The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 53

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 53

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THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SAVINGS BANK

Was incorporated April 5, 1859, with twenty- two trustees named in the act, thirteen of whom met some time before the 1st of July following and elected permanent officers, as follows: James I. Steele, President; Fred. Emerson, Vice-President; John L. Marsh, Secretary and Treasurer; Lafayette J. Bige- low, Peter Haas, and Merritt Andrus, Loan Committee. The trustees adopted a code of by-laws, and limited deposits to a minimum of twenty-five cents, none less than one dollar to draw interest, the latter being established at five per cent.' In 1861 there was a general reorganization, and a new board of trustees was elected, who elected new officers, except vice-president. The deposits at the date of the last published report on Jan. 1, 1894, amounted to $1,913,971.72, and the loans and discounts to $2,107,705.72. This is a very strong bank.

OFFICERS: T. H. Camp, President; D. W. Baldwin, 1st Vice-President; George W. Wiggins, 2d Vice-President; George H. Sherman, Secretary; George Smith, Trea- surer; A. T. E. Lansing, Assistant Treasurer.

TRUSTEES: T. H. Camp, George W. Wig- gins, Addison M. Farwell, D. G. Griffin, Ross C. Scott, D. W. Baldwin, N. P. Wardwell, A. L. Upham, R. H. Huntington, J. R.

Miller, Henry M. Stevens, J. A. Lawyer, Alden F. Barker, George H Sherman, C. W. Clare.

THE CITY NATIONAL BANK,

Organized in May, 1890, capital $100.000, with the following Directors: G. Lord, John E. Kemp, John Prouty, R. E. Hungerford, P. B. Grant, P. V. Poor, Robert Lansing, B. Brockway, and R. E. Smiley. G. Lord, President; John E. Kemp, Vice-President. May 2, 1891, the President, G. Lord, died, and J. E. Kemp was made President, John Prouty, Vice-President, George H. Walker, Director. Oct. 6, 1892, John Prouty died, and R. E. Smiley was made Vice-President. C. M. Rexford and B. Brockway having died, F. D. Roth and N. R. Caswell were made Directors. Officers at present (1894) are: John E. Kemp, President; R. E. Smiley, Vice- President; J. O. Hathway, Cashier; G. B. Kemp, Assistant Cashier. Directors: John E. Kemp, George H. Walker, R. E. Smiley, F. D. Roth, Robert Lansing, P. B. Grant, C. M. Rexford, N. R. Caswell. P. V. Poor. Capital, $100,000; surplus profits, $16 000.

THE NATIONAL UNION BANK

Of Watertowu was organized as a State bank under the name of the Union Bank, June, 1852, with the following incorporators and stockholders: Henry Keep, George S. Goodale, N. M. Woodruff, Walter N. Woodruff, Abner Baker, who subscribed $2,000 and upwards to the capital stock of $100,000; Washington Genet, Orrin C. Utley, Loveland Paddock, Daniel Lee, J. H. Dutton, E. Q. Sewell, who subscribed $1,000 each; W. K. Hawks, John White, and John C. Sterling. The first election was held August 3, 1852, at which a board of thirteen directors were chosen, who, at their first meeting, elected Henry Keep president, W. K. Hawks vice-president, and George S. Goodale cashier. On August 16, 1853, W. K. Hawks was elected president, and was succeeded by Abner Baker, August 7, 1855, John White being elected vice-presi- dent at the same time. August 4, 1856, S. B. Upham was chosen cashier, and served in that position until his death. August 8, 1865, the State bank was reorganized under the national banking law, with its present name. W. W. Taggart is now (1894) presi- dent, and A. L. Upham, cashier.

SOME LEADING INDUSTRIES.

THE WATERTOWN STEAM ENGINE COM- PANY .- This business is now upon an enduring basis, with enough capital and a long list of customers. It was originally located on the corner of Mill and Moulton streets, and con- ducted by Messrs. Hoard & Bradford. There has been for several years an attempt to give to Mr. Bradford (an excellent man, and a fair mechanic), too much credit for the beginning and extraordinary growth of this portable engine business. But the author, who was

intimately acquainted with all the facts, and knew the men, deems it due to the truth of history to accord to Hon. Charles B. Hoard at least seven-eighths of all the credit due to any one connected with that early and im- portant business enterprise.

