History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 135

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 135

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"Jno. C. Cresson. Thos. Stewardson, M.D.

William Hamilton.

J. B. Lippincott. Geo. W. Childs.

W. H. Harrison.

Henry Seybert.

Juhn Grigg.

J. Cheston Morris, M.D.

S. S. Haldeman.

Isaac Lea.

John E. Frazer.

Fairman Rogers.

James C. Fisher, M. D.

George Harding. M. McMichael."

It is needless to say that Professor Henry received Professor Lowe with extreme warmth and congeniality, from which sprung a lasting friendship, and gave him the freedom of the institution. Upon the recommend- ation of Professor Henry, preparatory to a trans- atlantic voyage, Professor Lowe made a trip across the continent in a smaller aerostat, starting from Cin- cinnati, Ohio, at four o'clock in the morning of April 20, 1861, after taking leave of his friends, among whom were Messrs. Potter and Murat Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial, and landed on the South Car- olina coast at twelve o'clock the same day, making the quickest and longest voyage on record, delivering papers at about a thousand miles distant, still damp from the press, in eight hours after they were printed. This voyage was fraught with great interest, both scientific and otherwise, long accounts of it being published at the time. Landing in this way in South Carolina two weeks after the firing on Fort Sumter caused considerable excitement in the rebel armies, and Professor Lowe was arrested and thrown in prison, but on producing proof relative to the scientific objects of the voyage, he was released, and after five days and nights of railroading found his way back to Cincin- nati, the point from which he had so recently traveled in eight hours.

Secretary Chase, then a member of President Lin- coln's Cabinet, telegraphed, at the request of the Presi- dent, to Professor Lowe to come to Washington and consult him as to the use of balloons for war purposes, whither he went, and was received by the President with marked attention, spending several nights at the Presidential mansion .. These interviews resulted in obtaining authority for the organization of the corps of observation or aeronautic corps, with Professor Lowe at its head as chief aeronaut of the United States army, which position he held for three years, at the end of which time his health became so much impaired that he turned his department over to one of his assistants, and retired on a farm in Chester County with the hope of regaining his health. The services rendered the government during his stay in

the army were of immense value, as testified to by the commander-in-chief and numerous corps commanders, who had received valuable information to better gov- ern their movements. During this time he made personally over three thousand cable ascensions, and was the first and only person to establish telegraphic communication from a balloon to various portions of the army and to Washington at the same time. Con- spicuous among these occasions were those at the battle of Fair Oaks. These balloons, with assistant aeronauts, were sent to different armies, including the forces on the Southern coast and in the West. To make these war halloons efficient on land and water, it became necessary to make many new inventions, conspicuous among which were Professor Lowe's hy- drogen gas generators, for field and ship service. At any time within three hours after halting beside a pool of water he could extract sufficient hydrogen therefrom to inflate one of these balloons, whereby himself and often several officers would mount a thou- sand or two feet into the air to overlook the country. His renown spread over Europe and South America, and his field system of aeronautics was introduced into the British, French and Brazilian armies. The Emperor of Brazil, through his ministers, made numer- ous overtures and offered large inducements to Profes- sor Lowe to take a major-general's position in the Brazilian army during the Paraguayan war, to con- duct the same line of service as that rendered to the United States government, but owing to other en- gagements he was compelled to decline. He, how- ever, furnished the necesary field apparatus and bal- loons, with competent assistants, who rendered valua- ble aid, and greatly shortened the duration of that war, especially by observation on the river Paraguay, at Asuncion.

In 1861, Professor Lowe invented and brought out the ice-machine for refrigeration and the manufacture of artificial ice, which is now in general use in all parts of the world.

In 1872 he invented and brought out his famous water- gas process for illumination and heating purposes, which is already lighting between one hundred and two hundred cities, and is predicted to ere long entirely supersede all other methods of light, heat and power.

This hasty sketch may be properly closed by quot- ing from a previous publication the following : " He has little more than reached middle life, and it is war- rantable to suppose that his speculative and fertile mind will grasp and produce other valuable inven- tions. He has already made a number of ingenious cooking and heating contrivances for using his heat- ing gas, the right of which he holds for the protection of his business.

Professor Lowe is eminently a domestic man, having a large family of children, whose names are as follows : Louise F., Ida Alpha, Leon Percival, Ava Eugénie, Augustine, Blanche, Thaddeus, Edna, Zoe and So- bieski. The three eldest were born in New York.

