USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 18
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
CONFECTIONERS
WERKS BROTHE
WEEKS BROTHERS.
WHO SALE CONE
Weeks Bros. Co. Factory, Richmond Street, Providence, R. I.
3
.
e st
ol
en la, n., as 57 ds. rd, in ked ess hia ame Ight one. pren- omb busi- ork.
172
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Hamlet Textile Co .- Manufacturers of cotton goods, silks and book cloths. Mill was first built about 1828. Business incorporated in 1900. Capitalized for $500,000. Factory located at Hamlet, Woonsocket, R. I. Employ 300 hands. Officers : Charles E. Thomas, President and Treasurer; George A. Carr, Secretary. Mr. Thomas was born in Smithfield, R. I., Decem- ber 17, 1850, but moved to Woonsocket when but four years of age, where he attended the public schools, and completed his education in the Friends school of Providence. After leav- ing school he went to work in the mill owned and operated by the Clinton Mfg. Co., and known as the Clinton Mill, his father being the agent of the com- pany. He worked for about two years in every department of the mill, becoming thoroughly acquaint- ed with every detail of the cotton manufac- turing business, and then he entered the office and kept the mill books for a num- ber of years, after which he was ap- pointed superintend- ent of the mill. In February, 1887, he was elected superin- tendent of the Globe Mill, where he re- mained in that capa- city until February, 1893. That year he organ- ized a company and purchased the mill property of the Forestdale Mfg. Co., of Forestdale, R. I., and was elected its treasurer and general mana- ger. The business has been very successful. In 1900 the Hamlet Textile Co. was formed and incorporated, and purchased the Hamlet Mills and Pycott Mfg. Co.'s business, which was car- ried on in these mills, and Mr. Thomas was elected president and treasurer. The mills have been enlarged and the business increased, and the prospect for the future is very flatter- ing. The mill villages and factory property of both the Hamlet and Forestdale are models of
neatness, the dwellings for the operatives being well painted and kept in excellent repair, and everything about the mill property is kept in the very best condition. Three turbines utilize about 400 horse power from the Blackstone river at the Hamlet, and a Corliss engine of 300 horse power furnishes the remainder of the power for the plant. The water privilege at the Hamlet was purchased by Stephen H. Smith, acting as the agent of General Edward Carring- ton, in 1825 and 1826, which at that time was composed of three estates, and owned by Seth Appleby, Smith Arnold and Joseph Wilkinson.
Charles E. Thomas.
Upon these estates the village and mill are located, and the original mill was probably built in 1827 or 1828, as this was the period when there was a general scram- ble for mill privileges, and cotton mills were being erected all along the Blackstone river from Worcester to Pawtucket. Mr. Carrington was prob- ably the sole owner of the entire property, but Mr. Smith re- mained at the head of the concern until 1842. The tall elm trees that line both sides of the village street, which make it one of the most pic- turesque villages in the State, were probably set out by Mr. Smith under General Carring- ton's direction. Edward Carrington died in 1843. George S. Wardwell, who was one of the most public spirited men of the town, followed Mr. Smith as manager of the mill and estate, in which capacity he continued until March, 1859. At this time the property came into the posses- sion of Isaac M. Bull, who was a nephew of General Edward Carrington. He first began as a clerk in his uncle's store in Providence, and in 1827, while in his employ he went to China, where he remained until 1847. The business under the management of Mr. Bull was very
173
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
successful. In 1885 the mill property was pur- chased by Tarbell & Harris, and in 1889 Frank Harris became the sole owner by purchasing Mr. Tarbell's interest. Mr. Harris sold his in- terest to the Hamlet Textile Co. in 1900.
Forestdale Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of sheet- ings, shirtings, twills, etc. Business estab- lished in 1860. Incorporated in 1870. Capital- ized for $300,000. Factory located at Forest- dale, North Smithfield, R. I. Employ 200 hands. Officers : E. Charles Frances, Presi- dent ; Charles E. Thomas, Treasurer ; Alphonso F. White, Secretary. It has a model manufac- turing village with neat, well-kept yards and
City Iron Foundry .- Makers of iron castings of all kinds, and equipped to do general machin- ery manufacturing. Business established in 1891 as the F. A. Thomas Machine Co. Works located in Woonsocket, R. I. Employ about 30 hands. Charles E. Thomas, Treasurer ; Henry Pruyn, General Manager. Power sup- plied by a 40 horse power Corliss engine, and a small vertical engine of 12 horse power.
