USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 32
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The manufacturing buildings comprise Mill No. 1, 200 by 64 feet, and Mill No. 2, 143 by 60
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
feet. These buildings are joined, and practically form one mill and are operated as such. The equipment comprises 23 sets of worsted cards, 19 Noble combs, and 9,840 worsted spindles, to- gether with the reeling, winding and spooling departments, the production of which is 100,000 pounds per month of worsted yarns. The power of these mills is derived from 3 Greene engines of 250 horse power each, together with three upright and five horizontal boilers. In the rear of the main mill are two buildings connected and running at right angles to each other ; one, 100 by 50 feet, the other 125 by 60 feet. In the first building the process of scouring and drying the wool are conducted on the first floor, while the yarn department occupies the second floor ; here two and a quarter million pounds of wool are handled yearly. The other buildings comprise the dye-house, the production of which is about 25,000 pounds per week of slubbing and yarn.
In the front yard of the mill are two wooden storehouses, 100 by 49 feet and 70 by 26 feet, respectively, which are used principally for the storing of wool and tops. In addition to this, there is a top house, 75 by 40 feet, for the storage of tops as they are received from the combing- room.
Manton Mills .- Manton, R. I. [American Woolen Co.] -- The Manton Mills are located on the Woonasquatucket River, on the line of the Providence and Springfield Railroad, in what was formerly the town of Manton, R. I., but which has now become part of the city of Providence.
The old stone mill was built in 1835 by Messrs. Manton & Kelly. It was 80 feet long and 45 feet wide, having two stories and an attic. The Mr. Manton of this firm was for a good many years connected with the Boston Manufacturers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. After the firm retired the mill stood idle for a number of years, and was next operated by James Harvey as Superintendent for Mr. George C. Nightingale as trustee. Under this management the mill was sold at auction and bought by Mr. John Carter Brown of Provi- dence. In 1857 Mr. Brown deeded the prop- erty to the Lonsdale Co. The mill at this time contained sixty looms and facilities for making cotton cloth. The Lonsdale Co. continued to operate it until the seventies, when the ma- chinery was removed to Lonsdale and another period of idleness ensued.
In 1880 Mr. Charles Fletcher bought the property and at once commenced to equip it for a woolen yarn mill ; new water-wheels were put in, with new shafting and a 125 horse power Corliss engine, four sets of woolen cards and four 384 spindle Tatam mules. In 1883, before any stock had been put into the mill, Mr. Fletcher sold the property to Mr. Horace
A. Kimball. The mill was enlarged, and forty 92-inch Knowles looms were installed and the production of worsteds for men's wear begun.
Nearly every year has seen an additional growth to the plant. The old stone mill has been removed, and the new buildings now cover a floor space of 120,000 square feet, and contain nine sets of cards, 2,640 mule spindles, and 185 Crompton and Knowles looms, and boilers with a capacity of 700 horse power. There is also a dye house large enough to supply the looms with all the fancy yarns they require. The buildings are modern in con- struction and are all lighted by arc and in- candescent lights. The water power is sup- plied by the river on which the mill is located, and a 300 horse power Greene engine. The mill has a complete fire service connected with that of the city of Providence, which has at this point 92 pounds pressure.
The plant was sold to the American Woolen Company in May, 1899, and now produces fancy worsteds for men's wear with an annual product of over $1,000,000 in value. Mr. Kim- ball was for some time retained as the resident agent for the company, but has lately been succeeded by Mr. Edmond Corcoran. The plant now comprises eight manufacturing and storage buildings, having an aggregate floor space of 97,397 square feet.
J. D. Nichols & Sons .- Manufacturers of fancy cassimeres. Mill located at Oak Valley near Tarkiln, Burrillville, R. I., on the Tarkiln River. Business established by Joseph D. Nichols in 1844. The old mill was burned in 1872, and the present main building was erected, the wing being built in 1884. The founder of the business died in 1879. His sons became part- ners of the firm in 1865, and from that time the firm name has been J. D. Nichols & Sons. The claim is made that a cotton mill was built upon the site of the present factory in 1810, and that it was the first mill built in the town of Burrill- ville. Another source of information gives the first mill as the one that stood on the site of the Lincoln Mill, Pascoag, which was built in 1809. and operated as a cotton mill. These were with- out doubt the two first mills of the town.
