USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 23
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221
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
in 1901. Capitalized for $100,000. Works located corner of Pond and East School streets, Woonsocket, R. I. Employ about 60 hands. Officers : J. M. R. Taylor, President ; William Maertens, Treasurer and Secretary. A 100 horse power Corliss engine supplies the power for the plant, and their own dynamo furnishes electric lights. James M. R. Taylor, the Gen- eral Manager of the business, was born in Providence, June 2, 1866. He learned the
J. Kenworthy & Co .- Manufacturers of brush machinery and tool work. Also does pattern making in wood and steel. Business established in 1897. John Kenworthy was born in Woon- socket, R. I., Dec. 24, 1844. Learned the trade of a machinist in Woonsocket, and labored as a journeymen for a number of years in various. places, among them being the Morse Twist Drill Co., of New Bedford, the Taft-Peirce Mfg. Co., of Woonsocket, and others.
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Voelker Rotary Cloth Press. Geo. W. Voelker & Co., Woonsocket, R. I.
manufacturing business in the mills of the Lorraine Manufacturing Company of Paw- tucket, where he was employed for some sixteen years, beginning in the picker room and working up through all of the depart- ments of the factory, until he was finally given full charge of the designing, in . in 1870.
S. S. Getchell & Son .- Manufacturers of tin- ware for factories, including tin cylinders, etc. Works located on South Main street, Woon- socket, R. I. Seth S. Getchell was born in Wells Depot, Maine. Located in Woonsocket and established the tin manufacturing business Herbert E. Getchell is a native of which capacity he was serving when he Woonsocket, where he was born December 21, left to start in business on his own account in Woonsocket.
1872. He became a partner with his father in 1894.
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222
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Lafayette Worsted Co .- Manufacturers of worsted yarns, French system. Business estab- lished 1899, and incorporated the same year. Capitalized for $350,000. Factory located in Hamlet, Woonsocket, R. I. Officers: M. Simonis, President ; P. Mali, Treasurer; Charles Devine, Secretary. Mr. Simonis is a native of Verviers, Belgium. P. Mali is a native of Ver- viers, Belgium, and is the Belgian Consul Gen- eral to the United States, whose headquarters are in New York city. Mr. Devine is a native
George A. Metcalf .- Manufacturer of cotton and woolen machinery, steam and gasolene en- gines, model work, etc. Business established in 1889. Works located in Woonsocket, R. I., on Park avenue. George A. Metcalf was born in Uxbridge, Mass., June 10, 1855. Learned the trade of a machinist in Worcester. Is a thorough mechanical engineer.
U. S. Rubber Co. Wool Boot Department .- Manufacturers of wool boots which are made to fit into a kind of rubber arctic for lumber-
Voelker Dewing Machine. Geo. W. Voelker & Co., Woonsocket, R. I. (See page 220.)
of France. A large number of the employes of this factory are natives of France.
E. J. Prue & Co. - Manufacturers of knit goods, including undershirts, mittens and gloves. Business established in 1894 as Prue & Stiles. Mr. Stiles later disposing of his interest, the firm name became E. J. Prue & Co. Mr. Frank J. Prue is a native of Woonsocket, where he carries on a gents' furnishings store in con- nection with his manufacturing. Factory lo- cated on South Main street, near Woonsocket Falls.
men, etc. Business established about 1897. Works located on South Main street, Woon- socket, R. I. Employ about 275 hands. George C Wetmore, Jr., Treasurer of this branch of the company.
Naushon Company .- Manufacturers of cotton cloth. Business established June 1, 1901, and in- corporated May 4, 1901. Factory located in Woonsocket, R. I. Employ 200 hands. Con- template building a new factory in 1902, in Val- ley Falls. Officers: Malcolm G. Chase, Presi- dent; George C. Hinckley, Secretary and Treasurer.
