USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 30
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PATENTED.
OCKET
MACHINE AND PR
WOONSOCK
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Patent Rotary Cloth Press. Woonsocket Machine & Press Co.
tighteners, turntables, covered clamp coup- lings, angle belt drives, etc. A list probably greater in the line of power transmitting appli- ances than are made by any other concern in this section of the country.
Their miscellaneous castings for mill con- struction include fancy and plain posts of any length, post caps, pintles, post bases, ventilators, brackets for balconies, saddles for truss roofs, double truss rod braces, beam end brackets, corrugated thin iron stair treads and floor plates, belt scuppers, hinges and catches, brick wall guards, cast iron tubs, door frames, babbitt ladles, hitching posts, cast iron grate bars, sewer covers, etc.
the President of the corporation upon the death of Chester B. Smith in 1899. Mr. Rathbun is prominent in banking circles, and is promi- nently connected with a number of manufactur- ing concerns in and outside of the State.
William S. Hopkins, the Treasurer of the company is a native of the city of Providence. He came to Woonsocket in 1879, and was em- ployed by the Woonsocket Machine Co. as bookkeeper. He was elected Treasurer of the company upon its incorporation in 1885, and has held that position to the present time. Mr. Hopkins has been a member of the Board of Al- dermen of Woonsocket, and has been recognized in other ways as one of the public men of the city.
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Stanley G. Smith, the Secretary of the com- pany, is a native of Woonsocket, and is the grandson of the late Hon. Latimer W. Ballou, who was one of the most highly respected citi- zens of the State of Rhode Island. Col. Smith
enjoyed an extensive experience in the machin- ery business before coming to Woonsocket, in the works of the Atherton Machine Co. of Low- ell, Mass., the Dean Steam Pump Co. of Hol- yoke, Mass., the Maine Belting Co. of Philadel-
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CITY MACH'CO.
WOONSOCKET. R.I.)
&Nº 3816
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City Machine Slubbing Fly Frame. Woonsocket Machine & Press Co., Woonsocket, R. I.
has held the position of Secretary for a number of years. He is prominent in banking circles, and is a director in a number of large manufac- turing concerns.
Malcolm Campbell, the General Manager of the company, is a native of Palmer, Mass. He
phia, Pa., the Hampden Cotton Mills of Hol- yoke, Mass., the Palmer Cotton Mills, Three Rivers, town of Palmer, Mass. In 1890 he was employed as the Manager of the business of the Woonsocket Machine and Press Co., which po- sition he has held to the present time.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
THE FIRST TEXTILE MILLS OF RHODE ISLAND.
Very much has been written in the daily press, and some records have been made in books from time to time, relating to the early cotton and woolen factories of the State of Rhode Island. Some of these statements have proven to be accurate, but many of them have come from mere hearsay, and proven to be entirely inaccurate.
For convenience and general reference, we have prepared a list of the early textile mills
ton Mill, and on the site of the Kent Manu- facturing Co., the present mill being a modern one, the old mill being taken down.
In 1798 the foundation was laid for the second Slater Mill, which was built upon the east side of the Blackstone River, nearly op- posite the first Slater Mill in Pawtucket. This mill was not completed until 1801, and was built by Samuel Slater & Co. Destroyed by fire some time prior to 1824.
In 1801 Rowland Hazard built a woolen factory in Peace Dale, but the original building is not standing, the present extensive works having been begun at a later period.
In 1807 the "Green Mill" was built on the
Slater Mill, Pawtucket. The First Cotton Mill Built in America-1793.
of Rhode Island, which we believe is quite accurate, the information being in most cases gleaned from early records or from parties liv- ing who are thoroughly acquainted with the history of the mill about which they have given information. The list is as follows :
There is no question about Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill being the first textile fac- tory erected in the State, which was in 1793, and which is still standing, in the city of Paw- tucket, on the west side of the Blackstone River, at the upper dam at Pawtucket Falls.
In 1794 the Warwick Spinning Mill was built in what is now Centreville, on the west side of the river, opposite the Centreville Cot-
present site of the Centreville Cotton Mill, in Centreville, and it is still standing in the mill yard at the rear of the new factory, and de- voted to the storage of cotton, etc. It is a wooden mill, built after the style of the wooden factories that were in use throughout New England during the first half of the nineteenth century. It is still in a good state of preserva- tion. The claim is made that this was the second mill in this country to begin spinning yarn to be woven on the premises.
