USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 12
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The H. A. Kirby Co .- Manufacturers of a staple line of gold and diamond jewelry, in- cluding brooches, scarf pins, link buttons, studs, hat pins, lorgnettes, etc. Business established
in 1886 by Kirby, Mowry & Co., Incorporated in September, 1896. Capitalized for $300,000. Employ 125 hands. Works located in the Ada Building, 85 Sprague street, Providencc. Henry A. Kirby, Treasurer.
C. Minahan & Co .- Manufacturers of gold plated jewelry; general line. Business estab- lished in 1897. Works located at 53 Clifford street, Providence. Employ 25 hands. Cor- nelius Minahan, the proprietor, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in April, 1860.
J. Briggs & Sons Co. - Manufacturers of jewelers' stock in the line of wire, tub- ing and plate. Busi- ness established by J. Briggs in 1849. In- corporated in 1890. Capitalized for $100,- 000. Works located at 59 and 65 Clifford street, Providence. Employ 30 hands. . Officers : Jeremiah Briggs, President; George Briggs, Sec- retary and Treasurer; Charles Briggs, Vice President.
Fletcher, Burrows & Co. - Manufactur- ers of a general line of gold plated jewelry. Business established in 1881, the present company coming into possession of the business in 1891. Works located at 53 Clifford street, Providence. Employ about 50 hands.
W. C. Randall .- Enameler of jewelry and other goods. Business established in 1893. Works located at 163 Pine street, Providence. Walter C. Randall was born in Providence, Feb- ruary 3, 1868 Employs 15 hands.
Conley & Straight .- Gold and silver refiners. Business established in 1896. Works located at 236 Eddy street, Providence. Employ 10 hands.
J. D. Warren & Co .- Manufacturers of solid gold rings. Business established by W. O. Hutch- ins & Co. and succeeded by the present com- pany in 1894. Works located at 21 Eddy street.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Palmer & Capron .- Manufacturers of rolled plate and sterling silver rings. In former years they manufactured a general line. Works lo- cated at 167 Dorance street, Providence. Bus- iness established by John S. Palmer and Chris- tian Stave, a Norwegian tool maker, in July, 1845, under the firm name of Palmer & Stave. About 1853 the firm name became Palmer & Capron and has been retained ever since. Mr. Capron sold his interest in the business about 1890, and died in 1897. The members of the firm at present be- sides Mr. Palmer are his son Julius Palmer, a native of Provi- dence, and Fenalon A. Peirce, also a na- tive of Providence. John S. Palmer, the oldest active jewelry manufacturer in the city of Providence, was born in Newport, R. I., March 22, 1824. After learning the jewelry trade he be- gan business on his own account and has continued in that line of business continu- ously for more than fifty-five years.
John S. Palmer.
Wm. Loeb & Co .-- Manufacturers of composition gold rings, made by a secret pro- cess; great variety of styles, from plain band to imitation stone rings of various colors. Busi- ness established in 1880; the business in Provi- dence begun in 1887. Works located in the Manufacturers' Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Employ 120 hands. William Loeb, the sole owner of the business, was born in Barnwell Court House, South Carolina, in 1856.
Barstow & Williams .- Manufacturers of ster- ling silver novelties. Business established in 1890. Works located in the Manufacturers' Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence. Firm composed of Nathaniel Barstow and Walter S. Williams.
M. Fitzgerald & Co .- Manufacturers of solid gold rings and chains. Factory at 185 Eddy
street, Providence. Established in 1870 by Mr. Fitzgerald Michael Fitzgerald was born in Dublin, Ireland, August 26, 1838. Came to America in 1849. Learned the trade of a jeweler in Providence and soon after became a manufacturer.
Alfred Vester & Son. - Manufacturers of jewelers' findings, and all kinds of metal orna- ments. Business established in 1896 by Alfred Vester. Works located at 26 Calen- der street, Providence. Employ 35 hands.
E. A. Potter & Co. Manufacturers of a general line of gold plated jewelry, in- cluding brooches, pins, links, studs, etc. Business established by Edward A. Potter, in 1885, who was born in Providence, Janu- ary 7, 1852. Works located at 71 Peck street, Providence.
Geo. J. Smith & Co. -Manufacturers of gold plated jewelry, a general line, includ- ing brooches, stick pins, etc. Business established in New York city, in 1830, and later established in Providence, R. I. Works located at 167 Dorrance street, Provi- dence. Members of the firm are as follows: Geo. J. Smith, a native of New York; Nathaniel T. Allen, born in Pawtucket.