The present Company is the outgrowth of a business established by Hoard & Bradford in 1849, and continued by them until they were succeeded by Hoard & Sons. The firm was fortunate at the beginning in having sold one

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

of their smallest engines to John A. Haddock, then editor and proprietor of the Democratic Union. Into this office one day came Horace Greeley, the great Tribune editor, and he looked at the little engine with astonishment at the way it was handling the first cylinder printing press ever introduced into Northern New York. Haddock was feeding his press as well as acting as " chief engineer." In the New York Tribune of July 13, 1850, appeared the following extract from Greeley's corres- pondence. He had come to Watertown to deliver a temperance lecture:

The best thing I saw in Watertown was the turnout of two thousand people on a wild, stormy night to hear a dry talk on temperance. The next best was a new portable steam engine, invented and manufac- tured there by Measrs Hoard & Bradford. The two- horse engine I examined was running a Napier power-press briskly, while burning as much fuel as a common kitchen range. Certainly, a ton of pea coal would suffice to run it a fortnight, day and night. The time must be at hand when every thrifty farmer and nearly every mechanic, will have such an engine of his own, and chopping straw, turning grindstone, cutting wood, churning, threshing, etc., will have ceased to he a manual and become a mechanical operation.

Printing (press-work) by hand must rapidly disap- pear before the approach of this engine, which will be running on wheels and driving a scythe before it, or drawing a plow behind it, within five years. We have hardly begun to use steam yet.

From that time the business rapidly grew, but later on, Mr. Bradford, who was a timid man, and not by any means the inventor or the main force in the origin of this steam engine business, became alarmed at their great success, and sold out his interest for $25,000. [See more in relation to the matter in Mr. Hoard's biography, page 44.] Mr. Hoard's failure to make money out of the gun contract, led to the transfer of the busi- ness to other hands, and, as we have said, the present company was organized.

Their output of late years has been three engines per day, averaging 25 horse power each. If crowded to their utmost they could turn out about 1,000 engines a year of an average of 40 or 50 H. P., a total of 50,000 H. P. per year.

Capital employed, including surplus and borrowed, is about $600,000. Value of present plant about $200,000.

The officers are: J. C. Knowlton, Presi- dent; G. C. Sherman, Vice-President; S. F. Bagg, Secretary and Treasurer; C. D. Palmi- ter, Superintendent.

Finding their former quarters somewhat cramped they moved in 1889 to their present location, where they have about twenty acres of land, and where they have equipped new shops built wholly on one floor, with modern cranes for handling heavy machinery and abundant switches for facility in receiving and shipping. They have put in new and modern tools and there are few plants in the United States capable of turning out work as cheaply.

THE EAMES VACUUM BRAKE COMPANY, AND THE NEW YORK AIR BRAKE COMPANY .- Among the mechanical industries of Water- town that have risen to position of importance and materially contributed to establishing this

city as a manufacturing centre, none have been more successful than the enterprise of these two companies.

The Eames vacuum brake was invented by F. W. Eames in 1875. A company was in- corporated in 1877 with a capital of $500,000. and work was commenced in one of the old stone buildings on Beebee's Island. The company did business with more-or-less suc- cess until 1883, when eastern capital became interested, and the business was extended. A year or two later it became necessary to build a compressed air brake in addition to the vacuum system, to successfully compete with other and old concerns manufacturing the air brake, which had been adopted as a standard on the trunk lines of the country, the vacuum brake not being interchangeable. For this purpose, Mr. A. P. Massey, mechanical engineer for the company, succeeded in in- venting a system of air brakes interchangeable with the Westinghouse system. This gave new life to the business, and a company was formed within the Eames company, with a capital of $5,000,000, styled " The New York Air Brake Co." Large shops were erected, covering the entire western portion of Beebee's Island, ahout two acres. These two com- panies combined give employment to five or six hundred hands. The pay roll has reached $6,000 per week, and it will undoubtedly go higher in the near future.

THE BAGLEY & SEWALL COMPANY .- The business of this important firm was originated by George Goulding in 1838. In 1853 the firm of Goulding, Bagley & Sewall was formed, continuing the business until 1861, when it was succeeded by the firm of Bagley & Sewall, which carried on the business until 1882, when the present stock company was formed, under the name of The Bagley & Sewall Company.

The business is that of a general foundry and machine shop, the specialties being the manufacture of paper and pulp-making machinery, and machinists' bench vices. The Bagley & Sewall Company hegan the manu- facture of Fourdrinier paper machines in 1890, and met with an immediate and pro- nounced success, standing easily in the front rank of manufacturers of such machinery. Their machines have been placed throughout the paper-making districts of the United States and Canada, from Maine to the Pacific Coast, and have, without exception, earned for themselves a most enviable reputation for unequalled capacity of production and economy in maintenance.