American Shoe Lace Co .- Manufacturers of tubular shoe laces. Business established in 1901 by Herbert C. Clemence and William H. Hall. Works located at 502 Kinsley avenue, Providence. Employ 16 hands. Herbert C.
Hamlet Textile Co. Plant, Hamlet, Woonsocket, R. I.
houses, and, as its name indicates, an abundance of beautiful trees. The main mill is of stone 175 x 70 feet, with an ell of 70 x 50 feet, and with its lofty and handsome tower, which can be seen down the valley for miles, is a picturesque object. In this tower are the large tanks for supplying water for the mill and automatic sprinklers. The mill is run most of the year by water power supplied by the Branch river, and has one of the best granite cut stone dams in the State. Three turbine water wheels utilize about 450 horse power, and two Corliss engines and one Westinghouse engine furnish about 450 horse power, the latter engine used to supply power for their electric lighting plant.
Clemence is a native of Johnston, were he was born in September, 1859, and he is the General Manager of the business. He was employed for eighteen years by H. E. Smith & Co. in the cotton yarn business, three years by Joslin & Smith in the shoe lace business, and two years by the Joslin Mfg. Co. in the same line of busi- ness. His long experience in the manufacture of yarns and shoe strings qualifies him as a manager of the business, being fully equipped with a knowledge of all of the machinery re- quired in their plant, which includes braiders, tipping machines, etc. William H. Hall is also a native of Johnston, R. I., and has been in the bird business on Westminster street, Providence, for over ten years, and is a man of good execu- tive ability.
er
y,
e
1 e
er
e- of til m th ge it sic- bly ng- in the ved , in 359 ses- of n as and Lina, ness very
Forestdale Mfg. Co. Mill, Forestdale, North Smithfield, R. I. (See page 173.)
175
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Frank Wood Manufacturing Co. - Manufac- turers of fancy tapes for trimming children's clothing, night robes, wrappers, etc., all colors
Manning Wood.
in cotton and silk. Business established in 1898 by Manning and Frank Wood. In 1900 William Hinchliffe became a member of the
Frank Wood.
firm. Works located in Valley Falls, R. I. Employ 15 hands. Manning Wood, the senior member of the firm, was born in the town of Burrillville, R. I., April 5, 1834. He was a suc- cessful merchant in the village of Pascoag for about thirty years, and he is at present the manager of the William H. Sheldon estate, where wooden boxes and building materials are manufactured, the plant being one of the largest in the State. Upon the establishment of the Frank Wood Mfg. Co., Mr. Wood became a member of the firm, his son being the prime mover in the enterprise. Frank Wood, the General Manager of the business, is a native of
William Hinchliffe.
Burrillville, R. I., where he was born May 4, 1865. After completing his education in the public schools of his native town, he went to work in the carding room of A. L. Sayles' fac- tory of Pascoag, and later he took a course in the Philadelphia Textile school where he re- ceived the kind of education that has fitted him for the line of work that he has since followed. He was employed for about one year by the National and Providence Worsted Mills, in the capacity of assistant designer. After leaving this place he was employed as assistant designer in the Farwell Worsted Mills of Central Falls, where he remained one year, and then engaged with the Hope Webbing Co. of Pawtucket, as
176
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
their designer, where he remained three years. He left this concern to establish the business of the Frank Wood Manufacturing Co. in Valley Falls, beginning with ten looms, and to meet the steady increase of business others have
learned the trade of a harness and reed maker in Clinton, Mass., where he served about four years before locating in Woonsocket, where he began to work in the establishment that he is now part owner of, which was some sixteen years ago. Mr. Wilkins is the General Mana-
F. B. Wilkins & Co .- Manufacturers of loom harness and reeds, and dealers in manufacturers' supplies. Business was established in 1894. The works are located at 16 South Main street, Woonsocket, R. I. Fred B. Wilkins was born been added until at present their plant consists . in Milford, N. H., January 16, 1861. He of sixteen broad looms and one narrow loom. The indications are that this will be one of the most important manufacturing concerns of the State of Rhode Island, because they manufac- ture a special line of goods, and their produc- tions are of the finest quality. William Hin-
ABWILKINS
& CO. LOOM HARNESSES.