Mossberg & Granville Mfg. Company .- Manu- facturers of power, drop and foot presses, rolling mills, rod mills, wire drawing machinery, roller bearings, type-writers, and jewelers' machinery. Business originally established in Attleboro, Mass., under the name of the Mossberg Mfg. Co., and sold out and located in Providence. Incor- porated by Louis Dean Speir, Harold Bunker and A. J. Munson, August 6, 1896; Capital- ized for $700,000. Employ 200 hands. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Officers: George F. Vietor, President ; Charles Howard Smith, Secretary and Treasurer ; W. W. Gibbs, General Manager.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Wm. C. Greene & Co .- Manufacturers of a general line of gold jewelry, including rings, brooches, scarf pins, link buttons, etc. The business was established in 1849 under the firm name of Mathewson & Greene, in a building on the site now occupied by Hall & Lyon's drug store on Westminster street. In 1853 the firm moved to Page street and located in the Rich- ardson & Hicks building. Soon after this Mr. John T. Mauran became a member of the firm, and the name was changed to Mathewson, Greene & Mauran. In 1854 Mr. Mathewson withdrew and the firm name was changed to Greene, Mauran & Co. Mr. Greene closed his connection with this firm in Decem- ber, 1865. In 1866 he continued in the manufacturing jew- elry business under the name of Greene & Bliss, on Pine street, in which local- ity he remained near- ly twenty-eight years. Upon the death of his partner, Alfred Bliss, in 1869, his brother, Chas. H. Bliss, was admitted as a member of the firm, who afterwards lost his life in the Metis disaster, August 30, 1872. In 1873 the firm name became Wm. C. Greene & Co., under which name it is now conducted, Mr. Greene being now the sole owner. Wm. C. Greene was born in East Greenwich, R. I .. August 19, 1826. With one exception he is now the oldest active manufacturer of jewelry in the city of Provi- dence. The works are now located in the Man- ufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street.
Wightman & Hough Co .- Manufacturers of gold and rolled plate, and sterling silver lockets, charms, seals, miniature brooches, frames and medallions. Business established in 1856. In- corporated in 1893. Capitalized for $100,000. Employ 100 hands. Works located in the Man- ufacturers Building, 7 Beverly street, Provi-
dence. Officers : Walter F. Hough, President and Treasurer; M. J. Baker, Secretary. One of the oldest plants of its kind in the state. Make a first class line of goods.
Lord & Case .- Manufacturers of a general line of gold plated jewelry. Business established by the present owners in 1895. Works at 62 Page street, Providence. Employ from 40 to 60 hands. Charles W. Lord was born in Manches- ter, N. H., Oct. 16, 1853. O. E. Case was born in Woodstock, Vt., in 1856.
William C. Greene.
H. Lederer & Bro. -Manufacturers of gold plated chains and collar buttons. Business was estab- lished in 1895. Works located at 227 Eddy street, Providence. Employ about 40 hands.
E. Brown & Co .- Manufacturers of gold plated rings. Busi- ness established in 1880. Works located at 71 Peck street, Providence. Employ about 50 hands.
Marden & Kettlety. -Manufacturers of a general line of electro plated jewelry. Works in Manufacturers Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence. In 1890 they employed 25 hands ; now em- ploy 135. Frank W. Marden was born in Epsom, N. H., in June, 1854. Charles L. Kettlety was born in Millville, Mass., in Novem- ber, 1863.
Charles E. Hancock Co .- Manufacturers of solid gold brooches, scarf pins, link buttons, studs, rings, and diamond mountings. Works in Manufacturers Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence. Employ 75 hands. Business established by Hancock, Becker & Co., in 1893. Incorporated in 1900. Capitalized for $ 120,000. Officers, Charles E. Hancock, President and Treasurer; Mrs. Charles E. Hancock, Secretary.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Manufacturers' Building .- The Manufactur- ers Building was erected in 1892 by the Kent & Stanley Co., the building then being styled the Kent & Stanley Building, and designed with the idea of catering to the manufacturing jewelry business. The officers of the first corporation were : Edwin F. Kent, Treasurer, who was the prime mover in the enterprise, and Arthur W.
Building Co., the officers being: Charles Fletcher, President ; Edwin Milner, Vice-Presi- dent ; F. A. Chase, Treasurer ; H. A. Hunt, Secretary. The building is now fully occupied, principally by manufacturing jewelers, the floor space now let being 220,000 square feet. The building is one of the largest in New England devoted to manufacturing purposes, and its
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Manufacturers' Building, Sabin, Aborn, Mason and Beverly Streets, Providence.