223
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
William A. Harris Steam Engine Co. - Manu- facturers of the Harris-Corliss steam engine, and the Armington & Sims high speed engine. Business established by William A. Harris in 1864, in the old Governor Dorr headquarters on Eddy street, where he remained until Novem- ber, 1868, when he moved his plant to the cor- ner of Park and Promenade streets, in the city of Providence, where the business is located at the present time. Business incorporated in 1888, with a capitalization of $100,000. Reor- ganized January 1, 1901. Officers: William A. Harris, Jr., President ; Frederick A. W. Harris, Vice-President ; E. Francis Crowell, Secretary and Treasurer ; Gardiner C. Sims, Superintend- ing Engineer. William A. Harris, the founder of the business, was born in Wood- stock, Conn., March 2, 1835. After completing his edu- cation in the public schools, and in the private school of South Williamstown, Mass., he was engaged as a clerk in 1852 in the Union Bank of Providence, where he re- mained until 1855, when he entered the employ of the Providence Forge and Nut Co., now the Rhode Island Tool Co., as a draftsman. In April of the following year he entered the drafting room of Corliss & Nightin- gale, afterwards the Corliss Steam Engine Co., where he remained until 1864, when he began manu- facturing steam engines on his own account. His productions became very popular, demands for the Harris-Corliss engines being received from nearly all the manufacturing countries, and to-day they are in use in nearly all parts of the globe. Mr. Harris was a member of the City Council of Providence, and was a member of the House of Representatives from 1883 to 1886, covering a term of four years. Mr. Crowell, the Secretary and Treasurer of the company, has been connected with the concern for about eighteen years, and understands every detail of the extensive business, which has proven of value to the corporation, since the death of Mr. Harris, which occurred Oct. 29, 1896.
William A. Harris.
Mr. Sims, who was so long identified with Arm- ington & Sims, manufacturers of the Armington & Sims high-speed steam engine, which has won so wide a reputation for certain class of work among manufacturers, is giving to the company his extensive experience as an en- gineer, thereby guaranteeing the best class of construction work that can possibly be secured in the line of steam engine building. William A. Harris, Jr., the President of the corporation, was born in Providence, June 22, 1872. Fred- erick A. W. Harris, the Vice-President of the concern, was born in Providence, August 22, 1864; both are sons of the founder of the busi- ness and both are graduates of Brown Univer- sity. The plant is equipped with modern machinery of O every kind necessary to the production of the best class of work in the building of stationary engines, powers ranging from 50 to 3,000 horse.
The Providence Brewing Co .- Manufacturers of lager beer. Business incorporated in 1891. Capitalized for $ 300,000. Officers: James Hanley, President; John E. Good, Secretary and Treas- urer. Brewery located at the corner of Harris avenue and Eaglestreet, Providence. Also are the proprietors of the Hygenic Ice Co., manu- facturers of and dealers in ice for family trade. Employ about 55 hands. The power for the plant is supplied by two De la Vergne refrigerating machines with a capa- city of 75 tons each, the engines representing 125 horse power each. There are also two Harris-Corliss engines and five small vertical engines, together with a 40 horse power Ridge- way high speed engine for the electrical plant, all of which aggregate a total of about 1,000 horse power.
R. S. Cutting & Co .- Manufacturers of col- lar buttons in rolled plate. Also handle the picture hooks manufactured for the firm by George Hummell. Business established about 1880. Works located at 157 Orange street, Providence. Robert S. Cutting, proprietor.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Oakdale Mfg. Co. - Manufacturers of mar- garine and butterine. Business established in 1881 in a small way. Incorporated in 1891 with a paid up capital of $300,000. Factory located on South Water street, Providence. In 1894 the demand for their products being so great the company were compelled to enlarge their works, which they did by acquiring the property to the south of their original factory, containing over 4,000 square feet. On this site a six story building was erected, and the old building in- creased in size by adding enough stories to make it the same height of the new structure, and so joined on to the new building as to make them have the appearance of one structure, as shown on the opposite page, making it one of the largest plants for the manufacture of but- terine, etc., in the United States, and the quality of their productions is said to be as fine as can possibly be produced in a manufactured article of food of this kind. The process of preparing the ingredients of which butterine or margarine are made is a sterilizing process, and entirely destroys all germs injurious to the hu- man system that possibly may occur in any pro- duct not sterilized. The factory is as clean as any dairy in the country, and their products are handled by workmen who are clean and neat in their appearance, everything about the factory impressing one as carried on under a perfect and strict system, the first demand being neatness and cleanliness. They employ about 200 work- men, many ladies being included in this number, who do the packing, etc., and this force can turn out about 100,000 pounds of manufactured but- ter daily. The goods for the foreign market are put up tastefully in tinfoil and packed in bas- kets, and in tin-plate packages, packed in com- partment cases, thereby insuring safe transpor- tation to any part of the world. The power de- partment consists of two 150 horse power boilers of the horizontal type, and a Rice & Sargent engine, 150 horse power, of the Corliss type. The boilers furnish steam, not only for the en- gine and heating, but also for the various uses required in the preparation of materials and manufacture of goods made and put up by the company. A complete electric lighting plant is installed for use of both arc and incandescent lamps, by which the whole building is lighted. The officers of the company are: Frank M. Mathewson, President ; George A. Munyan, Treasurer; Jeremiah H. Hall, Secretary.