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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

NORRISTOWN BINDER-WORKS .- This establishment was originally named the Norristown Agricultural Works, built in 1877 by a number of Norristown gentlemen for the purpose of giving employment to the working class of the borough. Two hundred and sixty bonds were issued, at one hundred dollars each, and Moses G. Hubbard took the works for the pur- pose of manufacturing agricultural implements. The enterprise failed, and the sheriff sold the property to Stephen P. Stinson, who purchased it for the bond- hollers at their original ontlay, twenty-six thousand dollars, and it still remains the property of the com- pany. In 1878 it was changed to the name at the head of this sketch, and is now operated by William M. Singerly, of the Philadelphia Record, and his brother, George Singerly, in the manufacture of grain- binders. The works front on Astor Street seven hun- dred and seven teet, four hundred on Oak Street and eight hundred feet on Stony Creek. The buildings are two stories in height, and are valned at thirty thou- sand dollars.

SLEMMER'S OIL-WORKS .- The Montgomery Oil- Works were originally established in 1860 by Jacob C., William, Dr. Ilenry T. and Charles Stemmer, sons of Hon. Adam Slemmer, at the corner of Main and Ford Streets. William Slemmer is now the sole rep- resentative of the firm. The reputation of the firm for lubrieating and illuminating oils is known all over the States, owing to the great experience and conscientious care of the firm in refining their oils and preventing all danger from explosion. When in full operation the capacity of the works was about ten thousand barrels. A terrible misfortune overtook Mr. Slemmer in 1884, in the almost total destruction of the entire works, but with the well-known in- domitable energy of the family, he at once rebuilt the works, and is now in a fair way of recovering his former business status and prosperity.

NORRIS COACH-FACTORY .- The factory was built and the business established on the corner of Marshall and Church Streets in 1850 by C. & B. Custer. It is sixty feet by sixty, three stories high, with French roof, but this is a modern building. Abraham Swenk bought it in the real estate of C. Custer, deceased, in 1876, and operated the factory until January 19, 1883, when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Swenk rebuilt and remodeled the works, fitting them up with all modern conveniences and appliances. Twelve hands are employed. The manager, Wm. H. Kuder, Esq., has been superintendent of the works for twenty-five years.

PENN COACH-WORKS .- This establishment was built in 1852 by Harrison Dickinson, who sold it to F. Ruch. That gentleman run it as a carriage-factory himself for fourteen years, when the firm changed to A. Ruch & Brother. Thebuilding is four stories in height, dimensions thirty-five by forty feet, and is located on Penn Street, below Green. There are fourteen hands employed in the manufacture and

repair of carriages, and the firm is doing a good busi- ness.

MI. M. GODSHALK, CARRIAGE-BUILDER .- The wheelwright and carriage-building works of M. M. Godshalk are located in the rear of 212 Main Street, where they were established by Hallman & Scheetz in 1851. His building was very seriously injured by fire on November 5, 1880, and all his tools were de- stroyed. With commendable energy he soon refitted his shops, and has since conducted them successfully. Mr. Godshalk became proprietor of the premises in 1872, and his specialties are carriages and heavy wagons, for which he has gained a good reputation.

KUDER & JACKSON, CARRIAGE-MAKERS .- These gentlemen have occupied the large building at the corner of Lafayette and Green Streets as a carriage- factory since May, 1883, and work entirely for the home trade. This well-known place was the property of the late Isaac Miller, who, for nearly half a century, conducted the business of wheelwright, carpenter and carriage-builder.

BOLTON'S SONS' SAW AND PLANING-MILL, ETC .- The origin of this firm dates back to 1840, when Bolton & Christman, builders, were the pioneers of the sash and door manufacture in this section and outside the city of Philadelphia. Their works were at this period on the corner of Church and Marshall Streets. In 1848 a planing-mill was established, and in 1851 the firm was Bolton, Christman & Co. In 1854 they moved to Stony Creek, and conducted the business until 1871, when the firm became Bolton & Stinson. It thus remained until 1881, when it took its present title of Bolton's Sons. These gentlemen are George D. Bolton and Frank H. Bolton, the former attending to the office and financial department, the latter to the work in the vast saw and planing-mills. The works cover six acres of ground ; they front on Main Street seventy-five feet and along Stony ('reek twelve i hundred feet, with a front on the Schuylkill River of four hundred feet.