The same year, 1807, the "Stone Factory," also locally known as the "Stone Jug," was built in Crompton, a mile distant from the "Green Mill" in Centreville, and was the first
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
stone mill erected in the State. It is still standing as a part of the manufacturing plant of the Crompton Company.
In 1807 the original Natick Mill was built at Natick, R. I.
In 1807 the Slatersville Mill was completed at Slatersville, R. I.
In 1807 the mill at Anthony, R. I., was com- pleted. The claim is made that this mill was built a year or two earlier, but 1807 is the prob- able date.
While not built originally for textile pur- poses, the Smithfield Manufacturing Co. were spinning cotton varns in the old "Chocolate Factory" in Central Falls in 1808, which was afterwards destroyed by fire. This factory was located near the dam built by Charles Keene in 1780.
In 1809 the mill at Arkwright, R. I., was built.
In 1809 the mill at Kent's Mills, on the Ten Mile River, Pawtucket, was erected.
In 1810 the Oziel Wilkinson stone factory was built just south of the original Slater Mill on the Blackstone River in Pawtucket.
In 1810 the Roger Williams Mill was built in Phenix, R. I.
In 1810 the first mill of the Social Manufac- turing Co. was built in Woonsocket, on the site of the present Social Mill.
In 1810 it is claimed there was a textile mill erected on the present site of the Lincoln Mills of Pascoag, now carried on under the name of the Fred L. Sayles Co., but we have no positive evidence that this was the fact.
In 1812 the mill at Fiskeville, R. I., was erected.
In 1812 a woolen mill was built in Provi- dence, which is now said to be a part of the Allen Print Works at the North End of the city. The foundation of this mill was probably laid in 1812 and finished in 1813.
In 1813 the old "Butterfly" Factory was built by Stephen H. Smith in Lime Rock valley, on Moshassuck River, in what is now the town of Lincoln.
In 1813 a stone cotton factory was built in Georgiaville, R. I., and known as the Georgia- ville Cotton Manufacturing Co. Mill.
In 1813 Gov. Philip Allen built a cotton mill in what is now Enfield, R. I., then known as Allenville. This mill finally became a part of the Smithfield Manufacturing Co. property in 1867.
In 1814 the Pawcatuck Manufacturing Co. built a stone mill in Westerly, R. I., for the purpose of manufacturing woolen goods, and later cotton fabrics.
From 1814 the building of mills in various sections of the State was carried on, though not very rapidly until 1826 and 1827, when there was a great demand for water privileges,
and between 1827 and 1840 a large number of factories were erected in Woonsocket, Paw- tucket, Bristol, Westerly, Burrillville, War- wick, and other sections.
While there were undoubtedly a number of other mills built along about the first of the nineteenth century, the list that we have printed herewith represents the more import- ant ones.
Woonsocket Worsted Mills .- Manufacturers of worsted yarns. Business established by Edwin Farnell, W. R. Cordingly and Edwin Wilcox in 1887. Mill located in Woonsocket, R. I. William R. Cordingly, Treasurer ; Edwin Farnell, Agent. Mr. Farnell is a native of Bradford, England, near which place he was a manufacturer of worsted goods. He came to America in 1880, and was employed by the Landenburg Worsted Mills, of Chester, Pa., as Superintendent of their works. He was later employed in the same capacity in the following mills : The Nonantum Worsted Mills; the Providence Worsted Mills, of Providence ; the Washington Mills, of Lawrence, Mass. From this place he went to Woonsocket and aided in establishing the Woonsocket Worsted Mills in 1887, which has carried on a successful busi- ness ever since.
Falls Yarn Co .- Manufacturers of woolen and merino yarns. Business established by Theophilus Guerin and Joseph Cavedon in February, 1900. Works located in the old Braid Mill, formerly owned by the American Worsted Co., of Woonsocket, near the Woon- socket Falls. Employ 50 hands. Steam power. Mr. Guerin is Treasurer and General Manager, and Mr. Cavedon is Superintendent.
American Paper Tube Co .- Manufacturers of paper tubes for spindles. Business estab- lished in 1899, and incorporated in 1900. Capitalized for $15,000. Employ 25 hands. Works located in the Guerin Spinning Co. Mill, Woonsocket. Officers: Octave Pothier, Presi- dent ; Theophilus Guerin, Treasurer and Secre- tary : Edmund Guerin, Manager.