F. B. Wilkins & Co. Factory, Woonsocket, R. I.
chliffe, who became a member of the firm January I, 1900, was born in Charlton, Mass., November 12, 1863. He has followed the woolen business for a number of years. He began in the wool room of the Slater Woolen Co. of Webster, Mass., where he served ten years, and then was employed by the Sayles & Jenks Mfg. Co. in their factory at Warren, Mass., where he had charge of their wool room for about five years, after which he became a member of the Frank Wood Mfg. Co., where he is actively engaged in the factory at Valley Falls, which is one of the most progressive concerns of the town.
ger of the business. William J. Milan, the other member of the firm, was born in New Bedford, Mass., in 1848. He came to Woon- socket thirty-five years ago and has been em- ployed in this establishment from that time to the present. The business was purchased by Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Milan in 1894; and their thorough knowledge of the reed and harness manufacture has placed their productions among the first in the mills throughout the country where they have won a good repu- tation. Their works are situated near Woon- socket Falls in the midst of the textile concerns.
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
177
Benjamin Wilbur .- Manufacturer of bobbins and spools. Works located in South Scituate, R. I. Business established in 1818 by Samuel
Benjamin Wilbur.
Wilbur, who carried on the manufacture of bob- bins and spools in the original factory, which was built by him the year of the establishment of the business, until 1853. He was then suc- ceeded by his son, Benjamin Wilbur, who is a native of South Scituate, where he was born April 7, 1835. He continued the business in
the same factory until 1865, when he moved the old building and used it as an engine house, erecting in its place a new and much larger fac- tory, where he continued the manufacture of bobbins and spools on a somewhat larger scale. This building was destroyed by fire October 3, 1876, together with the machinery, tools and stock. Mr. Wilbur at once began the rebuild- ing of a structure located across the street from the old factory, formerly the property of Robert Knight, which provided a factory suitable for the employment of about twenty men. Here he continued business until 1883, when these works were destroyed by fire, together with all of the machinery, etc., as before. The factory as shown by the cut upon this page was imme- diately built by Mr. Wilbur, and is the one now occupied, being a substantial wooden building, and superior in every way to either of the old factories. This new factory was equipped with all of the modern machinery required in the manufacture of bobbins and spools, and the power for this plant is supplied by a turbine water wheel of 56-horse power and a steam en- gine of about 60-horse power. Mr. Wilbur is one of the most influential men of the town. He was a member of the Town Council from 1870 to 1875, was assessor of taxes for several years, and has held other minor offices. He was elected a Representative to the General Assembly in 1876 from the town of Scituate, and was re-elected in April, 1900. He united with the Baptist church in 1858, and was or- dained deacon in 1859. He is superintendent of the Sabbath school and has always been an active church worker.
EELLEE
Benjamin Wilbur's Bobbin Works, South Scituate, R. I.
(12)
178
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Crompton Company .- Manufacturers of print cloths, corduroys and cotton velvets. Mills located in Crompton, town of Warwick, R. I.
F. E. Richmond.
The business was established in 1807, as the Providence Manufacturing Company, by Seth Wheaton, Thomas Sessions, John K. Pitman,
Howard Richmond.
Henry Smith, Nathaniel Searle, Jonathan Tiff- any and Benjamin Remington. They purchased twenty acres of land at Crompton of William Rice who also may have been a stockholder in the company. The price paid was $1050, which included the water privilege on the Pawtuxet river. The capital stock was divided into thirty- two shares. Col. Seth Wheaton was the gen- eral manager of the business, which was that of spinning cotton yarns. The original stone mill was built in Crompton in 1807, and it was locally called the "Stone jug," the village being known as "Stone Factory." This mill, now designated by the present company as the No. I mill, has
G. Richmond Parsons.
been very much enlarged. It is believed to be the sixth cotton mill and the first stone mill erected in the State, and the company is cer- tainly the oldest textile manufacturing concern in Rhode Island, with one exception, which has done a continuous business from its organiza- tion to the present time. In 1808 additional land was purchased of William Rice and Thomas Matteson. May 16, 1816, the company made . an assignment, and the property came into the possession of John K. Pitman in January, 1819, who carried on the business until his death in 1820. This mill property was then leased for a term of three years, from November 29, 1820, by the executors of the estate, Mrs. Mary Dor-
Plant of the Crompton Company, Crompton, R. I .- Showing the Cotton Mills, and Dyeing and Finishing Works.