The several departments are as follows: No. 1 building is the saw-mill, fitted up with two Mulay saws, rip-saws and appliances for cutting into planks a log ninety feet in length; the saw-mill is forty by one hundred and fifty feet. No. 2 is the planing-mill, forty by one hundred and fifty feet, fitted up with traversing, sticking, moulding, boring, shutting and dovetailing-machines. There are tenon-machines, jig and hand-saws, buzz-planes, a twenty-six inch sur- facer, a floor-board machine, mortising and shaping- machines,-in short, every new and improved appliance known to the trade.

There is a drying-room, twenty-five by forty-five feet, a glue-room, twenty by thirty-five feet. There are large fan-flues leading from each machine, the draft from which draws the dust from the bench and de- posits it in the shavings-house adjoining the fire-hole. This arrangement is very important to the health of the workmen. Forty men are employed at the works,

582

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

- and twenty-five thousand dollars a year distributed in wages. An eighty horse-power engine and three cylindrical boilers furnish the motive-power. The value of the property (stock included) is about one hundred thousand dollars.

BODEY & LIVINGSTON, LUMBER- YARD AND PLAN- ING-MILL .- This establishment was founded by Messrs. Groff & Zimmerman in 1854, and is located on Main Street, near Stony Creek bridge. It was transferred to .Joseph Bodey in 1865, with Thomas II. Wentz as partner. The firm of Bodey & Wentz con- ducted the business of contractors, builders, saw and planing-mill up to April 1, 1883, when the death of Thomas H. Wentz caused an entire change. The firm now consists of William H. Bodey and James Livingston, doing business as lumber merchants under the business title of Bodey & Livingston.

GUEST & LONGAKER, LUMBER DEALERS, ETC .- The premises of this old and well-known firm are upon Main Street, directly across the stream known as Sandy Run. In the year 1850 the firm was George Guest and Elias Fluck, doing business in a small building fronting on Main Street, and in 1854 they built the mill now occupied by George Bullock, on the opposite side of Main Street. They sold the building to Perry M. Hunter and Sammel Dehaven. Fluck dissolved partnership in 1863, when William Guest returned to his old quarters, and purchased the front part of the building from Ilenry Rittenhouse in 1872, his present partner joining the business in 1869. Mr. Guest has been, as lessee and proprietor, on the same premises since the year 1838. The build- ing has a frontage on Main Street of fifty-one feet, | required for the work. The mill, stock, machin- with a depth of ninety-seven feet. The front build- ing is three stories in height ; the rear buildings, all of which have been built by the present firm, are two stories in height. There are about fifteen hands con- stantly employed in the manufacture of doors, sashes, flooring and every kind of inside building materials. The property is worth twenty-two thousand dollars.

SIMPSON'S MILLS .- These mills are situated at the foot of Swede Street, and rank amongst the oldest in the State. The main building is of stone, with a width of forty-two feet and a length of one hundred and fifty feet along the bank of the river Sehuykill. On a stone slab high up in this building is carved, in the old-fashioned, quaint figures of that day, the year in which it was erected, 1826. In that year Mr. Bernard MeCreedy purchased the ground and built this mill, in which enterprise he prospered. Four years later we find that the mill contained seven thou- sand spindles, with the accompanying preparing ma- chinery, and seven years later still, McCreedy's, Jamison's and Freedley's mills combined had nineteen thousand one hundred and sixty four spindles, employing five hundred hands, and producing cotton goods to the amount of four hundred and fifty-four thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight dollars per annum. The old MeCreedy building is four and one-

halfstories in height. It was purchased by Callaghan Brothers, and in 1844 an addition was built, forty- two by sixty feet. Messrs. William Simpson & Sons purchased the mill from Callaghan Brothers in 1864, and have been manufacturing cotton-print cloth ever since that date. One hundred and fifty hands are employed; there are two hundred looms, with full complement of carding and spinning machinery. The wages paid amount to about three thousand dol- lars a month ; fifty thousand yards a week are pro- duced, and the motive-power is given by two turbine wheels, of two hundred and twelve horse-power.

DE KALB STREET MILLS .- Close to the bank of the river Schuykill, at the Norristown end of the De Kalb Street bridge, stand Hunter's Cotton-Mills, James and John Hunter, proprietors. The wing of the mill which looks towards the Schuylkill is of stone, and was built by a joint-stock company in 1836. The main building has a frontage on De Kalb Street of one hundred feet, a depth of fifty feet ; is built of brick and is four stories in height. The company was sue- ceeded by James Jamison, Sr., who devised the prop- erty by will to his son, William Jamison. This gentleman ran the business of cotton goods manufac- turing until his death, when his widow, with Duncan White as superintendent, operated the mills until the great panic of 1873, when American industry suffered so dreadful a shock and the business failed. The mill has a thorough outfit of machinery,-a one hundred and twenty horse-power engine, with boilers in pro- portion, five hundred and sixty looms, with all the preparing machinery of cards, spinning-frames, etc.,

ery, etc., are valued at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Messrs. Hunter manufac- ture cotton yarns, employing nearly two hundred hands, and produce about seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds of cotton yarn annually ; they pay monthly in wages about two thousand five hun- dred dollars. Messrs. Hunter purchased the mill in the year 1873, but did not put the works into opera- tion until January, 1880.