American Wringer Co .- Manufacturers of clothes wringers. Works located in Woonsocket. R. I. Business established by S. A. Bailey, who took out a number of patents and made his wringer the most successful of any that had been brought out in this country before or since. He organized the company under the name of the Bailey Wringing Machine Co., and carried on the business very successfully for a number of years in a wooden factory on the site of the present extensive brick structure. The property was finally sold to the American Wringer Co., which corporation is now carrying on the business.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Cutler Jewelry Co .- Manufacturers of seam- less gold shell rings, and rhine stone novelties. Business established in June, 1898, by Harry
Harry Cutler.
Cutler. Works located at 19 Calender street, Providence. Employ from 75 to 100 hands. Mr. Cutler was born May 1, 1875. He began working at various things around Lake Erie in Buffalo at the age of ten years, making his home in Buffalo, N. Y. He afterwards went to New York city, where he was employed in a dyeing and bleaching establishment. At the age of twelve he went to Fall River, Mass., where he was the boss doffer in the spinning room of the American Linen Works, having twenty-five boys under his care. Here he re- mained until fourteen years of age. He then moved to Providence, R. I., and entered the employ of George E. Cole, as errand boy, where he learned the picture frame business, becoming a journeyman gilder at the age of seventeen. An opportunity being offered him to be identified with the jewelry manufacturing business in an executive way, he gave up the gilding business and entered the employ of one of the largest jewelry concerns in the city, and was superintendent and manager of another large jewelry manufacturing concern when he resigned to begin manufacturing in a small way on his own account in the FitzGerald Building on Eddy street in 1898, where he em- ployed but two hands. His business steadily increased until it reached its present dimen- sions. Mr. Cutler's method of doing business
has always been conservative, making sure of his position as he went along, and the result has shown the wisdom of his system of meet- ing the requirements of a rapidly growing trade. His plant is equipped with all of the necessary modern machinery for turning out his specialties.
A. H. Sweet & Son .- Manufacturers of paper and wooden boxes. Business established in 1883 by A. H. Sweet. Works located at No. 3 Pine street, Providence. Andrew H. Sweet was born in Norton, Mass., in 1845, and Austin M. Sweet, his son, was born in the same town in 1874.
Sayles & Gilleran .- Manufacturers of fancy worsteds and suitings. Business es- tablished in 1897 by Harding & Gilleran, Mr. Harding's interest in the firm being sold in 1898 to Henry F. Sayles, when the name was changed to Sayles & Gilleran. Works located in the old Braid Mill, formerly owned by the American Worsted Co., at 92 South Main street, Woonsocket. Employ 100 hands. Power supplied by a Brown engine of 150 horse power, and they do their own electric lighting. James F. Gilleran is a native of Bur- rillville, R. I., where he was born October 19, 1863. He began his trade in the mill at Maple- ville, R. I., and afterwards worked in a number of the woolen mills of Burrillville, acquiring a complete knowledge of the business. He at- tended the Lowell School of Design, of Boston, in order to qualify himself for the duties of a textile manufacturer. He was Superintendent of the White Mill of Bridgeton, Burrillville, when he resigned to organize the present busi- ness. Henry F. Sayles, a descendant of a long line of manufacturers, was Superintendent of the mill owned by Evans & Seagraves of Black- stone, Mass., for some seventeen years. He
Sayles & Gilleran Mill, Woonsocket, R. I.
gave up this position to become a member of the present firm, which is doing an extensive business.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Guerin Spinning Co .- Manufacturers of woolen and merino yarns. Business estab- lished in 1893. Incorporated in 1895. Capital- ized for $100,000. Employ 200 operatives. Mill located on Social street, Woonsocket, R. I., in what was formerly known as Jenks- ville, on the Peters River. Officers: Stanley J. Smith, President; Aram J. Pothier, Treas- urer and Secretary; Latimer W. Ballou, Agent: Joseph Guerin, General Manager ; Theophilus Guerin, Assistant Manager. Joseph Guerin, the General Manager of the business, was born in Verviers, Belgium, where he learned the yarn business in all of its details. He came to America in 1891 and began manu- facturing yarns in his own name on South Main street, in Woonsocket, in the old Braid Mill of the American Worsted Co., where Sayles & Gilleran are now carrying on the
woolen and merino yarns, and is still a member of the firm. He is also Treasurer and Secre- tary of the American Paper Tube Co., of Woonsocket. He received his education in the Technical School of Verviers, Belgium, where the pupils have the unusual privilege of enter- ing the woolen mills of the city for a few hours a day, where they gain a practical knowledge of the yarn manufacture as developed on a commercial scale. This is a decided advantage over our American technical schools, because the latter have only the spinning framcs, looms, etc., to operate in their school rooms as you would operate a globe for the study of gcog- raphy. The traveller learns more about the geography of the earth by travelling than he gets from a globe, and the mechanical student derives far more knowledge from the actual experience that he may have the privilege of
Guerin Spinning Co. Plant, Woonsocket, R. I.