This enterprise is one of the class which is especially beneficial to the community where located, as the employés are largely skilled craftsmen, earning the highest rate of wages.

The capital invested exceeds $250,000. The output is about $300,000 per year. In ordinary times they employ from 175 to 200 men-mostly skilled mechanies.

POSTAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY began business in 1890. They are specialists in wiring for bells, electric light, but are pre- pared to do all kinds of work in their line.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

HH. BAB COCK

COMPANY.

MACHINE SHOP

WOOD SHOP

SAW MILL

H.H.BABCOCK

COMPANY.

OFFICE

WORKS OF THE H. H. BABCOCK COMPANY, WATERTOWN, N. Y.

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

THE H. H. BABOOCK COMPANY .- Organized under the laws of the State of New York in 1882, with a capital of $100,000; since in- creased to $300,000. Present officers: H. H. Babcock, President; R. P. Flower, Vice- President; G. H. Babcock, Treasurer; F. W. Babcock, Secretary. Annual output between 4,000 and 5,000 carriages. Annual business nearly half a million dollars.

The foundation of the business was laid by Henry H. Babcock in 1845, who commenced at that time making wooden pumps, which business grew to quite large proportions until about the year 1871, when iron pumps were put on the market at a very low price, and displaced to a certain extent the wooden pump. Mr. Babcock, seeing the price of iron growing steadily less, and the price of pine steadily advancing, was compelled to gradually work out of the pump business and turn his plant and machinery to other uses. About 1874, himself and sons added to their business the manufacture of flouring mill machines, which was carried on until the year 1880, when they commenced the manu- facture of carriages and carriage parts. In 1882 the business was merged into a stock company composed of H. H. Babcock, G. H. Babcock, J. W. Babcock, F. E. Babcock, Roswell P. Flower and Anson R. Flower, since which time they have erected buildings with floor-space amounting to over ten acres. The business employs nearly 350 hands. Mr. H. H. Babcock was the originator of this now important carriage industry in Watertown, where he has been for many years a respected and honored citizen. He has reared here an interesting and capable family, his sons are now his able lieutenants, and they are ex- celled by no other firm in Northern New York for enterprise and public spirit. Their works are on a permanent and enduring basis, spread over much ground, conveniently arranged in every detail. The completeness of economy in managing such an establish- ment will be apparent when we consider that $75 now buys as complete and durable a wagon as $150 was paid for in 1865. The advantages of concentrated effort have never been more strikingly demonstrated than in this business of carriage building, in which Mr. H. H. Babcock has always been in the lead. Their New York works are at 406, 408, 410 and 412 Broome street.

THE HARMON MACHINE COMPANY-Began business in 1891. Organized to do a general machine shop business, including foundry and heavy forging. Manufacture hydraulic pulp- grinding machinery, and repair all machinery used by the manufacturers on Black River.

Capital invested about $90,000; raw ma- terial used, about $50,000 per year ; value of output, about $100,000 per year ; hands em- ployed, 30 to 50 skilled mechanics in all the different branches. The number varying as the demand for repairs rises or decreases during the year.

Officers for 1894 are G. S. Knowlton, Presi- dent; H. E. Harmon, Secretary; A, H, Le- Fever, Manager.

HUNGERFORD & COATES-Book and job printers. Business began in 1881 by O. E. Hungerford. Succeeding J. S. Robinson in the job printing and book-binding business, the office was later removed to Anthony street and enlarged. September 15, 1892, this business was combined with the Times and Reformer establishment, by the purchase of their job department and removal to their building on Arcade street. At this time the firm was changed to Hungerford & Coates, who have the most complete office in North- ern New York. They are also connected with the lithograph house of Henry Seibert & Bro. Company, of New York. This firm brought out this History.

THE DAVIS SEWING MACHINE .- This in- dustry, we regret to say, several years ago was removed from Watertown to Dayton, Ohio. It was a vigorous concern, and the machines made were popular until an unwise policy permitted poor work to go out, and under the depression induced by that policy. the concern ran deeply into debt. Better facilities being offered at Dayton, Watertown lost one of its leading industries. The impor- tance of the enterprise, even though not in Watertown now, demands some recognition in these pages.