FORD STREET COTTON AND WOOLEN-MILLS, J. C. CRESSON & Co., PROPRIETORS,-These mills are- located at the corner of Ford and Lafayette Streets, and were established prior to the war by James Ogden for the manufacture of cotton goods. The property was purchased in 1864 by James Cresson & Co., when the manufacture of woolen goods was added to their former production. The head of the firm died in 1872, and during the following year the present firm was organ- ized. The mill building is of stone, four stories in height, fifty by one hundred feet in size, with a dye-house adjoining, built in 1867. Sixty hands are employed in the establishment, producing three hundred and eighty thousand yards of jeans in the year. The wages paid amount to about fourteen hundred and fifty dollars per month. There are two sets of forty-eight inch cards, one thousand and forty-four spindles on woolen

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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

and thirteen hundred on cotton yarn. five card> motive-power is a sixty horse-power engine, with and all the requisite preparing machinery. The , ample boiler-power. There are five sets of cards, with property is estimated to be worth fifty thousand dol- | self-acting mules, looms, dyeing and finishing lars. The mill at this time is under the management of John McArthur. machinery to correspond, employing about one hundred hands, and producing nearly sixty thousand yards monthly of ginghams, checkings, etc., as the market may demand.

WASHINGTON WOOLEN-MILLS, better known as Watts' Mills, are located in the First Ward of the borough, near the banks of the Schuylkill, and close to Montgomery Cemetery. The mill was erected in 1849 by William Hamill and his son, being then known as "Moy Craig " Mill. In 1851 the firm was changed : S. P. Hamill and Joshua Batty became

WILLIAM WATT .- John Watt, the grandfather of William Watt, emigrated with his family to America prior to the war of 1812, and settled in Philadelphia. Ilis children were Alexander, James, Robert, William, John, David, Esther and Elizabeth. Robert was

(William Nato

the proprietors. For two years they conducted the manufacture of jeans, having put in one set of cards, two mules and about twenty looms. Mr. Hamill drew ont, and Mr. Batty ran the mill until 1856, when he took in J. Lee as partner, and added fulling and finishing machinery to the works. In 1857 the prop- erty was sold to Perry MI. Hunter and Samuel Dehaven, who added to the capacity of the mill and manufactured the same class of goods up to 1862, when it was sold to Mr. Bishop, who had a large con- tract for the manufacture of blue kerseys for the army. William Watt, the present proprietor, purchased it in 1869, and in 1876 enlarged the mill one-fourth. The

born in County Derry, Ireland, and during the prog ress of the above war, while en route for the United States, was impressed into the English service as a naval recruit for a brief period. On returning again to civil life he became a manufacturer of linen goods, and was also at a later date a thriving farmer. He married Mary Wilson, who was of Scotch-Irish lineage, and a native of the same county. Their children were William, Alexander, Martha (Mrs. Gendell), Mary (Mrs. Provence). William was born May 12, 1808 in County Derry, Ireland, and in 1818, when but ten years of age, accompanied his parents to America. He had previously attended the common schools in