worsted goods business. In 1893 a copartner- ship was formed, and in 1895 the business was incorporated under the present name, and the machinery was moved into their new plant at Jenksville, on Social street, in 1896, where they have done an extensive business. To meet the increase of trade a new addition of three stories is now being built of brick at the north- east end of the original stone factory, which was built in 1828, the accompanying cut show- ing its old style architecture which was com- mon in those days. His son, Theophilus Guerin, came to America a year earlier for the purpose of assisting in setting up the ma- chinery of the River Spinning Co., where he labored for six months, and later was employed with his father in the manufacture of yarns. He has served as Assistant Manager of the business of the present company for several years. In 1900 he organized the Falls Yarn Mills in Woonsocket for the manufacture of
enjoying in the mill or shop than all of the dummy mules or fly framcs that have ever been manipulated by the professors of our schools in an endeavor to make good workmen of our American boys. To be sure, they catch on quickly when they enter the mill, but with an advance experience of the real kind, such as they are given in many of the foreign schools, they will be ready to take hold in the right way the first day. There are some 250 woolen mills in Verviers, and these mill owners sup- port the technical school, each lending all the aid that he can in educating the pupils that may be sent to his mill for instruction.
The Treasurer and Secretary of the com- pany, Mr. Aram J. Pothier, is a native of Quebec, Canada. He came to Woonsocket in 1870, and in 1875 he was employed by the Woonsocket Institution for Savings, where he has remained until the present time. He was Representative to the Legislature from 1887 to
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
1889, and in the latter year he was chosen Com- missioner for Rhode Island to the Paris Ex- position. He was elected Mayor of the city in
. A
Dunn Worsted Co. No. 1 Mill, Woonsocket, R. I. 1894, and was later elected Lieutenant Gov- ernor, and has filled other offices of import- ance.
Latimer W. Ballou, the Agent of the com- pany, is a native of Woonsocket, where he was born October 8, 1872. He is a grandson of the late Hon. Latimer W. Ballou, who was one of the most highly respected citizens of the State of Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a post-graduate of Cornell University. Upon leaving school he was elected the Agent of the company, in which capacity he has served with marked ability, the business of the concern having had a steady growth from the incor- poration of the enterprise in 1895, and the pros- pect for the future is very promising. With increased facilities that the new addition to the factory will afford, the company will be able to compete with the large manufacturers of the country.
Power for the plant is supplied from the Peters River to the extent of about 50 horse power through two turbines, and a 150 horse power Slater engine.
Dunn Worsted Co .- Manufacturers of worsteds for men's wear. Business established in December, 1895, and incorporated the same month. Employ 175 hands. Mills located on the Peters River in what was formerly known as Jenksville, on Social street, Woonsocket. Officers: John B. Dunn, President ; Ervin S. Dunn, Treasurer and Secretary. Power for the mills is supplied from the Peters River to the extent of 50 horse power through one turbine, and by a 175 horse power Harris- Corliss engine. The proprietors of the com- pany were formerly connected with the Saxon
Worsted Co., of Providence. The old stone mill which now forms a part of the plant was built in 1822, and the company have just com- pleted a new factory immediately in the rear of the old mill, which is a modern structure in every respect, as shown by the accompanying cut. The cut of the old mill shows extensive additions have been made, which make it one of the best plants in the city.
