USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 20
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The plant at 52 Valley street has grown from a small bleachery, finishing about four tons of goods in 1885, to its present capacity of twenty tons per day. About one million yards of light dres's goods pass through it finished each week.
Providence Engineering Works .- Manufactur- ers of stationary engines and general machinery, their specialties being the Greene engine and the Rice & Sargent engine. Business estab- lished originally by R. L. Thurston and John Babcock, practical engine builders. After various co-partnership changes, the Providence Steam Engine Co. was organized and incorpor- ated under the laws of Rhode Island, in 1863. The business was carried along successfully under this name untill May 23, 1899, when this company and the Rice & Sargent Engine Co. were succeeded by the Providence Engineering Works, and incorporated at that time with a capitalization of $250,000. The new company occupy the works of the Providence Steam En- gine Co., on South Main, South Water and Pike
streets, Providence, where they employ about 250 hands. The plant is the largest in the city for the building of steam engines with one ex- ception, and their productions rank with the best made steam engines built in this or foreign countries. The officers of the company are: Richard A. Robertson, President; Richard H. Rice, Treasurer and Secretary. Some of the largest manufacturing concerns of the State are equipped with their engines, including the ", National and Providence Worsted Mills, the Valley Worsted Mills, besides many large con- cerns in other States throughout the country, including the Lincoln Wharf station of the Bos- ton Elevated Railroad where two of their 6,000 horse power Rice & Sargent engines are in op- eration, probably the largest in New England. The best equipment in the city of Providence is at the power station of the Union Railroad Co. on Eddy street, where there are several of their Greene engines in operation, supplying power for the electric road. The plant is equipped with every modern device for handling and working heavy or light castings, machinery parts, etc.
American Supply Co .- Manufacturers of loom harness, reeds, leather belting, pickers and mill supplies. Business organized and incorporated in 1883. Capitalized for $300,000. Office, II and 12 Eddy street, Providence. Works in Central Falls, R. I. Employ 125 hands. Offi- cers : John E. Kendrick, Vice-President ; Myron Fish, Treasurer; John A. Carter, Secretary. The business is a consolidation of the Kendrick Loom Harness Co. and Myron Fish & Co., the former company having been in the business for about thirty years, and the latter company had been in existence for about twenty years, the combination making a strong company, do- ing a wide business at home and abroad.
Lippitt Woolen Co. - Manufacturers of cassi- meres and coatings. Business established in 1865. Incorporated the same year at the May session of the Legislature. Mills located on South Main street, Woonsocket, R. I. Officers : Henry F. Lippitt, President; Chas. H. Merriman, Treasurer. The mills have 20 sets of cards and 114 looms. Power is supplied in part from the Blackstone River Trench. The company was named in honor of Henry F. Lippitt, who was the prime mover in the enterprise. It was known as the Harrison Cotton Mill before 1865, where cotton goods were manufactured for a number of years.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Reliance Mill Company .- Manufacturers of fancy table meals, including corn, rye, graham, whole wheat, buckwheat, oat metal, etc. Bus-
Henry C. Clark.
iness established originally by J. C. Redding who was succeeded by Goodspeed & Co., and later D. N. Knight became the owner of the business. Henry C. Clark finally became the owner of the plant, and in 1873 he erected the present extensive mill on the water front, 208 to 216 Dyer street, Providence, five stories high, with a storage capacity for 40,000 bushels of grain, and the pier affords ample facilities for vessels to discharge. The mill is equipped with four double sets of rolls, and the power for the works is supplied by a 500 horse power steam engine. There is a direct railroad switch, thus giving them perfect transportation facilities, and on the dock they have a large three story ware- house for the storage of salt, hay, grain, straw, and sundries. Henry C. Clark was born in Providence, November 28, 1822. After com- pleting his education in the public schools of his native city, he began active business in 1841 as a clerk in the employ of Jackson & Clark, coal merchants, and held that position until his admission into the firm, the name then being changed to Jackson, Clark & Co. Then the firm underwent successive changes, first as S. Clark & Co., Clark & Coggeshall, Clark &
Webb, H. C. Clark, and later as the Providence Coal Co., Henry C. Clark becoming the sole owner of the business, which was the most exten sive of any in the city of Providence, excepting the Wilkesbarre Pier, which is owned by the N. Y., N. H. & Hartford Railroad Co. The plant has a wharf frontage on the harbor of about 1500 feet, and the coal pockets will contain fully 20,000 tons. Mr. Clark was at all times one of the most public spirited citizens of the city, and he was elected to represent the city of Provi- dence in the House of Representatives of the General Assembly from 1882 to 1885, and he represented his ward in the Common Council of the city of Providence during the same period. In 1876 he was elected a member of the Board of Aldermen. In 1892 and 1895 he was an independent candidate for Mayor. He died March 3, 1898.