Theodore Foster & Bro. Co .- Manufacturers of all kinds of rolled gold plate jewelry, and sterling silver goods. Business originally estab- lished January 1, 1873, under the name of White & Foster, and was later changed to White, Foster & Co., and still later to Foster & Bailey. In May, 1898, the business was incorporated under the present name, and capitalized for $300,000. Works located at 100 Richmond street, corner of Friendship street, Providence. The business was located here in this building in 1880, only one floor being occupied at that time, but now the whole building is occupied by the company, together with other buildings lo- cated in the same square, all of which are owned by them, with the exception of the Ostby & Barton Building and the George M. Baker Build- ing. The building in the rear of their main factory, which is one of the oldest manufacturing buildings in the city, is leased principally to other jewelry manufacturers. The building on Richmond street was originally occupied by Sackett & Davis, jewelery manufacturers, which concern built the factory. The Theodore Foster & Bro. Co. are among the largest manu- facturers of jewelry and sterling silver goods in the city, employing some 275 hands. The officers of the corporation are: Theodore W. Foster, President and Treasurer; T. Clyde Foster, Vice-President; Ernest L. Fuller, Sec- retary.
Raliance Worsted Co. - Manufacturers of worsted goods for men and ladies's wear. Busi- ness established in 1899. Incorporated the same year. Factory located in Woonsocket, R. I. Employ about 200 hands. Capitalized for $100,000. Officers: William L. Youngman, President; John Campbell, Vice-President ; Philip Henault, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Youngman is a native of the State of Penn- sylvania. He is a practical manufacturer, and is engaged in other manufacturing enterprises, and is now located in New York. John Camp- bell is a native of Pascoag, R. I., where he learned the worsted business by working in the mills of his native town. Philip Henault, the Manager of the business, was born in Montreal, Canada, November 13, 1860. Came to Woon- socket in 1879, and learned the worsted busi- ness in the Harris Privilege Mill, where he worked some fifteen years. The firm of Camp- bell, Henault & Co., was then organized and began business in Westerly, R. I., where they remained for about five years before removing to Woonsocket.
OAKDALE
THE OAKDALE MFG CO BUTTERINE
JAKDALE BUTTERINE
DAKDALE
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Plant of the Oakdale Mfg. Co., South Water Street, Providence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Wm. Oscar Cornell .- Merchant and manufac- turer. Mr. Cornell was born in Providence, February 8, 1836. He received his education in
William Oscar Cornell.
Frederick W. Andrews.
the public schools of the city, his first business experience being that of a bookkeeper for a commission house in Providence from 1863 to 1866. In 1866 he established a flour and oil busi- ness in the old Vaughan Building on Custom House street, the business being carried on under the firm name of S. Cornell & Co., his father being associated with him. This was continued until 1869, when he entered the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of Cornells and Mumford, his father still re- taining an interest, their store being located on Dyer street, opposite the wharf of the Provi-
Frank H. Andrews.
dence, Fall River & Newport Steamboat Co. Here he remained until 1884, a period of fifteen years, during which time an extensive business was built up throughout Southern New Eng- land, their kerosene oil business developing to such an extent that they became the largest dealers in that article in the State.
From 1886 to 1891 Mr. Cornell was a special partner in the firm of W. H. Sawtelle & Co., of Detroit, Mich., wholesale dealers in flour and salt, the business being a very successful one. In 1890 he entered into co-partnership with Messrs. Frederick W. and Frank H. Andrews under the firm name of Cornell & Andrews, the
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
227
business being that of gold and silver refiners, smelters and dealers in bullion, their works be- ing located on Calender, Sabin and Mathewson streets, Providence. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the American Seamless Wire Co., which was organized in May, 1897, whose works are located at 144 Pine street. The company manufacture principally gold seamless wire. Mr. Cornell is President of the Providence Dye- ing, Bleaching and Calendering Co. with works on Valley street, Providence ; Mr. Cornell's father, Stephen Cornell, being identified with this business for a period of fully sixty years, commencing as a workman in the establishment and occupying at various times all of the posi- tions that the business offered up to the office of President, which position he held until his re- tirement from all active business.
