundry, and made mill machines and steam engines. About the time the railroad was opened, this shop began to turn ont cattle and box cars, which were taken " overland " to Pierrepont Manor and there placed on the track. Later on the shops also turned ont car wheels and axles, but in July, 1853, the building's were burned to the ground; and not so much as a single stick was left standing.

After the engine company had abandoned the old works at the corner of Mill and Moulton streets, the buildings were next occupied by the Winslow & Knapp Lumber company, as a planing mill and sash and door factory. In July, 1891, James B. Wise bought the property at re- ceiver's sale and moved there with the business he had previously car- ried on on Huntington street. The present splendid large factory building owned by Mr. Wise was erected in 1895, and is considered one the best structures of its kind in the city. It is 38 x 210 feet on the ground and three stories high.

The extensive business now carried on by Mr. Wise has grown from an exceedingly small beginning, and dates back to 1868, when his father, Joseph Wise, came here from Branford, Conn., and was fore- man and superintendent for Palmer & Wasson in their loek works on Newell street. The plant was burned in 1871, and afterward Mr. Wise worked for the sewing machine company, and later began making locks and sewing machine attachments. In March, 1871, the firm of J. Wise & Son was formed and business was carried on in a building now on the site of the lamp company's works, and also for a time occupied a building on Huntington street, opposite the head of Sewall's island. In 1829 the firm began to enlarge its operations, and did a successful business to the time of Joseph Wise's death in 1886, when the son sue- ceeded the firm, and has since built up one of the best industries of the city. His specialty is the manufacture of sewing machine, piano and organ locks and hinges.

Joshua J. Bragger started a brass foundry on Hoard street in 1859, and thus established a business which has continued to this time, and with which his name has ever since been connected. In 1866 Joseph J. Bragger became a partner in the firm, and under him the business is now operated.

The New York Air Brake company, which is probably the largest manufacturing industry in the city, dates back in its history to 1861,

367

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN

when Lovett Eames came to the village and put in pumping machinery for the water works. In the same year, in company with Moses Eames, he bought Beebee's island and located his shops in the old tenement building of the cotton factory of earlier years. In 1874 Fred W. Eames came to the city with the nucleus of his afterward celebrated air-brake appliance. Ile made several successful experiments, and the value and utility of his invention was so apparent that capital readily invested in it; and accordingly, on Feb. 11, 1826, the Eames Vacuum Air Brake company was incorporated (with a capital of $500,000) Fred W. Eames, F. W. Hubbard, John L. Baker, John F. Moffett, Smith T. Woolworth, George II. Seiple, E. L. Baker, F. W. Spicer, J. W. Moak and G. P. Garnham. The officers of the company were F. W. Eames, president ; F. W. Hubbard, vice-president; F. W. Spicer, treasurer, and Smith T. Woolworth, secretary. In 1828, the property, franchise, machinery and patents were sold and transferred to a New York company of busi- ness men. A long and serious litigation followed, and resulted in a decree in favor of president Eames, the plaintiff in the action, where- upon the old company again assumed management and elected Mr. Eames, president; E. D. Eames, vice-president; and HI. C. Townley, secretary and treasurer. However, on taking possession of the com- pany's works on April 20, 1883, President Eames was fatally shot, and the management thereupon developed on vice president E. D. Eames. In 1881 a controlling interest in the stock was sold to Boston capital- ists, who effected a reorganization of the company, and removed its offices to that city. About this time the large factory building on Mill street was erected. Again, on August 1, 1894, the concern, property and business passed into the hands of the New York Air Brake com- pany, a corporation organized under the laws of New Jersey, but having its principal offices in New York city. But, notwithstanding these sev- eral vicissitudes and incidents in its history, the company has proved a fortunate institution for the city, and has furnished regular work for nearly 500 employees. The present officers are Charles A. Starbuck, president; D. Magone, Ist vice-president ; George B. Massey, 2d vice- president ; John C. Thompson, secretary and treasurer; H. W. Boyer, assistant secretary. The company owns or controls all of Beebee's island except the old buildings on the east side of Mill street which were originally Lord's plow works and Hadcock's axe factory.