180
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
rance and Asa Larned, to Mr. Rhodes of Paw- tuxet, Elisha P. Smith and Tully Dorrance, of Providence. February 26, 1823, Seth Wheaton and Edward Carrington bought the property, and in March of the same year they entered into a copartnership with Benjamin Cozzens. This new firm changed the name of the concern to the Crompton Company, and the village soon after adopted the name of Crompton. The name was given in honor of the celebrated machinist, Sir Samuel Crompton, the inventor of the spinning jenny. This change was made in 1823. In the same year the new company started a bleachery under the management of Edward Pike of Sterling, Conn. The No. 2 mill was erected in 1828, the No. 3 in 1832, and the No. 4 mill in 1881. Since then extensive enlargements and additions have been built from time to time, and at present there is a new building in course of con- struction. Within a few years after 1823 the firm began calico printing, which department is said to have been very profitable dur- ing the years 1844 and 1845. Mis- fortune followed the prosperous times of 1845 and in 1846 the whole property had to be sold, and the purchasers were Gov. Charles Jackson, Earl P. Mason, Daniel Bush and William T. Dorrance, of Providence. In 1850 the business was incorporated at $200,000. The present capitalization is $400,000. The print works were leased to Abbott & Sanders in 1852, and later to James Sanders, who car- ried on the business for a number of years, after which the print works buildings were taken down, and new buildings erected in their place. George M. Richmond of Providence, a success- ful calico printer, obtained the controlling inter- est in the property in 1866, and it has since re- mained in his family. The product of the mills until 1885 was cotton goods in the form of printing cloths, but in that year a new enterprise was commenced. This was the manufacture of velveteens and corduroys. After a careful study of the inducements and the methods of
Mill Tower of the Crompton Company.
manufacture employed in England and Europe, four looms were started producing about four pieces a week. The industry was unusual and difficult on account of its being new to the United States. At that time all of the velveteens and corduroys found in this country were manufactured abroad and the methods of manufacture were strictly guarded. The Crompton Company established this business in the United States, being the pioneers, and for several years were the only manufacturers. This product has gradually increased until now it is about 600 pieces a week. All of the processes are carried on in this. establishment from the raw cotton to the finished goods, a condition rarely found in England.
The fustians are sold under the trade tickets of "Crompton Cordu- roy" and "Century Velveteen" and their quality is attested by the fact that at the Pan-American Exposi- tion at Buffalo in 1901, this com- pany received the highest award, a gold medal, for superiority of its corduroys and velveteens, and also a silver medal for the most attrac- tive exhibit. The latter was the only silver medal awarded for in- stallation to textile manufacturers in the State of Rhode Island.
Some plain cotton goods are still manufactured but as the fus- tians have increased these have be- come of secondary importance. The company employs 750 hands. The Pawtuxet river supplies 800 horse power through six turbine water wheels, and eight boilers de- velop 1100 horse power. There are 40,000 spindles and 1,000 looms, and the dyeing and finishing works have a capacity of 1,000 pieces a week. The mills are substantial stone struc- tures equipped with modern machinery. The dyeing and finishing works are of the latest design.
The village of Crompton is one of the very at- tractive manufacturing villages in the State. The main street is lined with elm trees of more than half a century's growth, and the dwellings are neat and well cared for. The village is
181
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
twelve miles from the city of Providence, and can be reached by two lines of steam cars and by the electric trolley; a very different condition from the early days when the only communica- tion was by roads, and all the products of the mill had to be teamed to Providence.
The officers of the company since the organi- zation in 1850, are:
Presidents-Earl P. Mason, Sept. 16, 1850 to Oct. 2, 1876; F. E. Richmond, Oct. 2, 1876 now in office.
Treasurers-William T. Dorrance, Sept. 16,
bleaching and dyeing machinery, ageing boxes, shafting, pulleys, gearing, hydraulic presses, tenter drying machines, cloth cutting machines, warp dyeing and drying machines, silk lace and - cotton finishing machinery. The company are sole manufacturers of the Nagle Power Feed Pump. Business established in 1830 by George B. Holmes, Dr. John McKie, and Benjamin, Charles and Paris Dyer. The first building was erected at the corner of Eddy and Elm streets in 1830, and later other buildings were added from time to time, until the present extensive plant
es
0
O
PHENIX IRON FOUNDRY
ELM ST. MACHINE SHOP
--
-
PROV.
Elm Street Machine Shop of the Phenix Iron Foundry, Providence.