Upon Mr. Stephen Cornell's retirement, his son, Wm. Oscar Cornell, was elected a director in the corporation of the Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Co., and in January, 1901, was elected to the office of President of the Board. The business was established in 1814, and has been one of the most successful bleacheries of the State. Mr. Cornell has always been very much interested in educational matters, having been a trustee of Tuft's College, of Medford, Mass., since March 2, 1882. He established a scholarship there, which cares for a tuition, and Mr. Cornell has been careful to give the benefit of this scholarship to students whose means were limited, which have included young women as well as young men. He has been a director in the Westminster Bank for nearly twenty years. While always refusing to accept any public offices, or to enter the politi- cal field, still he has always wielded a healthful influence in the city, particularly in that section round about Davis Park, where he resided for over thirty years, his place of residence now being on the east side of the city.
Cornell & Andrews. - Smelters, refiners and assayers of gold and silver, and dealers in bullion. Business established in 1890 by William Oscar Cornell, Frederick W. Andrews and Frank H. Andrews. Mr. Cornell is a native of Providence, R. I., where he was born Febru- ary 8, 1836, and has been one of the most active and best known business men in the mercantile line in the city of Providence for a number of years. F. W. Andrews was born in Gardiner,
Maine, February 28, 1839. He was with the old firm of Curtis & Arnold and its successor of
MER IDEN
CORNELL & ANDREWS CO.
MATHEWSON ST ...
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CHOVIBENDE, MERIDEN ANDATYLE
ATTLEBORO, MASS.
Providence and has been actively engaged in the business for thirty years. His son, F. H.
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Plants of Cornell & Andrews and the Cornell & Andrews Co.
CORNELL FANDHEWS
228
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Andrews, was born in Gardiner, Me., Nov. 23, 1862. Works located on Calender, Sabin and Mathewson streets, Providence, and contain
Harry W. Marcy.
about 14,000 square feet of floor space. The office is located at 23 Mathewson street. The works of the Cornell-Andrews Smelting Co. are located in Attleboro, Mass., in a new building erected specially for the purpose, 50 x 170 feet. These works are equipped with smelter and copper recovery plant, including acid condenser, also with roller bearing mills, which are among the largest used for rolling silver in this coun- try. Officers : Wm. Oscar Cornell, President ; George F. Andrews, Vice-President ; Frederick W. Andrews, Treasurer ; Frank H. Andrews, Secretary. The Board of Directors is composed of the above named gentlemen, with Reuben J. Rice, the Manager of the Meriden works, and Prof. Frank W. Durkee of Tuft's College, in- ventor of the copper process used by the com- pany. There are also works at Meriden, Conn., carried on under the management of Reuben J. Rice, who had been for many years in the same line of business in the State of Connecticut prior to the establishment of the Cornell & Andrews Co., of which he is a member. These three plants are among the most complete to be found in New England, and an extensive business is
carried on all over the United States and Can- ada. The gentlemen who established the busi- ness are fully versed in every detail, and as a result of their knowledge a very large trade has been built up. The accompanying cut of their works in Providence, Attleboro and Meriden, gives a good idea of the extent of their com- bined plants.
Harry W. Marcy. - Manufacturer of high grade flat and tubular shoe laces and fancy braids. Business established in 1899. Works located at 77 Cromwell street, Providence. Harry W. Marcy was born in Providence, June 28, 1876. After leaving the English and classi- cal school of Mowry & Goff's, he took a course in the high school of Providence, and then went to work for his father, Fred I. Marcy, the in- ventor of the "Acme" lever collar button. After working three years in the jewelry busi- ness, he went into the insurance business with Addison H. White, and upon his death engaged with Beach & Sweet in the same line of busi- ness, where he remained until he began the manufacture of shoe strings in 1899. His plant is equipped with braiders carrying about 7,000 spindles, and with all of the other necessary machinery that is required in this line of busi- ness. His productions are sold all over the United States. Mr. Marcy is probably the youngest manufacturer in the State, who has established business on his own account.