F. W. Folsom & Co .- Manufacturers of sails, tents, awnings, covers, etc. Business originally established by Jillson & Folsom in 1884. Upon Mr. Jillson's death Mr. Folsom assumed the sole management of the business under the present firm name. Works located at 2 Planet street, corner of South Water street, Providence. Mr. Folsom is a native of Wiscasset, Me., where he was born April 16, 1848. He came to Providence in 1871, after having learned the business of a sail maker in his native town, and after working for a dozen years for George S. Dow of Provi- dence, he bought a half interest in the business. that had been established by Albert Jillson. He is one of the most expert sail makers of the State,
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
and he has many schooners, yachts and fishing boats to keep well dressed with sails in Provi- dence, Newport, Bristol, Block Island and other places.
Hart Textile Co .- Manufacturers of cordu- roys, plushes, velveteens, and pile fabrics. Business established January 15, 1901, and incorporated at the same time. Capitalized for $200,000. Works located at the east end of Woonsocket Falls, Woonsocket, R. I. Em-
Pawtucket, R. I., whose plant was destroyed by fire in February, 1900, The business of this concern being closed up, Mr. Hart then or- ganized the Hart Manufacturing Co .. of Woon- socket, which is doing a much larger business than was carried on by the Charlton Manufac- turing Co. He acquired a complete knowledge of the textile business before coming to the United States, The accompanying cut shows one of the old-time mills of the city, which has
Hart Textile Co. Factory, Woonsocket Falls, Woonsocket, R. I.
ploy 200 hands. Power for the mill is supplied from the Blackstone River to the amount of 300 horse power through two turbines, and a 275 horse power Harris-Corliss engine. The company do their own electric lighting. Offi- cers: John J. Hart, President and General Manager; Norris S. Wilson, Treasurer; Charles A. Dustin, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. John J. Hart, the General Man- ager of the business, is a native of Ashton- Under-Lyne, Lancashire, England. He came to America in 1887 to take charge of the Mer- rimac Print Works, of Lowell, Mass., where he remained for eleven years. He then or- ganized the Charlton Manufacturing Co., of
been operated by a number of manufacturers very successfully.
This mill of the Hart Textile Co. was built by Geo. C. Ballou in 1846, and has been known as the Ballou Mill ever since. It was run as a cotton mill by Mr. Ballou and a corporation bearing his name, until 1886, when the prop- erty was sold to J. P. & E. K. Ray under a foreclosure. The Rays improved the property by taking out the old breast wheel and putting in its place two upright turbines, adding new machinery and in other ways adding to its efficiency in the manufacture of cotton goods.
L. F. Pease & Co .- Manufacturers of tents, awnings, sails, etc. Business established by L. F. Pease. One of the oldest sail makers of the State. Works located at 7 Crawford street, Provi- dence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
THE OLD "BUTTERFLY" FACTORY.
Excepting the first Slater Mill at Pawtucket, many manufacturers of Rhode Island believe that the "Butterfly" Factory was about the first cotton mill of the State, while one or more of our historians believe that it is not entitled to be counted among the very old factories. Many articles that have been printed in Rhode Island books have failed to tell the true story of the mill, not even giving the date of its erection. We take much pleasure, therefore, in giving its correct history, together with a good cut of the mill and a cut of the stone
19, 1812. The inscription on the bell is this : "Peter. Seest. Amstelodame. Anno. 1263. Me. Fecit.", which signifies that it was made in Amsterdam in 1263. The United States Gov- ernment sold this bell along with a lot of other captured naval stores, and Mr. Smith secured this prize that pealed forth the hours of labor and rest to the operatives of the mill, who lived in the Lime Rock valley, for upwards of a century. The bell possessed a very clear tone, and the residents of the vicinity who had heard its notes for years, felt as if an old friend had departed when the bell was taken down. It is now said to be in the possession of some Rhode
The Old "Butterfly Factory," Town of Lincoln, R. I., Built in 1813. [The Butterfly is Between Two Upper Side Windows, Next to Chimney.]
residence where the builder of the mill lived.
The old "Butterfly" Factory, which is the most famous mill in Rhode Island, was built on the Moshassuck River, at the entrance of the Lime Rock valley, about three miles from the city of Pawtucket, in the town of Lincoln, in 1813, when the 1812 war was at its height. Mr. Stephen H. Smith was the builder, and to commemorate the strife between the United States and England, when the factory was erected, he enjoyed the privilege of placing in the little mill belfry the bell that was taken from the English ship "Guerrière" after the good ship "Constitution" had made her strike her colors in the naval engagement of August
Island citizen. A recent lawsuit was brought by a former owner to recover the bell, the claim being made that it was not included with the remainder of the mill property when that was sold.