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

his native country and continued the English branches in Philadelphia, after which, with the purpose of learn- ing the business of woolen and cotton manufacturing, he entered the mills of his uneles, William and David Watt, in that city. On completing his period of service as an apprentice he pursued his trade for some years, and eventually embarked in the manufacture of cotton and woolen fabrics in Philadelphia. In 1867, having removed to Norristown, he purchased an advantageous site and at once began the manufacture of woolen goods. Various changes and improvements were made in the equipment of the mill, which was enlarged, new machinery and various appliances for enhancing the beauty and excellence of the produc- tions being introduced. Mr. Watt was married, on the 9th of January, 1834, by the Rev. John Cham- bers, to Catherine, daughter of William MeKay, who was of Scotch descent, and one of the oldest residents of Philadelphia. The children of this marriage are Elizabeth Mckay (leceased), David, Amelia David- son (wife of Henry S. Hughes), Kersley Mitchell (deceased, husband of Elizabeth Jackson), Mary Ellen (deceased), Emily, William Henry (deceased), Kate W. (wife of Cyrus S. Poley. M.D.) J. Bond, George Washington (husband of Sallie A. Kneedler). The grandchildren are William Watt, Ellen, John McArthur, Bertha M., Amelia Watt, children of Amelia Davidson and Henry S. Hughes ; Minnie, George Jackson, children of Kersley Mitchell and Elizabeth Jackson ; Ethel E., child of Kate W. and Cyrus S. Poley, M.D .; Blanche A., William, chil- dren of George Washington and Sallie A. Kneedler. Mr. Watt is a decided Republican in his political predilections, though rarely active beyond the casting of his ballot and 'an occasional expression of his views. He is a Mason and associated with Franklin Lodge, No. 134, of Philadelphia. He is a member and holds the office of trustee of the Central Presby- terian Church of Norristown. Mr. and Mrs. Watt celebrated, on the 9th of January, 1884, their golden wedding, which interesting event brought together an assemblage of children, grandchildren and at- tached friends who delighted to do them honor.

BULLOCK'S MILL .- The mill stands on Main Street, below Arch. It was built by Guest & Fluck, lumbermen, builders and contractors, and was occu- pied by them until the year 1863, when it was sold to Perry M. Hunter and Samnel Dehaven for manufacturing purposes. The firm changed to Hun- ter & Kershaw, who for some years successfully con- ducted the manufacture of cassimeres. In 1869 they were succeeded by Benjamin Bullock's Sons. In 1871 the proprietorship again changed by George and James Bullock assuming control, and in 1880 the firm became George Bullock & Co. The mill is four stories in height, built of stone, with a frontage of fifty feet on Main Street and a depth of ninety feet. When in full operation, in the mannfacture of the superb goods for which the firm is famous, seventy hands are employed,

two thousand two hundred dollars in monthly wages are distributed, and about one hundred and twenty- five thousand yards of finished goods per annum are manufactured, valued at about three hundred thou- sand dollars.

NORRISTOWN WOOLEN-MILLS .- The mills are located on Barbadoes Street, and were built in I862 by a company of public-spirited gentlemen, citizens of Norristown, for the purpose of affording employ- ment for the working class. About twenty-five hands were employed in the manufacture of low-class jeans, under the superintendence of Lawrence J. Ogden. His sudden and untimely death caused a suspension of the mill for some time, when work was resumed by the firm of Henry W. Scott & Son, of Philadelphia, who slightly increased the grade and capacity, and manufactured army flannels, hosiery, and later on a low grade of mixed cassimeres. Misfortunes came and the sheriff seized the property, when another temporary suspension took place. The mill was leased for a time by Hunter & Kershaw, and was sold to Thomas Liversidge, Esq., who worked it for some years in the manufacture of southern jeans. It was finally purchased by the present firm of J. Morton Brown & Co., who took possession in March, 1883. Since then the capacity of the mill has more than doubled. The whole establishment has been renovated, improved and extended. There are now eighty-six looms of the most improved pattern in operation, making high-grade cassimeres at the rate of twenty-eight thousand yards a month. There are four sets of cards, four self-acting mules, one thirty-five horse-power and one twenty-five horse- power engine, with two forty horse-power and two thirty-five horse-power boilers. Two hundred hands are employed, and the market value of the mill to- day is fully seventy-five thousand dollars.

SHAW & KENWORTHY operate the Agenoria Mill, better known as the Blue Mill, which was erected in 1847 and operated by Joseph Bodey and known as Bodey & Jacobs' mill. It was run as a cotton-lap factory. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. In 1861, C. Blounts, Joseph and James Shaw and James Kenworthy formed a partnership, under the firm-name of Blounts, Shaw & Co. and leased the Bodey & Jacobs mill, and began the manufacture of woolen yarn. In 1863 they commenced the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1866, Mr. Blounts retired, and J. & J. Shaw & Co. became managers, proprietors and owners of the mill. James Shaw retired in 1881, the firm- name remaining the same. In 1871 a large addition was made to the mill and improved machinery added, and it was changed from a two-set to a four-set mill. The mills are in the northeastern part of the borough, and form three sides of a hollow square. The dimensions of the buildings are fifty- six by one hundred and sixteen fect, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, and a dye-honse thirty-six by sixty feet. One hundred hands are employed, with a

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 135

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534