The inventor of this machine, named Davis, came to Watertown in 1866, and ex- hibited his model. After careful examina- tion, Mr. John Sheldon was induced to organ- ize a company that would make the needed investment to secure a plant for its manufac- ture. It so happened that the Hon. Joseph Sheldon, brother of John, was an intimate friend, at New Haven, Conn., of that Elias Howe, who invented the first machine, and was then largely interested in the manufac- ture of sewing machines. He examined, at Mr. Joseph Sheldon's request. the Davis machine, before any investment had been made for its manufacture at Watertown, and pronounced the device novel and valuable. This was the opinion upon which Mr. John Sheldon and the company organized by him, based their willingness to put money into manufacturing the Davis machine. A build- ing was secured on Beebee's Island, and the work began with a force of about 25 men. The machine sold rapidly, and the demand soon necessitated the building of a large fac- tory on Sewall's Island, now utilized by the Excelsior Spring Wagon Company. This venture demanding more capital, the stock was increased to $150,000, and new men taken into the organization. Mr. L. Johnson was induced to give up his partnership in the Great Wardrobe clothing store, and accept the office of secretary and treasurer, and he holds that office to-day, having piloted the company through all its embarassments

An expensive law suit had to be carried through, in addition to the bad reputation that came as the result of the poor work named above, and debts began to pile up. To make a long story short, and as a result of many of the directors having become person- ally responsible for some of these debts, the

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

company defaulted upon its interest, and then another organization was effected, resulting in removing the plant to Dayton, Ohio, where many advantages were offered, and finally ac- cepted. Mr. Johnson has been the main de- pendence of the company in its monetary affairs, and has proved himself an able finan- cier. Taking a corporation handicapped with a debt of over a half a million dollars, he has liquidated every cent of its indebtedness without a compromise, and has paid the enormous sum of $700,000 in interest alone. This manifests not only the ability of Mr. Johnson, but also the intrinsic merit of the Davis machine, and verifies Mr. Howe's assertion that the vertical feed was not only novel hut valuable, and shows John Sheldon's judgment in taking hold of the enterprise, which should have been retained at Water- town. But the failure to pay dividends dis- couraged the stockholders, and the original organization was dissolved.

CRESCENT MILLS, FARWELL & RHINES, 47 FAIRBANKS STREET .- There is not among all the great staple products entering into general consumption, any one that comes within measurable distance of wheat flour, in point of interest and importance, and it is in the nature of things, therefore, that the produc- tion and sale of this article should constitute one of the principal branches of commercial activity in every large centre of trade and commerce. The leader in this line of enter- prise in this section of the State. is the Crescent Mills, operated by the firm of Farwell & Rhines, merchant millers and manufacturers of full roller process flour. These mills were built in 1870, and changed from stone to full and complete roller mills in 1882, and consist of an immense structure four stories in height, (with extensive warehouses and branch railroad tracks connected there- with), supplied with ten pair of rollers on wheat and three on feed and meal, beside rolls and intricate machinery used in the manufac- ture of specialties, and a storage capacity of several thousand bushels of grain. The capacity is 100 barrels of flour per day. The leading brands are " Superlative," " Atlantic," "Farwell's Best," "Pansy," and "North Star," all of which are general favorites in the market.

The gentlemen composing this firm are Frederick R. Farwell, who entered the mill- ing business in this city, in 1856. He is a son of Deacon Eli Farwell, one of the most honorable and prominent business men of Watertowu for half acentury. Frederick R. Farwell was born in the house where he now resides, August 30, 1834. That house was huilt in 1828, and looks to-day almost like a new building.

Foster P. Rlines, junior member of this firm, commenced milling in Jefferson county in 1856 in a custom mill at Lafargeville, and commenced flour milling in 1861 for Eli Far- well & Co., of this city. In 1878 the present firm was formed. Mr. Rhines was born in Lafargeville, Dec. 12, 1842. Business began in April, 1878. Raw material used, about

175,000 bushels cereals. Value of sales, $170,000 per year.

H. H. HERRICK & SON-Began business in 1844 as merchant millers and dealers in flour, feed, grain, hay, straw, salt and fertilizers. In addition to the goods and product actually handled by their employés, they take orders and make sales for direct shipment from the west of full car loads which are not handled here. Capital invested, $100,000. Value of output, $125,000 to $175,000 per annum. Hands employed, 14.