This old bell gave the mill a wide reputation, but that which gave it its name, and which aided in making it the best known factory in the State, was a freak of nature that stamped upon the face of two stones the wings of a butterfly, and the mason placing them side by side, probably by chance, as shown in the accompanying cut, between the two upper win- dows next to the large chimney, gives the ap- pearance of a butterfly on the wing. Hence its
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
name, which must have been adopted soon after the mill walls were built. Mr. Smith built the stone mansion across the highway from the mill in 1814, which was considered one of the most elegant residences of the State at that time. The accompanying cut discloses a kind of architecture peculiarly its own, some- what different from the ordinary Colonial style then in use. This represents the stone house as it appeared the 18th day of November, 1901, when the photograph was taken, the picture of the mill being taken the same day as shown in the cut. The wooden addition of the mill,
before the stone mansion was built, and as there's a date in the house that tells when that was put up, you can go and look and figure for yourself."
We went up into the garret, and sure enough there were the figures cut into the plastering very near the peak of the west gable, which were "1814." That settled the question of the building of the factory in 1813, which we had arrived at quite clearly through other sources of information. Mr. Phetteplace continued :
"Glad you're satisfied. Did you know this property was all built up from money that Mr.
The Old "Stone House," Built in 1814, Nearly Opposite the "Butterfly Factory," by Stephen H. Smith. [As it Appeared in December, 1901.]
as seen in the rear, together with the brick chimney, are of comparatively recent date.
The great variety of business carried on in this old factory is better described by Mr. Benjamin Phetteplace, a life long resident of the place, who drove up with a load of wood just as we were about to take a picture of the mill. After bidding him good morning we asked him a few questions about his knowledge of the old mill and its builder, which brought out the following :
"Yes, sir. I know all about it. Knew Mr. Smith for a great many years.
"How do I know he built it? Because he told me so. Said he put up that mill a year
Smith drew in a lottery? Well, it was. He drew $40,000 and put it all out here beautifying this place, and you can see the results of it now. He was about as liberal an old bachelor as you could find.
"You want to know what kind of work has been carried on in the old mill? Well, I'll tell you. Almost everything from the spinning of cotton yarn to the selling of New England rum.
"Sounds odd, I know, but it's a fact. You see, the mill has never paid anybody who has operated it except in one or two instances, and so there were spells when it was idle. In these idle times it was devoted to other uses. One
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man used a part of it for the spinning of yarn and the first floor was devoted to a grocery storc. In one corner was a hogshead of rum and in the other a hogshead of sugar. Why, just up the road a little way there's a man now living that used to buy his rum here for twenty cents a gallon. 'T wasn't thought anything of in those days. All grocers sold rum, you know.
"Well. sir, it wasn't many years before it was used for a school house. Used to go to school there myself.
"Some of the Dorrites used it as an arsenal during the Dorr War, and their old muskets were thrown into the pond up there on the hill.
"Yes, I suppose it was first intended for a cotton yarn mill, and it was continued in that line until the power looms were brought out, and then cotton cloth was woven here. My mother used to run some looms here. I've often heard her talk about it.
"Well, after trying one thing and another, about the last work that was done here was the making of velveteens, along about 1890, and some five or six years ago cotton wadding was being manufactured, and they say this last business was most profitable of all, but it was bought out or some kind of a deal was made so that the mill was stopped, and nothing has been done with it since, except for the storing of mill machinery."
Thanking Mr. Phetteplace for his informa- tion, still sitting on his load of wood he drove on, saying, "If there's anything more I can do for you, let me know. But before you go away you must be sure and take a walk up on to the hill to the west and see 'Quinsnicket' pond, which Mr. Smith beautified, making the wilder- ness blossom like the rose. There's where the Indians built their stone houses and lived for years and years after the whites settled here. That's the most interesting of anything about this neighborhood. Good-day.'
In 1819 Preserved Arnold, the father of Mr. Preserved Arnold, 2d, and Mrs. Louisa A. (Arnold) Porter, who are now residing very near the old mill, leased and operated the "But- terfly" Factory for some four years, spinning yarns, and he was quite successful. The com- mon talk of the neighborhood at that time was that Mr. Arnold was the only man who had made the mill pay since it was built. He gave up business here to superintend the building of the factory at Albion about 1823.