Harry C. Clark, the present proprietor of the Reliance Mill Co., and the Providence Coal Co., was born in Providence, October 24, 1857, and is the son of Henry C. Clark. He was edu- catedin the public schools and Brown University. Upon leaving school he entered his father's office and was appointed Treasurer of the con-
Harry C. Clark.
cern, soon after becoming a partner with his father in the business, which included the coal and mill business. Upon the death of his father
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
in 1898 he became the sole owner of both pro- perties, which are now carried on under his direction. William H. Kelly is the General
Albert H. Olney.
Manager of the Reliance Mill, but Mr. Clark superintends the entire business of the Provi- dence Coal Co., which employs about 125 hands.
Olney Brothers .- Lubricating oils. Business established in 1872 by Henry S. and Albert H. Olney. Office and storehouse, 54 South Water street, Providence. Albert H. Olney, now the sole proprietor of the business, was born in Scituate, R. I., in July, 1839. After leaving the public schools he attended the Smithville seminary, later known as the Lapham Institute, in the village of North Scituate. After leaving this institution he attended Potter & Ham- mond's Mercantile school, of Providence, where he remained until 1858. The following year he entered the Richmond Mill in Scituate as book- keeper, remaining two years. In 1864 he was the proprietor of a cotton mill in Rockland, and carried on the business about one year, at a time when cotton was selling at $1.80 per pound. After leaving manufacturing, he en- tered the employ of G. & C. P. Hutchins in the crockery and gas fixture business, and in 1872 he left this concern to begin business on his own account in company with his brother, under the firm name of Olney Brothers. The
first car load of oil was received November 4 of that year, from the Binghamton Oil Refining Co., and from that time to the present they have handled the goods of that justly celebrated refinery, whose cylinder oils have been sent to every country of the globe where steam engines are used. For the first few years their business was mostly confined to handling the Bingham- ton oils, but as other refineries were established, making a great variety of goods, they have kept pace with the times by arranging with refiners of different specialties, so as to secure the very best oils that can be had for various purposes. The Binghamton cylinder oil has always stood at the head of steam cylinder lubricants. The stock of Olney Brothers is as complete as it is possible to have in oils for all kinds of machin- ery. In 1898 Henry S. Olney withdrew from the firm, and the business has been carried on by Albert H. Olney as the sole proprietor under the original name of Olney Brothers.
Chas. Pay & Co .- Manufacturers of wagons and trucks of all kinds, coal hoisting apparatus, mud dredgers, wheelwrights and general ma- chinists. Business established in 1877 by Charles Pay, who is a native of England, where he was born in 1851. Works located at 301 South Water street, Providence. Does a gen- eral line of blacksmithing and forging.
I. H. Smith .- Manufacturer of card clothing machinery. Business established in 1891, by
RELIANCE
RELIANCE MILLS
Israel H. Smith, who is a native of Rutland, Mass., where he was born in 1839. Works located in Edgewood, Providence.
199
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
The Coronet Worsted Co. - Manufacturers of fine worsted suitings and piece dyes. Mills located at Mapleville, R. I., in the town of Bur- rillville. The business was established under the present name in 1900; incorporated, 1901 ; capitalized for $150,000, and employs 500 hands. Joseph E. Fletcher, who is a director of the Union Trust Co. of Providence, and of the Law- ton Spinning Co. of Woonsocket, is the Presi- dent and Treasurer ; John H. Lloyd is the Vice- President, and John W. Duncanson is the Secre- tary. The sales office of the company is at 377 Broadway, N. Y. Joseph E. Fletcher, the founder of the present business, was born at Bradford, England, in 1866. He is the eldest son of Charles Fletcher, the noted worsted manu- facturer, who estab- lished the mills known as the National and Providence Worsted Mills ; the Fulton Wor- sted Mills ; the Pocas- set ; the Victoria; the Saranac Mills at Black- stone, and the Lawton Spinning Co., and has now ceased to take an active interest in the woolen business, as he has sold his different mills to the American Woolen Co.