Summer, Kotler & Scheiner .- Manufacturers of gold and silver plated novelties. Their special- ties are imitation diamond goods, brooches, scarf pins, hat pins, rings and buckles. Business estab- lished May 1, 1899. Works located at 9 Cal- ender street, Providence. Employ 35 hands. The members of the firm are Joseph Sum- mer, Jacob Kotler and Simon Scheiner, all young men who emigrated from Russia, their native country, from 1885 to 1890.
T. C. Tucker & Co .- Manufacturers of a gen- eral line of electro-plated jewelry. Business es- tablished in 1896 by Thomas C. Tucker, who was born in Nantucket, Mass., in July, 1850 .. Works located at 12 Beverly street, Providence. Employs 12 hands.
R. I. Color Works .- Manufacturers of kalso- mine and colors. Business established by Bern- hard Hainbach some twenty years or more ago. Works located at 19 Calender street, Providence.
229
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Crahan Engraving Co .- Makers of half-tone and line cuts, by the photo-engraving process. Also half-tone cuts for three-color printing.
Marcus Crahan.
The business was established by Marcus Crahan in 1897, at 301 Westminster street, Providence, and one year later was located in the present quarters at 193 Westminster street, where he turns out the finest grade of half-tone work to be found in New England, together with half-tone cuts for daily newspaper use, which are of neces- sity a much coarser line of work. One depart- ment for the fine work and one for the coarser grade. Mr. Crahan was the first engraver to introduce three-color plates in the city of Provi- dence. He has made a great success of this line in bringing out the variety of colors in enamel jewelry and in various other color de- signs. Marcus Crahan was born in Fulton, N. Y., February 5, 1869. He began the trade of an engraver in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1888. After leaving this place he was engaged by the Maurice Joyce Engraving Co. of Washington, D. C., where he remained three years. He was then employed by George H. Benedict, a lead- ing engraver of Chicago, Ill., and after remain- ing there one year he was offered the foreman- ship of the Rhode Island Engraving Co. of Providence, which he accepted, remaining one
year, at the end of which time he was employed by C. J. Peters of Boston, and after a few months he again entered the employ of the Rhode Island Engraving Co., where he re- mained until he established business on his own account under the name of the Crahan Engrav- ing Co., in August, 1897. He has been remark- ably successful, his plant being one of the best equipped and most complete in the New Eng- land States. The half-tone plates of this publi- cation were nearly all made by this company, and the plates used by J. D. Hall & Co. in their other publications were also made by this con- cern, all of which show a high class of work- manship by the superiority of their printing qualities.
Rice & Hayward. - Manufacturers of all kinds of plain and fancy crackers, biscuits, bread and pastry. By far the largest manufac- turers of breadstuffs in the State of Rhode Island. Business established by Fitz-James Rice. Bakeries located at 310 to 316 Broad street, Providence. William S. Hayward, de- ceased, bought an interest in the business in 1858, after he had worked in the establishment for about seven years. In 1863 Mr. Hayward purchased the entire business, and two years later Mr. Rice again became a partner, which continued for a number of years. William S. Hayward, who had been the predominating spirit of the business, during his life, was born in Foster, R. I., February 26, 1835. At the age of twelve he went to Old Warwick, R. I., to work on a farm, and in 1851 began to work as a baker in the establishment that he had the honor of owning in the years that followed. He made the business a success, the goods made by Rice & Hayward being known in all parts of the country, and their local trade being very- extensive. Mr. Hayward was one of the most highly respected citizens of the city of Provi- dence, because of his gentlemanly qualities that stood out prominently under all circumstances. He was a member of the City Council from 1872 to 1876, when he was elected to represent his ward in the Board of Aldermen, being reelected for several years until he was elected Mayor of the city in 1880 to succeed Mayor Doyle. After serving three years he declined a renomination. He was a member of the State Legislature in the Lower House for two years, 1885 and 1886, and was appointed a member of the State Board of Charities and Corrections, by Governor Bourn, in 1884, and reappointed in 1886 by Governor Wetmore. Upon Mr. Hayward's death in 1900, the business was continued under the direction of Mrs. Hayward.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Quidnick Manufacturing Co .- Incorporated in 1884. Officers: Jeffrey Davis, President ; John H. Hambly, Treasurer. Employ 500 hands.
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William D. Davis.
The mills of the Quidnick Mfg. Co., which are among the most attractive and substantial manu- facturing plants of the State, are situated in
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