The Harmon Machine company is one of the more recent metal work- ing industries of the city, and was incorporated March 23, 1891 (capital

368

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

$30,000), by George S. Knowlton, Herbert E. Harmon, Rollin N. Calkins, Henry Le Febvre and Frank M. Bosworth, for the purpose of manufacturing, repairing and selling machinery, mouldings and cast- ings, and carrying on a general iron-working business. The works are on Factory street, east of Mill street, and employ about thirty men. The officers of the company are G. S. Knowlton, president; H. E. Har- mon, secretary; Frank M. Bosworth, treasurer; and Albert H. Le Febvre, general manager. The company is the outgrowth of a general machine business previously conducted by Harmon Brothers.1

The Davis Sewing Machine company was one of the substantial in- dustries of the city for a period of about seventeen years, but the history of the industry, as a local enterprise, dates back to about 1866, when one Davis came to the city and exhibited a working model of a primi- tive sewing machine. He had neither means nor capacity to establish or carry on a factory, but did succeed in interesting John Sheldon, by whom the device was taken to New Haven, Conn., and there submitted to Elias Howe for examination as to its practical ntility, and also as to whether its manufacture would infringe on existing patents. The re- sult of this visit was satisfactory, and on his return home Mr. Sheldon organized a company for the manufacture and sale of the machine. This was in 1868, and the capital proposed to be invested was $150,000, but later on was increased to $500,000. The company began operations in the old tenement on Beebee's island, but afterward removed to the site now occupied by the Watertown Spring Wagon company, and thence removed (18:5) to buildings erected for its use at the upper end of Sewall's island, now occupied by the Excelsior Carriage company. Here the operations of the company were continued for nearly fifteen years, and during that period it was looked upon as one of the most worthy and substantial industries of this part of the state. At length, however, the business began to decline, and in 1889, having received a tempting offer from Dayton, Ohio, the company removed to that city.

Carriage Manufacturing .- The H. H. Babcock company, which stands at the head of the carriage building industries of the state, was incorporated Oct. 11, 1882, yet in its history the business dates back to 1845, when its founder, H. H. Babcock, began the manufacture of wooden pumps and water pipes in a small way. He occupied a little

I This factory was established in 1576 under the ownership of Tyler, Harmon & Co., machine jobbers and plow manufacturers. In 1\40 the firm changed to A. L. Harmon & Co., and to Har- mon & Lee in 1\1. Mr. Lee withdrew in 1ss, and the firm of Harmon Bros. was then formed.

369

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

building which stood on a small portion of the site now owned by the company plant, and as his business increased he added windmills and machinery for flour mills to the list of manufactures. About 1879 Mr. Babeock began building wagons' and buggies, then taking as partners his sons, H. B. and G. H. Babcock, under the firm name of 1I. IL. Babeock & Sons. The partnership continued to 1882, when the H. 11. Babcock Buggy company was incorporated, with a capital of $100,000, the incorporators being Il. Il., 11. B., and F. W. Babcock and Roswell P. Flower. Then the first large factory buildings were erected, but as the business increased the property was extended along the water front until it included the old Gurdon Caswell paper mill privilege (est. 1819); the Nathaniel Wiley machine shop and water privilege (est. 1822); the old village water pumping privilege; the Jason Fairbanks tannery privilege, and the Kimball distillery privilege, all of which were originally included within the old cotton mill tract with its extensive water front. On the same tract, too, in early days stood James Smith's and also James Wood's machine shops, neither of which have been previously mentioned in this chapter. Where now stands the office there once stood Baker Massey's tavern

'The business of the company increased rapidly, necessitating frequent enlargements of the plant until it now includes five large construction or shop buildings, and seven others for storage purposes. When run- ning under normal conditions the company employs about 175 hands. The officers are H. H. Babcock, president; R. P. Flower, vice presi - dent; G. H. Babcock, treasurer, and F. W. Babcock, secretary. The directors comprise the officers and Anson R. Flower.