Glendale Woolen Mill .- Manufacture fancy cassimeres. Mill located in Glendale, R. I., town of Burrillville, on the Branch River, some five miles from Pascoag, on the N. Y., N. H. and H. Railroad connecting with Woonsocket. Business originally established by Anthony Steere in 1841 who converted the buildings standing on the privilege into a cotton mill. About 1850, like most of the earlier mill structures of the town, it was destroyed by fire, and in 1853 he erected a stone mill, which is now used as the office of the present factory. He soon after sold the property to Lyman Copeland, who began the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1858 the mill was leased to Olney & Metcalf until 1863, when Day & Chapin leased it from 1863 to 1868, and then it was leased to Francis Carpenter, who purchased the property in 1873, and began operating the mill under the name of the Glendale Woolen Co. Upon the death of Mr. Carpenter in 1883, the property was leased by Joseph A. Carpenter, Robert Kershaw, and William Orrell. Mr. Kershaw died in about two years and the business was carried on by the two other gentlemen until 1889, when William Orrell, the present proprietor, purchased his part- ner's interest. Mr. Orrell has enlarged and im- proved the mill, adding new machinery. He is a native of Haywood, Lancashire, England, where lie was born November 14, 1848. He came with his parents to America in 1855. He has repre- sented the town in the State Senate, and in other ways has been honored as one of the public men
New Mill of the Dunn Worsted Co., Woonsocket, R. I. of the town. The first dam across the Branch River at this place was built about 1786 to operate a saw and grist mill.
305
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Rhode Island Engraving Co. - Makers of half- tone and line cuts of every description. Busi- ness established by Willis A. Dean on North Main street, in 1894, as the R. I. Photo-En- graving Co. This was the first plant of the kind established in the State of Rhode Island doing engraving by the "photo-process." Mr. Dean's business had been that of a commercial traveller until about 1893, when he interested himself in the photo-gelatine business, where he remained for one year prior to beginning the photo-engraving business on his own account. The plant was removed to 206 Weybosset street, Providence, in 1896, the present location, where
continues to do high class work in the photo- engraving line, and they are equipped to fill large orders promptly. Frederick W. Ferguson, who was sent to Philadelphia by the company to learn the photo-engraving business, now has charge of the artistic and mechanical depart- ments of the business. He has for a number of years been an expert designer and draughtsman.
Eastern Electrotype Co .- Makers of electro- types and all kind of letter press cuts, including wood cuts, line cuts, half-tones, etc. Business established in 1888 by the master printers of Providence, and in 1889 the business was in- corporated. Works located at 91 Sabin street.
000
James A. Hawes.
Thomas R. Magee.
an interest in the business was sold to one or two of the prominent master printers of the city and State, new machinery was added, and the plant became one of the most complete in New England, and the volume of business was very great. At one time the firm was doing work for the United States Government, and for many of the large manufacturing concerns of the country, the quality of the cuts produced being of the highest class. In 1899 the firm sold the business and plant to Pardon S. Rem- ington, and the business was incorporated in May, 1900, as the Rhode Island Engraving Co. Soon after Mr. Remington sold his interest in the business, and T. R. Magee was elected President and Treasurer of the company, and J. A. Hawes the Secretary of the Company, these gentlemen still holding those offices. The concern still
Employ about 22 hands. Officers : A. E. Hawes. President; T. R. Magee, Treasurer ; J. A. Hawes, Secretary. Thomas R. Magee is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., where he was born February 12, 1854. He learned the business of an electro- typer in his native city, where he was engaged in several of the large foundries. He was later employed in the electrotype foundries of Cin- cinnati, and was at one time the superintendent of the Ryan Type Foundry of Baltimore, Md. He was later employed by the University Press and H. C. Whitcomb & Co., of Boston, the latter concern being one of the largest electro- typing foundries of the country. Mr. Magee was engaged to take charge of the Providence foundry, and under his management the Eastern Electrotype Foundry has become one of the most successful in New England. In March, 1894,
(20)
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Mr. Magee, together with A. E. and J. A. Hawes, purchased the entire stock of the company, who are the present owners of the business, the original name being retained. The company do electrotyping for all parts of the country, and their recent improvements in the line of new machinery enables them to do work much more rapidly than before, which is very much appre- ciated by the printers of New England. James A. Hawes, the Secretary of the company, was born in Providence, June 2, 1872. He learned the engraving business, and after working at his trade for a few years, he purchased a part of the stock of the corporation, and was elected Secretary in 1894, which position he has held ever since. His knowledge of engraving has been of great benefit to the company, that de- partment being fully as extensive as the electro- typing department. The workturned out by this company is of the best and highest grade that can be made.