Joseph E. Fletcher entered his father's em- ploy in Providence, and was finally elected Vice- President and Treasurer of the National and Providence Worsted Mills, also Treasurer and General Manager of the Saranac Worsted Mills, which mills were sold to the American Woolen Co., and for two years he acted as the agent and general manager of these mills for this com- pany. After resigning from the position of agent, he purchesed the Mapleville property in December, 1900, and organized it under the name of the Coronet Worsted Co. The old mill was completely transformed into a modern establishment, and put on to a running basis, with a New York office selling their goods di-
Joseph E. Fletcher.
rect to the trade. After the old mill was in shape and in good running order, Mr. Fletcher immediately started building a new brick fac. tory 300 feet long, also a number of tenement houses, as shown herewith in the double page cut. The new company is established on a much larger scale than the old time business, which for a number of years was running at a low ebb, on account of the destruction by fire of the factory on the site of the new mill. Any one acquainted with Mapleville in the old time would hardly recognize it now under the trans- formation that has taken place. The old mill is known as Mill No. 1, and the new factory as Mill No. 2. And now that both are running to their full extent, the village of Mapleville is placed in the front rank of the textile centres of the manufacturing town of Burrillville, and the enterprise shown by this new company under Mr. Fletcher's management has given the old town a renewed stimulus to push her manufacturing interests to a point of vigor that she has never realized before. Power for the No. I Mill, the old cluster of buildings as shown on page 202, is supplied from the_ lower privilege of the Chepachet river to the extent of about 150-horse power through two turbines, and a Harris-Corliss steam engine of 200-horse power. This mill operates 70 looms in the manufacture of fine suitings, and the No. 2 Mill, the new one, is supplied by the upper privilege in the same village on the Chepachet river to the extent of about 150-horse power through two turbines and a Whitehall steam engine of 200-horse power, operating 100 looms. These are among the most complete worsted plants in the State of Rhode Island, and the village with its neat houses, situated on a gentle slope facing the east, the streets lined on either side by full
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
grown maple trees, which very appropriately gives it the name of Mapleville, is very attrac- tive and well laid out.
This place was formerly known as Cooper's Mills, a saw mill situated upon the site of the No. I Mill being the only business of the place for a great many years, or until the building of the first woolen factory here in 1841 by Darius
B. Smith, who further enlarged the plant and began the manufacture of fancy woolen goods. Smith & Whitehead were the owners in July, 1864, and the following year, in March, Fred- erick B. Smith bought his partner's interest, whose name was James B. Whitehead. March 30, 1866, Mr. Smith sold the property to the firm of Whitehead & Legg, and December 7,
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Coronet Worsted Co. Mill No. 2.,
P. Lawton, whose son-in-law, James W. Hale, operated the mill, his equipment being one set of cards and a few looms. This first mill was built of stone, and was destroyed by fire prior to 1856, when Oliver Tracy bought the prop- erty and rebuilt the mill on a much larger scale, probably utilizing the stone walls of the old factory. In 1857 he sold the property to Smith & Hawkins, who in turn sold it to Joseph
1867, James Legg bought his partner's interest and became the sole owner. At this time there were only 18 narrow Greenhalge looms in the mill, and Mr. Legg began making improve- ments and enlargements. The large addition was built in 1871-2, and the works in 1890 con- sisted of four main structures together with a number of smaller buildings, the section with the belfry being the original structure. At this
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
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latter date there were some two hundred hands 'west bank of the river, a woolen mill was employed operating six sets of cards and forty erected of wood with a stone basement by Daniel S. Whipple about the year 1845. Mr. Whipple bought this upper privilege from Duty Smith, March 8, 1845, and as he was the owner of the next water privilege above on the Che- pachet river, at Gaza, where he was busily en- gaged developing an extensive textile business, broad looms, making weekly about 4,000 yards of fancy cassimeres and cheviots, and at present the mill produces about 20,000 yards of worsted goods per week. Mr. Legg took his son into partnership, and the name of the firm became James Legg & Co. In March, 1890, the busi-
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Village of Mapleville, R. I.
ness was incorporated under the name of the Mapleville Manufacturing Co., but it was a close corporation, the shares being all owned by the Legg family. The same year Mr. Legg, senior, died August 2d, and then the business of the corporation devolved upon his sons, James Legg as President and General Manager, and William Legg, Treasurer.