The Watertown Spring Wagon company " was incorporated Dec. 11, 1815, with a capital of $100,000 (afterward increased to $150,000) by Norris Winslow, Lewis E. Tallman, R. C. Morse, Bradley Winslow, Jerome Bushnell, Edward M. Gates, Cyrus A. Clark, John C. Streeter and William G. Williams. The company began business (and still oc- cupies as a part of its extensive plant) in the Winslow Industrial build- ing on Factory square, which was erected in 1820 by Norris Winslow,

1 Colwell's carriage works, which stood on the site now ocenpied by the Harmon Machine Co., was an early industry in the village.

? The company first organized and began business earlier than is indicated in the articles of incorporation. The first articles were filed Nov. 16, 1525, and the capital was therein men- tioned as $25,000, but very soon after business was begun an unfortunate fire burned the black- smith shop, cansing a loss of about $8,000, with no insurance . whatever. The main building had cost $10,000, and all the capital being thus invested, a reincorporation was effected, with $100,000 capital.

370

OUR COUNTY AND FFS PEOPLE.

and was for a time occupied by the Davis Sewing Machine company. It was then regarded as one of the largest structures of its kind in this part of the state, and was of brick, four stories high, and 55 x 283 feet on the ground. The company has been in continuous existence and operation to the present time, and is regarded as the pioneer of the carriage and wagon industry in the city.

The present company officers are Levi H. Brown, president; Richard Marcy, vice president; Edward M. Gates, treasurer; William J. Mills, secretary ; L. IF. Brown, Richard Marcy, Allen C. Beach, Wm. W. Taggart, I. P. Powers, E. N. Smith, Edward M. Gates, Albert Bushnell, A. H. Sawyer, O. W. Wilmot, Chas. M. Otis, E. A. Norton and Geo. C. Sherman, directors.

The Union Carriage and Gear company was originally incorporated as the Maud S. Gear company, January 3, 1885, with $10,000 capital, but on February 15, 1888, was reorganized under the name first men- tioned, and with a capital of $50,000. The incorporators were Gilderoy Lord, W. O. Ball, H. E. Taylor, W. W. Conde, Chas. A. Fox, Albert Fish, O. E. Hungerford, C. W. Ryder, S. A. Willard, J. B. Wise and Chas. E. Brown. Business was begun in the Farwell tannery building on the north side of Newell street, and in 1889 the large factory and repository building on the south side of the street was erected. From that time the operations of the company have been successful, and the concern is regarded as one of the most substantial local industries. The officers are W. W. Conde, prest. : Albert Fish, vice-prest. ; C. E. Brown, secretary and treasurer, and J. C. O'Brien, supt. of works.

The Excelsior Carriage company was incorporated November 2, 1889, as the Watertown Carriage company, with $50,000 capital, by A. D. Remington, G. A. Bagley, Edmund S. Goodale, George B. Massey, Walter H. Camp. Watson M. Rogers and John M. Carpenter. On February 2, 1890, the name was changed to Excelsior Carriage com- pany. After the preliminaries were settled the company began busi- ness in the works recently vacated by the Davis Sewing Machine Co., located above the bridge on Sewall's island, where it has since continued in successful operation, and is now counted as one of the substantial and growing enterprises of the city. The works employ 100 men. The main building is one of the largest factory structures in Water- town, being 450 x 36 feet on the ground. The present officers of the company are George B. Massey, president; Edmund S. Goodale, vice- president ; and John M. Carpenter, secretary and treasurer.

General Manufactures .- The Nill & Jess company was incorporated

371

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

May 1, 1897, although the firm which preceded it dates its origin to the year 1863, when John Nill and Henry Jess formed a partnership and established a bakery in the village. From that time the firm has been a prominent figure in the local industrial eireles, and has built up one of the most successful wholesale bakery enterprises of its class in this part of the state. The large four-story brick building was erected in 1885, while at No. 35 Fairbanks street the company has an exten- sive cigar factory. The company employs a total of about fifty men. The officers are John Nill, president, and Henry Hess, secretary and treasurer.