Union Oil Co. - Manufacturers of cotton seed oil. Business established in 1855. Works lo- cated at 239 Tockwotton street, Providence. Lyman Klapp, who was the originator of the business, was born in Westhampton, Mass., in 1827, and died in 1889. In 1854 he perfected the process of refining the oil taken from cot- ton seed, and he turned his inventions over to the Union Oil Co. upon its organization in 1855. He had completed machinery for hulling the cotton seed and for treating it in other ways preparatory to the refining process, and the works have turned out immense quantities of oil since the beginning, enlarging their plant from time to time to meet the increase of business.
Barstow Stove Co .- Manufacturers of stoves, ranges and furnaces. Business established in 1836 by Amos C. Barstow, who made the busi- ness a complete success with the assistance of his son, Amos C. Barstow, Jr., who is now the Treasurer and Manager of the company. The business was incorporated in 1859. In 1900 the Spicer Stove Co., who had manufactured the "Model Grand" range, went out of existence so far as the old name was concerned, and their business was merged into that of the Barstow Stove Co. This is now the only stove foundry in the city. The plant is a very extensive one and is located on Point street, Providence. Their productions are the best made in this country.
Woonsocket Napping Machine Co .- Manufac- turers of nappers for cotton and woolen goods, cloth finishing machinery, shearing machines, brushing machines, fulling machines, wool openers, etc. Business established in 1894 and incorporated the same year. Capitalized for $40,000. Employ 40 hands. Works located on Orchard avenue, Woonsocket, R. I. Officers : T. H, Greene, President ; H. S. Greene, Treas- urer; Geo. W. Greene, Secretary; H. S. Greene, Jr., General Manager. Power supplied from an Erie engine of 40-horse power.
Corliss Steam Engine Works .- (International Air Power Co.) The business of the Corliss Steam Engine Co. was begun by George H. Corliss about 1846 in company with John Bar- stow and E. J. Nightingale, under the firm name of Corliss, Nightingale & Co., and Mr. Corliss brought out his first complete steam en- gine, which was to revolutionize the engine making of the world, in 1848, receiving his pat- ents the following year. The business was later incorporated as the Corliss Steam Engine Co. The works that cover an area of some five or six acres were begun in 1858, and have been enlarged from time to time as the increase of business required. Probably no inventor has received more medals for his productions than Mr. Corliss received for his new steam engine. He has even received a medal from an exposi- tion where he had not made an exhibit of his engine, but it was given on account of other ex- hibits that contained in part Mr. Corliss's inven- tion, and to him the committee awarded the medal, instead of to the exhibitors. Mr. Corliss was born in Easton, N. Y., June 2, 1817, and came to Providence in 1844. In 1868, 1869 and 1870 Mr. Corliss represented North Providence in the State Senate, and 1876 he was chosen Presidential elector on the Hayes ticket. One of his greatest triumphs in business was the making of the Centennial engine, which pro- vided power for the entire plant that was in- stalled in Machinery Hall at Philadelphia, Pa., when the Centennial Exposition was held there in 1876. This immense engine was made at an expense of over $100,000, and it was one of the most wonderful sights of the entire exhibition.
After Mr. Corliss's death the business was carried along for a number of years under the original name. The property is now owned by the International Air Power Co. which corpora- tion is still carrying on the manufacture of steam engines, along with other specialties.
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Corliss Steam Engine Co. Works, Providence, R. I.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Pawtucket Foundry Company .- Makers of all kinds of iron and brass castings. Business established in 1897 as the Vulcan Foundry Co. and incorporated the same year with a capital- ization of $100,000. In 1901 Mr. Fred A. Thomas, of Woonsocket, who had been in the foundry business for some ten years, reor- ganized the business under the name of the Pawtucket Foundry Company, and started up the foundry under the old charter. The Vul- can Foundry Co. had closed up business, so that the concern had to begin and work up an independent trade, and the enterprise has been so successful under Mr. Thomas's management that an addition of 6,000 square feet is to be built to meet the vol- ume of business in hand. The officers of the company are : Edward Smith, Presi- dent ; Fred A. Thomas, Treasurer and Secretary. The company will employ about 75 hands.
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