Some 200 yards above the No. I Mill, on the
which, by the way, is now in ruins, he leased his Mapleville mill. John L. Ross hired one room and made cotton yarns; Benjamin F. Greeneoccu- pied the two upper floors and made warps for Hill & Carpenter. Mr. Greene subsequently founded the Greene & Daniels Manufacturing Co. of Pawtucket. Some time after, in 1848, John Barber hired the basement and manufac- tured linsey woolseys for Hill & Carpenter of
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Providence. Some years later Mr. Whipple built a stone mill in the rear of the wooden fac- tory, and leased the new building to Steere & Tinkham in 1853. Here William Tinkham be- gan his successful career as a manufacturer in company with Job Steere. They carried on the manufacture of woolen goods until 1856, when these gentlemen moved their plant to Harris- ville, on the Clear river. The leases expiring in 1856, Mr. Whipple then began the operation of the mills himself. In 1862 he enlarged the
brick factory, which has just been completed, and is one of the most substantial mill build- ings in the State, well equipped with modern machinery and every modern device for the manufacture of fine worsted goods.
Daniel S. Whipple is credited with having set the trees that to-day make the place so at- tractive. With the present impetus that the new company has developed for the place, Mapleville is destined to be one of the very popular manufacturing hamlets of the State,
Coronet Worsted Co. No. 1 Mill, Mapleville, R. I.
plant and operated a six set fancy woolen fac- tory. In 1863 he sold the property to George N. and James A. Smith, who, June 10, 1865, sold the mill to James Whitehead and James Legg. In 1867, December 7th, Mr. White- head sold his interest to his partner, and James Legg then became the sole proprietor of this and the lower mill. This upper mill was burned September 3d, 1871, and had remained a pile of ruins until Mr. Fletcher purchased both privileges and erected the present imposing
and it is not at all unlikely that the privilege at Gaza will very soon be built up, and still further up the stream, at the famous old village of Che- pachet is another old ruin, which a few years ago, before the destructive fire, was giving em- ployment to some 300 operatives, will in due time be re-established, thereby making the Che- pachet river valley one of activity and thrift.
While Mr. Joseph E. Fletcher has never sought public office he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1899, be- ing a member of the Notification Committee.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
William F. Quarters. - Electro-plating of jewelry of a fine grade. Business established in 1891. Works located at 129 Eddy street, Providence. Employ 23 hands. William F. Quarters is a native of Providence. After com- pleting his education in the public schools of the city he entered the employ of S. T. Lincoln & Co., of Providence, to learn the electro-plat- ing business, where he remained from 1870 to 1879, when he engaged with James Callaghan. Here he was employed three years, and then entered the employ of Herbert E. Brown & Co. as foreman of the electro-plating department, serving in that capa- city for five years, and then became a member of the firm. He sold his interest in this con- cern in 1891 and began business on his own account on Eddy street, and to meet the de- mands of his increas- ing business he found it necessary to increase his establishment, and he accordingly moved into his present quar- ters at 129 Eddy street, where he has ample facilities for car- rying on his business. From the beginning Mr. Quarters has made it a point to bid for fine work, and his great specialty is fine shad- ing, together with heavy 14-karat plating, for which he has established an excellent repu- tation. His works are equipped for doing the higher grade of work, and consequently very little of the cheaper kind is done. While Mr. Quarters receives the bulk of his business from local concerns, he still has quite an extensive trade throughout the country.
Thomas G. Hunt .- Manufacturer of a general line of electro-plated goods, including brooches, hat pins, etc. Present business established in 1900, October 10. Mr. Hunt is a native of At- tleboro, Mass., where he was born May 8, 1857. He learned the jewelry trade in the village of
Chartley, Mass., where he remained for about ten years. He was employed for a time in At- tleboro and North Attleboro prior to locating in Providence, where he was employed by Moore- head & Co., and afterwards became a partner with R. A. Greene under the firm name of R. A. Greene & Co., manufacturing jewelers, and later retired from this firm and went into part- nership with S. E. Budlong, where he remained until he began business alone in 1900. Works located at 117 Point street, Providence,
Contrexeville Manufacturing Co. - Manufac- turers of cotton plushes and velveteens. Busi- ness established in Manville, R. I., in 1897, and incorporated the same year as the Con- trexeville Mfg. Co., with a capitalization of $100,000. Mill situ- ated about a mile from the Manville railroad station, in a very at- tractive locality. The mill building is two stories in height, built of brick and modern in every respect, and its equipment of machin- ery is the latest. Em- ploy 125 hands. Offi- cers of the corpora- tion are: Edwin R. Handy, President; Thomas H. Handy, Treasurer and Secre- tary. The Power for the plant is supplied by an Armington & Sims engine of 200-horse power.