Stephen H. Smith, the founder of the estate, died in 1857, his body being laid in the ceme- tery near the Quaker Meeting House, about a mile distant from the "Stone House." The property which he had made so attractive all passed out of Mr. Smith's hands before his death.
Entering the front yard of this old "Stone House," you are impressed with an old-fash- ioned home-like air that reminds you of holly- hocks and rosemary, and the quiet restfulness of the place makes you feel like lingering a little longer so that you may drink in the quaintness of the surroundings and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Mr. Smith tried to im- prove by planting trees in all directions round- about the place. The estate is one of the most charming relics of bygone days that can be found in Rhode Island, and it is still in a good state of preservation.
Clear River Woolen Mill .- Manufacturers of woolen goods. Mill located in Pascoag, R. I., on the Clear River. On the site of this mill there was located a forge as early as 1793 which was owned by Daniel Sayles, where various kinds of tools, etc., were made until 1844, when George W. Marsh leased the property for a term of twenty years and erected a mill where at first Kentucky jeans were made. Later he admitted his son Edward, and they began the manufacture of fancy cassimeres. In 1861 the mill, which was built of wood, two stories, was destroyed by fire. George W. Marsh, the founder of the business, died some four years before the destruction of the mill which after his death was being operated by Edward Marsh. In 1865 James O. Inman purchased the property and built a stone mill and began the manufacture of woolen goods of a high grade. His son, Olney T. Inman, became a partner with his father in 1886, and then the firm name became J. O. Inman & Son. Upon the death of Mr. Inman, senior, in July, 1890, the business was incorporated as the J. O. Inman Manufacturing Co. In 1893 the mill was leased to Walter F. Slade & Co., which concern has carried on the business under the name of the Clear River Woolen Mill, whose office head- quarters are 75 Exchange street, Providence.
American Locomotive Works .- Manufac- turers of locomotives. Business established by Earl P. Mason, Charles Jackson, Isaac Hartshorn and others in 1860, for the manufacture of rifles. The manufacture of locomotives was begun in 1865, and for some twenty-five years the business was carried on successfully, their locomotives being considered among the best made in Amer- ica. There was a depression in the business along about 1890, and the works were running on rather uneven time, until the International Power Co. began to operate the plant in 1900, when they began the manufacture of auto-trucks in connection with the manufacture of locomo- tives. The property came under the control of the American Locomotive Works in 1901, and is at present doing an extensive business. For thirty-five years they have been known as the Rhode Island Locomotive Works.
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Rhode Island's Annual Manufactured Products $184,000,000.
When the preface of this book was printed the chief statistician of the United States, Mr. S. N. D. North, had not completed his work to a point where he could give even an estimate on the manufactured products of Rhode Island for the year 1900. The editor was accordingly compelled to make an estimate from his own observation, which was given as about $150,000,000, which was some $8,000,000 in excess of the census report for 1890. This has proven, to his great satisfaction, too small an estimate by about $34,000,000. Here is a part of the Twelfth Census report as relating to manufactures :
The value of the products is returned at $184,074,378, to produce which involved an out- lay of $5,552,189 for salaries of officials, clerks, etc., $41,1 14,084 for wages, $12,199,283 for mis- cellaneous expenses, including rent, taxes, etc., and $96,392.720 for materials used, mill sup- plies, freight and fuel. It is not to be assumed, however, that the difference between the aggregate of these sums and the value of the products, is, in any sense, indicative of the profits in the manufacture of the products dur- ing the census year. The value of the product given is the value as obtained or fixed at the shop or factory, and takes no cognizance of the cost of selling, or of interest on capital invested, or of mercantile losses incurred in the business, or of the depreciation of the plant. The $184,000,000 may, therefore, be considered the gross, rather than the net value.
As compared with 1890, the capital employed in Rhode Island manufactures has increased only 29.2 per cent. This apparently unsatis- . factory showing is not owing to a decrease in the volume of goods produced, but rather to a fall in price. Thus in woolen and worsted goods there is an increase of 68.7 per cent. in capital, and an increase of 34.1 per cent. in the quantity of woven fabrics produced, while the increase in the value of these fabrics is only 20.I per cent., the average values per square yard having fallen from 69 cents in 1890 to 56.1 cents in 1900. In cotton goods there was an increase of 7,363,750 yards in the production of fabrics, and a decrease of $1,287,574 in their value. The average price per yard of these cotton goods was 6.07 cents in 1890, and 5.48 cents in 1900.
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