1850 to Jan. 2, 1866; Sanford Durfee, Jan. 2, 1866 to July 1, 1875; F. E. Richmond, July I, 1875 to Jan. 26, 1876; Howard Richmond, Jan. 26, 1876 now in office.
Secretaries-William T. Dorrance, Sept. 6, 1850 to Jan. 2, 1866; Sanford Durfee, Jan. 2, 1866 to July 1, 1875; Howard Richmond, July I, 1875 to Jan. 27, 1892; G. Richmond Parsons, Jan. 27, 1892 now in office.
Phenix Iron Foundry .- Manufacturers of brass castings, rolls, etc., copper singe plate rolls, cal- enders, starch mangles, calender rolls of paper, cotton and husk-chilled picker balls, dye kettles, expansion pulleys, wool washing machine rolls,
R.I. PHOTO- ENG. CO
was completed. The machine shop is located on Elm, corner of Butler street, Providence, known as the Eddy Street Machine Shop, the foundry being on Eddy street. In 1886 Charles R. Earle became the President and Treasurer of the corporation, still holding that position, since which time many important inventions have been brought out at the works. Many heavy iron castings are made at the foun- dry for the various engine manufacturers of the city. This is one of the best equipped foundries and machine shops in the State, covering an area of about 100,000 square feet.
182
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Lymansville Company. - Manufacturers of worsted yarns, worsted coatings and suitings. Business established in 1884, and incorporated the same year, under a capitalization of $500,000. Officers: A. Albert Sack, President and Treas- urer; Herman Ambach, Agent; Benjamin Halli- well, Secretary. Factory located in Lymans- ville, R. I.
Mr. A. Albert Sack, the president of the cor- poration, to whose enterprise and skill as a manufacturer is due the present extensive busi- ness, was born in Hansfelde, Germany, August 16, 1843. After completing his education and gaining a thorough knowledge of all of the details of the woolen manufacturing business in his native country, he came to America in 1867. He was first em- ployed by Edward Har- ris, the veteran woolen manufacturer of Woon- socket, who was at the head of the Harris Woolen Company, and whose products became known as the only woolen fabrics that could approach in qual- ity the same class of goods made in foreign countries. With this company he served as a designer, and later em- ployed in a similar capa- city in the Everett Mills of Lawrence, Mass., and still later in the Bates Mills of Lew- iston, Me. After leaving this company he was with the commission house of Leland, Allen & Bates, of Boston, where he had the supervision of all the woolen mills operated by this company. He became superintendent of the Owen & Clark worsted mill of Providence in 1873, and in 1879 he purchased the business of Mr. Owen and incorporated the same as the Geneva Wor- sted Mill. He sold his interest in this concern after having managed the business successfully, until 1884. In that year he organized the Lymansville Company; the mills were built of brick under his personal supervision, the first of
A. Albert Sack.
which was completed in 1885, the ends being finished in wood. As the business increased these wooden ends were removed and additions built on from time to time, until to-day the plant is one of the largest in the State, as shown by the cut on opposite page, which gives a good idea of the extent of the mills as seen from the front, although in the rear there are several wings that do not appear in the print, that amount to nearly as much in floor space as the part that is shown in the illustration. The ends of the main buildings are still built of wood so as to provide for further enlargements should the increase of business demand it. In 1885 the first year's output amounted to 170,000 pounds of yarn and 150,000 yards of cloth. In 1901, after fifteen years of growth, the production of the mills have reached 1,200,000 pounds of yarn and 1,000,000 yards of cloth. In 1888 the company opened salesrooms in New York and seven other large cities for selling their goods di- rect to the trade. All office work, shipping, charging and collecting of accounts is done at the mill office in Ly- mansville, possibly the only mill doing so in the country. The mills give employment to 600 operatives. Power for the works is supplied from the Woonasquatucket river to the amount of about 120-horse power through two Perfection turbines, and by a Har- ris-Corlis compound condensing engine of 600- horse power. Two dynamos of 250 1200-candle power arc lamps give ample light for the various departments. Mr. Sack is prominent in a num- ber of the leading societies of the city of Provi- dence, where he resides, but he has never be- come interested enough in politics to allow his name to be presented as a nominee for office of any kind. His strict attention to manufactur- ing has enabled him to build up an industry within the State that is second to none, and which is a credit to Rhode Island.
Front View of the Lymansville Company Mill, Lymansville, R. I.
184
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
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.