William F. Quarters.
Mead Gas Engine Co. - Manufacturers of sta- tionary and marine gas and gasolene engines. Business incorporated in April, 1900. Capital- ized for $50,000. Works located at the foot of Norwood avenue, Edgewood, Providence, on Providence river. Officers: Frank S. Mead, President and Treasurer; A. T. Vigneron, Secretary.
W. H. Mason. - Manufacturer of shoe laces. Business established in 1892 as Carpenter & Mason, later as W. H. Mason & Co., and later the business was carried on under the name of William H. Mason. Works located at 228 Aborn street, Providence. Employs six hands.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
R. I. Elevator and Machine Co. - Manufac- turers of steam, hydraulic, electric and belt ele- vators, for passenger and freight service. The
Oswald C. Haley.
company also do repairing of engines, elevators, shafting, machinery, boilers, pumps, artesian wells, etc. Business established in 1899 by Os- wald C. Haley, who is a native of Hoosick, N. Y., where he was born July 11, 1856. The busi- ness of Oswald C. Haley was merged into the R. I. Elevator and Machine Co., January 1, 1900, James N. Ramage being President of the new company and Oswald C. Haley, Treasurer and Manager. Arthur E. Handy became a member of the firm in August, 1901, who isa native of Provi- dence, and was made Secretary of the company. Works located at 35 Clifford street, Providence. The plant is equipped with modern machinery for building elevators and doing all kinds of re- pair work in the most approved manner. Mr. Haley, the general manager of the business, is a practical machinist, with a thorough knowledge of elevator manufacturing. There are few manufacturing plants in the State that do not require some kind of an elevator, either for freight or passenger service, and this concern will prove of great advantage because of the superiority of their productions, and because if anything happens in the way of a break down
they are near at hand to make the necessary re- pairs. This new plant should prove one of the most valuable lines of business in the city.
Oakland Worsted Co .- Manufacturers of clay worsteds. Business established in 1892, and in- corporated the same year. Mill located in Oak- land, R. I., on the Clear river, at a point where the stream is enlarged by the waters of the Pas- coag, Nipmuck and Chepachet rivers, thereby furnishing through two turbines about 80-horse power. The mill is also equipped with a Corliss engine of 100-horse power. Employ about 130 hands. Officers: Stephen O. Metcalf, Treas- urer; William H. White, Superintendent. Mr. White is a gentleman of extensive experience in the manufacture of worsteds. The original mill was built by John L. Ross in 1850, the dam hav- ing been built by him in 1849. Several addi- tions were built from time to time, and the prop- erty was first operated by the Woonsocket De- laine Co., continuing for about three years, when Mr. Ross carried on the business himself in the manufacture of cotton yarns. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1882, July 12, but was rebuilt immediately by Mr. Ross, who leased the property to Bogart, Harris & Co., which firm manufactured silk yarns, hosiery, etc., do- ing a thriving business for about six years. The present company purchased the property in July, 1892.
F. A. Colwell .- Manufacturer of paper boxes. Business established in 1870 by Palmer Brown, and purchased by Mr. Colwell about 1881. Works located at 139 Main street, Woon- socket. Employs about 40 hands. Fred A. Colwell is a native of Manville, R. I., where he was born September 9, 1858. He com- pleted his education in Mowry & Goff's school, and then entered the employ of S. S. Foss as bookkeeper where he remained for about three years, and then served in the same capacity for Fred W. Jenckes in the tailoring business for two years, when he resigned to begin the manufacture of paper boxes. In 1894 he bought C. C. Wheelock's . job printing establishment which he now uses as an adjunct to his paper box business. Mr. Colwell has shown much enterprise in the management of his business. He has not de- pended upon local trade wholly, but he has de- veloped a business that gives him a wide field to work in throughout the State and elsewhere.
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