Stanley, President. The property cost $550,000. In 1895 the company was reorganized as the Kent & Stanley Co., Limited, and the following year the name was changed to the Manufac- turers Building. In 1897 the property was sold at auction, and it was bid in for $290,000. The building is now owned by the Manufacturers
equipment for power, electric lighting, water supply, etc., is unsurpassed. It is fully pro- tected against fire by a sprinkler system, and is in every way an up to date building, well built, with every facility for shipping light or heavy goods expeditiously, and is very near the freight depot and yards.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Martin, Copeland & Co .- Manufacturers of gold chains and rings, and optical goods, Busi- ness established by Martin, Copeland & Co. in January, 1880, Henry Gorman then being a member of the firm. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Employ 150 hands. William A. Copeland was born in Foulton, N. Y., May 30, 1849. Sylvester G. Martin, born June 29, 1821, Jefferson County, N. B. , who died January, 1898., Edgar W. Martin, who became a member of the firm May, 1880, born in Pawtucket, July 5, 1852.
Chapin & Hollister Co .- Manufacturers of rolled plate chains of fine quality for ladies' and gents' wear. Business established in 1898 by William P. Chapin and Frederick R. Hollister, and incorporated the same year. Capitalized for $30,000. Employ 60 hands. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Officers : Frederick R. Hollister, President; William P. Chapin, Treasurer; William P. Chapin, Jr., Secretary.
H. C. Lindol & Co .- Manufacturers of a gene- ral line of gold jewelry, including rings, buttons, scarf pins, etc. Business established by Harry C. Lindol in 1885, the partnership formed in 1898. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence. The members of the firm are Harry C. Lindol, who was born in Providence, in 1845; Harry J. Hilde- brand, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; J. H. A. Moultrop of Providence; S. J. Mc Millen of Providence.
Esser & Barry .- Manufacturers of white stone and imitation diamond jewelry. Began business in Providence in 1895. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Claim to be the largest manu- facturers of this line of goods in this country. James F. Barry was born in New York city, Feb. 19, 1860. Frank Esser was born in Newark, N. J., January 2, 1859.
A. T. Wall & Co .- Manufacturers of rolled gold plate and wire. Great variety of designs for the manufacturing jewelers and metal workers. Business established by Ashbel T. Wall, who was born in Providence, March 1, 1861. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Em- ploy 60 hands.
J. E. & H. L. Brown .- Manufacturers of paper cop tubes for mule spindles in cotton
mills, for winding the yarn into a kind of cone shape for insertion in the shuttle. They manu- facture only a fine grade of tube. Business established in 1889. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. John E. Brown, the senior mem- ber of the firm, was born in Providence, Dec- ember 1, 1851. Herbert L. Brown was born in Providence, January 1, 1856. The goods made by this company are sold not only in Rhode Island, but all over New England among the cotton manufacturers, and some in Canada.
T. E. Bennett & Co .- Manufacturers of a gen- eral line of eletro-plated jewelry, together with separable stud backs and button findings. Thomas E. Bennett was born in Attleboro, Mass., Sept. 2, 1875. Began business in Provi- dence in 1894. Works located in Manufac- turers Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence.
Parks Bros. & Rogers-Manufacturers of gold and rolled gold plate jewelry, including collar buttons, link buttons, studs, chain, etc. Mem- bers of the firm are, Geo. W. Parks, Wm. C. Parks, and Everett I. Rogers. Works located in the Manufacturers Building, 7 Beverly street, Providence.
D. R. Child Novelty Co .- Manufacturers of aluminum goods in a hundred different patterns. Business established by Daniel R. Child in 1893. Works located at 113 Point street, Providence. Mr. Child was born in East Smithfield, Penn., June 27, 1827. Learned the jewelry trade and worked at the business until he established the aluminum business, which has been a successful undertaking.
Ford & Carpenter .- Manufactures of gold and silver novelties and mountings for leather goods. Successors to W. E. White & Co. Works lo- cated in the Manufacturers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Employ 55 hands. J. Par- ker Ford is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. J. Perry Carpenter was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., in September, 1847.
Linton & Co .- Manufacturers of rolled gold plate, wire and tubing Business established in 1886 by Andrew Linton, who was born in Provi- dence, Oct. 24, 1857. Works at 95 Pine street, Providence.