EXCELSIOR CARRIAGE COMPANY-Makers of carriages, buggies, surries, road wagons, spring wagons, etc. This company was in- corporated in 1889, under the laws of the State of New York, with a capital of $50,000, and with the following officers and trustees: President, George B. Massey; Vice-President, Edmund S. Goodale; Secretary and Treasu- rer, Jno. M. Carpenter; Trustees, George B. Massey, J. R. Stebbins, Watson M. Rogers, Jno. M. Carpenter, A. D. Remington, Ed- mund S. Goodale and Walter H. Camp. On the formation of the company they purchased the buildings of the Davis Sewing Machine Company, on Sewall's Island, and splendidly equipped them with the latest and most im- proved machinery. They have a good water- power and give employment to 100 men. The growing business of the company has com- pelled them to erect additional buildings, and they are now contemplating putting up another large one, for storage purposes only. A visit to this factory and an inspection of the results attained will satisfy the most critical that the productions of this house are superior, and justly merit the encomiums be- stowed upon them. The output comprises almost everything in the vehicle line, from a light buggy to a heavy carriage, all made in the most durable manner, and of the best materials. To make the fine grade of work required by a high-class trade, there must enter into the product the best material, care- fulness in workmanship, advanced taste and judgment in style and finish. This company has justly earned a reputation on these most essential points. Their facilities are now better than ever before for executing orders for new work or supplying the trade, and they are turning out the finest class of vehicles, which they sell at prices consistent with good material and reliable workmanship. The trade of the house is especially large and influential in New York, New Jersey and New England. Their New England reposi- tory is located at North Hartland, Vt. Dur- ing the trying years that have ensued for all manufacturing concerns since the organiza- tion of the Excelsior, they have been steadily successful, and their commercial credit is of a high order.

STREETER & BRIMMER .- This firm began business in 1823 as N. W. Streeter. In 1853, J. C. Streeter became partner, the firm being N. W. Streeter & Son. They continued busi- ness in the Streeter block until 1866, when the firm removed to No. 16 Woodruff House. In 1867 Mr. Streeter, senior, sold his interest

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

to D. A. Smith, and firm name was changed to Smith & Streeter. On account of the death of Mr. Smith, a few years later, the firm changed to Streeter & Hanford, and then to Streeter & Dewey, or Streeter & Co. Mr. Streeter bought the interest of Dewey and took in as partner his son, Fred W., who, with Mr. Brimmer, now compose the present firm, doing altogether the largest business in their line in the city.

It is a historical fact that the name of Streeter is the only one to be found in Water- town that has been continued in the same line of business from the beginning of the town's settlement. It is now full 70 years since the name Streeter could be read upon a sign- board in Watertown, and it can be read to-day.

Capital invested, $25,000. Value of output, $80,000. Hands employed, 40.

H. J. SNOOK & Co., the clothing dealers on the north side of the Public Square, are the successors in that old and reliable house, known since 1857 (nearly forty years) as the GREAT WARDROBE, the concern that never defaulted for an hour in payment of any claim, perpetuating in its fidelity and square dealing the reputation imparted to it by Mr. Wiggins and his several partners. The repu- tation of this old-time house has always been a guaranty of honest dealing in honest cloth- ing, and it maintains it to this day, under its new management. The writer is well aware that it's a poor concern that lives upon its reputation alone-but, like the Bank of England, this house keeps right on as it began. The firm is composed of Henry J. Snook and Ferdinand P. King, who were formerly em- ployees of Messrs. Wiggins & Goodale. Mr. Snook was in their employ eight years, and Mr. King four years. January 1st, 1890, they left the Great Wardrobe and organized the firm of Snook & King, in the Flower block, which continued until January 15, 1893, when having the opportunity to purchase the stock and good will of Mr. E. S Goodale, they did so. The purchase of the Wardrobe gave this firm a greater outlet for goods. Conse- quently it gives them a much greater oppor- tunity to purchase their stock at low prices, which enables them to merit the liberal patronage they are receiving, not only from the city hut from the surrounding towns.

F. P. KING & Co. are the enterprising clothing and men's furnishing dealers, known as the Arsenal street clothiers. Their place of business is in the new Flower building, corner Arsenal and Arcade streets. They occupy one of the best equipped stores in Northern New York. It is very modern in all of its arrangements. It was fitted up expressly for their use when the block was built. The present firm is a continuation of the old firm of Snook & King, who began business at this stand March 22, 1890. From their opening day to the present time they have done a very successful business. The firm, Snook & King, continued until Febru- ary, 1894, when the firm hecame known as F. P. King & Co., and is composed of two practical, hard-working young men, viz.,

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 53

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098