The Hitchcock Lamp company was originally incorporated Oct. 10, 1822 (capital $100,000), for the purpose of manufacturing and selling the patented Hitchcock lamp. The works were built on Factory street, east of Mill street, and have since been continued on the same site. The company was reincorporated January 17, 1895, by Roswell P. and Sarah M. Flower, Emma Keep-Schley, John B. and Emma Flower Taylor. The officers are R. P. Flower, president, and John B. Taylor, secretary and manager.

The Watertown Thermometer company was incorporated May 5, 1886, with $30,000 capital, by Julia A. Pool. B. B. Taggart, John Pronty, S. B. Upham, Samuel Felt, jr., W. W. Conde, Gilderoy Lord, I. P. Pow- ers, W. W. Taggart, O. W. Wilmot and Hannibal Smith. This industry came to the city from Oswego, and after the company was organized business was begun in a large brick building on Newell street, on the site where originally stood a carding mill, followed by Reuben S. Curtis' woolen mill and still later by the old Eagle flour and grist mill. After a short time the stock of the Thermometer company was sold to Taylor Brothers, who now carry on the business.

The Watertown Brass and Manufacturing company was incorpo- rated April 11, 1893, with $15,000 capital, by W. W. Conde, James B. Wise, Charles H. Remington, Hiram F. Inglehart, R. H. Huntington, Samuel F. Bagg, George A. Bagley, Burton C. Wilmot, A. L. Upham, C. R. Remington and George S. Hooker, for the manufacture and sale of boat and plumber's hardware, and copper and brass goods. The factory building was erected on Newell street, and for a few years a successful business was carried on. On January 1, 1898, the concern went into the hands of a receiver.

The Watertown Canning company which has become a factor in local industrial eireles, was incorporated May 16, 1893, with a capital of

372

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

$15,000. O. W. Wilmot, president, and L. D. Olney, secretary and treasurer, have been the controlling spirits of the concern. The com- pany, as is indicated by its name, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of canned goods.

The Watertown Manufacturing company was incorporated March 23, 1893, for the manufacture and sale of underwear garments. The capital was $15,000. The factory was on the south side of the river, opposite the head of Sewall's island. The business prospered for a short time, but later on became unprofitable, whereupon the works were closed.

The Watertown Brewing company was established in 1893, by W. F. Barney, J. P. Welsh and M. J. Griffin, and in the same year was erected the large brewery in the west part of the city, north of the river. In January, 1896, Mr. Griffin retired from the firm. This brief mention of brewery interests suggests the remark that Andrew Newell was the first brewer in Watertown, but at what time he began business is now unknown. He was followed by Peter Hass, who conducted the business for many years. Peter Seibert began brewing in 1867 and continued until about eighteen or twenty years ago. Pearson Mundy's malt house was built in 1845, and is located on Court street, near the bridge. The business was afterward carried on by Waite Bros.

Among the manufacturing interests of the past which have not been previously mentioned, may be recalled the old yarn and wieking mill started by Patrick O'Dougherty about 1840 at Juhelville, on the site of the Remington Paper company's building. This industry was some- times called the woolen mill. The property passed to the paper com - pany in 18:4. In the same locality were two old saw mills, one of which was owned by one Cummings, and the other by O'Dougherty. On the southwest corner of Mill and Moulton streets in the early 'fifties Lorenzo Case had a sash, blind and tool making shop. He became involved in litigation with Timothy Smith, and finally the property was sold at forced sale to Fred Emerson. About 1845 the Remington Paper company operated a cotton yarn mill on the south side of the river, opposite the upper dam. It was continued several years.

The Sloat and Greenleaf Lumber company was incorporated Jan. 30, 1893, with $30,000 capital, by Chas. W. Sloat, Louis C. Greenleaf, Fred B. Porter, Wilbur F. Woodworth and J. Alonzo Dulmage. The company is extensive manufacturers of sash, doors, blinds and other

3:3

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

commodities, and operated a large factory north of the river. The business, however, was established in 18 ?? by the firm of Sloat & Greenleaf, who then did only a local trade. The present officers are Chas. W. Sloat, president, and Fred C. Porter, secretary and treasurer.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 39

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368