W. & S. Blackinton .- Manufacturers of gold plated chains. Works located in the Manufac- turers Building, 101 Sabin street, Providence. Works formerly located in Attleboro, Mass.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
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H. E. Brown & Co .- Do electro-plating or coloring of gold and silver jewelry, a process the same as the electro depositing of copper and
Herbert E. Brown.
other metals with the exception of iron, which requires a somewhat different process. Busi- ness established in 1870 under the name of H. E. Brown & Co., Solomon W. Young being the partner with Mr. Brown. After one year Mr. Brown bought his partner's interest and became the sole owner. Although several men have been given an interest in the business at different times during the past thirty years, Mr. Brown has always been at the head of the concern and he is now the sole proprietor. During the various changes in partnerships the original name of the firm has been retained. The plant is equipped with all of the modern appliances for doing this kind of work, and anything that will add to the quality of the productions and facilitate the process Mr. Brown spares no money or pains to procure, so as to be abreast of the times in every line of advancement and improvement. The company has retained many of the houses that it did business with twenty- five years ago, besides adding many of the new concerns that have come into existence in more recent years. Herbert E. Brown was born in Seekonk, Mass., February 5, 1847, and began
life as a singer and music teacher. He soon came to the conclusion that he did not care to make music a life calling, and accordingly estab- lished himself in the electro-plating business. He is now probably the oldest colorer of jewelry in the city of Providence. Works located at 197 Eddy street, Providence.
Geo. Becker & Co .- Manufacturers of a gen- eral line of solid gold jewelry. Business estab- lished by George Becker in 1900. Works lo- cated at 86 Page street, Providence. Employ about 25 hands.
Otis Bros .- Assayers and refiners. Smelting works located at 187 Eddy street, Providence. William N. Otis and Orin M. Otis constitute the firm.
A. L. Sweet .- Manufacturer of gold plated rings, hat pins, etc. Works at 95 Pine street, Providence.
H. J. Astle & Co .- Manufacturers of piece tin ware and general kitchen furnishings. Busi- ness established in 1884. Works and store house located at 118 Orange street, Providence.
Fletcher Manufacturing Co .- Manufacturers of braids and webbing and a great variety of small wares, including every kind of boot, shoe and corset laces, in black, white and colors, stove and lamp wicks, braided bandings, glace, himalaya braids, plain braids and bobbins, stay bindings, spool tapes, printer's tapes and bone casings. Business established in 1793 by Thomas Fletcher. Incorporated in 1865. Works located on Charles and Back streets, Providence. There are a number of factories clustered together filled with modern machinery for the manufacture of their great variety of goods, and their productions find a market in all parts of the world. Some 800 hands are em- ployed. A modern steam plant furnishes the power. Officers of the company are: William B. Fletcher, President ; William Ames, Treas- urer ; John O. Ames, Secretary. This is one of the oldest and most substantial manufactur- ing plants in the State of Rhode Island.
McKnight Artificial Limb Co .- Manufacturers of artificial limbs from wood and composites. Business established in 1897. Works located at 107 Westmister street, Providence. John A. McKnight, the proprietor, was born in New York, November 2, 1861. Learned the trade before beginning business for himself.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
McWilliams Manufacturing Co .- Manufactur- ers of jewelers' and silversmiths' machinery of all kinds; also special machinery. Business
John McWilliams.
established by John McWilliams in 1871. In- corporated in 1875. Capitalized for $20,000. Employ 20 hands. Works located at 237 Eddy street, Providence. Officers : John McWilliams, President and Treasurer ; Thomas McWilliams, Secretary, who has been a member of the com- pany since its incorporation ; William Cook, Foreman. John Mc Williams, the President and Treasurer of the company, was born in the North of Ireland, February 5, 1840. Came to America about 1847. Learned the trade of a machinist in the city of Providence, and after completing his time, he was foreman for a Providence shop for about a year when he re- signed to begin manufacturing on his own account. He is one of the pioneers in the manufacture of the class of machinery that he produces, and the plant is one of the largest in the country. Their assortment of patterns is the largest of any firm in the business, they having bought the patterns formerly owned by the Willets Machine Co. and H. Blundell & Co. They have filled some very large orders during their business career. They have sold to the Brooklyn Watch Case Co. over $100,000 worth of watch making machinery, and other concerns
nearly as large orders. Mr. McWilliams has been one of the most successful builders of ma- chinery of any in the state of Rhode Island. He has enjoyed somewhat of a political career. Was a member of the City Council from the Ninth Ward during the years 1882 and 1883, and was a member of the Board of Aldermen from the same ward in 1884 and 1885. During President Cleveland's administration he was ap- pointed Collector of the Port of Providence, serving from 1884 for about five years.
The company employ the most skilled work- men, and their equipment of machinery is the best that can be procured.
Harvey & Otis .- Manufacturers of gold em- blems. Business established in 1884. Works located at 183 Eddy street, Providence. Henry W. Harvey was born in Gloucester, R. I., in October, 1850. Samuel A. Otis was born in Providence, in November, 1849.
Chase Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of plated novelties in ladies' and gents' jewelry. Walter W. Chase was born in Providence, December 15, 1866. William A. Greene, member of the firm, was born in East Greenwich, R. I., Jan- uary 2, 1834. Business established by the same members of the firm in 1899. Works located at 40 Clifford street, Providence.
Albert F. Fuller .- Silver, brass and aluminum castings. Makes a specialty of fancy castings for chains and other ornaments used by manu- facturing jewelers; also statuettes. Business established in 1881. Works located at 227 Eddy street, Providence. Mr. Fuller was born in Cranston, R. I., February 16, 1831.
Geo. H. Holmes & Co .- Manufacturers of a general line of gold plated jewelry. Business established by Smith & Holmes in 1883; dis- solved in 1884 and succeeded by Geo. H. Holmes & Co. Works located at 183 Eddy street, Providence.
Wm. H. Miller & Sons .- Machine and tool forgings of all kinds, builders' work; jewelers' tools, such as tongs, turning tools, dies, hubs, cutter plates and jack dies; general blacksmith- ing and jobbing. Works located at 194, 196, 198, 200 and 202 Eddy street, and 39, 41, 43 and 45 Clifford street, Providence. Employ 30 hands. Probably the largest blacksmithing estab- lishment in the city. Business established
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
by William H. Miller in 1866, who was born in Swansea, Mass,, in October, 1828, and who died in Providence in May,
William H. Miller.
I90I. Abram Crowell became a partner in the business the same year, March 1, 1866 the firm name being Crowell & Miller, and after
Jeremiah W. Miller.
three and a half years he sold his interest to Gil- bert Sisson, which was in 1869, when the firm name became Miller & Sisson. After seventeen months he sold his interest to Simon W. Cam- eron, who was a partner in the business for seven and a half years, under the firm name of Wm. H. Miller & Co. January 1, 1880, Mr. Miller bought the entire business, and Mr. Cameron retired. That year Mr. Miller took his two sons in as partners in the business, the firm name
William F. Miller.
being changed to Wm. H. Miller & Sons, which name has been retained to the present time. Wm. H. Miller represented his ward in the City Council for two years, 1879 and 1880, now the Sixth but then the Ninth Ward. Jeremiah W. Miller was born in Providence, in May 1853, and is at present a member of the City Council from the Sixth Ward. Has been in business with his father since 1880. William F. Miller, who has been in business with his father since 1880, was born in Providence, March, 1856. The business has grown from four forges to twelve, and the plant is equipped with four power ham- mers and one 600-pound steam hammer, besides all of the other necessary machines and tools required in a business of this kind, including two band saws, three milling machines, one upright drill and two cutting-off machines.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Adams Bros .- Manufacturers of jeweler's and special machinery, and do a general jobbing business. Business established in November,
George W. Adams.
1885, by George W. and Charles M. Adams. Works located at 220 to 224 Eddy street, Provi- dence. In April, 1900, George W. Adams bought his brother's interest and became the sole proprietor. He was born in Canterbury, Conn., October 23, 1838. Came to Providence and learned the trade of a machinist, where he worked as a journeyman for a number of years. In 1873 he was one of the partners of the Brad- ford Machine Co., of Providence, and after closing his connection with that concern he was employed for ten years in the same line of busi- ness with other concerns. After this he joined with his brother Charles in establishing the present business under the firm name of Adams Bros. Their machinery has always been con- sidered as fine and as well made as any that has ever been turned out in the city of Providence. Their patented double acting foot and screw presses, which were brought out December 18, 1894, have proved very valuable machines for the manufacturing jewelers.
J. H. Gallagher & Co .- Manufacturers of a gen- eral line of ladies' jewelry, in electro-plated goods, including breast pins, hat pins, scarf pins, etc.
Works at 409 Pine street, Providence. Business established by Mr. Gallagher in 1897, who learned the jewelers' trade and labored for other concerns for many years. James H. Gallagher was born in Providence, Sept. 1, 1854.
F. T. Pearce & Co .- Manufacturers of gold pens, gold plated pen holders, pencils, stylo- graphic and fountain pens. Business estab- lished in 1880 by Frank T. Pearce, who was born in Providence, November 13, 1848. Works located in the Ada Building, 85 Sprague street, Providence. Employ 50 hands. Aldridge G. Pearce born in Providence April 2, 1875. Goods sold all over the United States, and export largely.
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