USA > Rhode Island > Biographical history of the manufacturers and business men of Rhode Island, at the opening of the twentieth century > Part 34
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Oscar A. Steere, Superintendent of the works, is a native of Oxford, Mass., where he was born July 22, 1850. During his early child-
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
319
hood his parents removed to Hamilton, R. I., where he attended the public schools. After leaving school he entered the employ of Vaughan & Greene, afterwards the Hamilton Web Com- pany, remaining there until 1873, when he went to Northampton, Mass., to become overseer of a department of the Anchor Tape and Webbing Company. Here he remained for some five years and then resigned to take the superinten- dency of the Springfield Weaving Company of Springfield, Mass., remaining in that capacity for three years. He then removed to Holyoke, Mass., to take charge of the blanket binding and
1862. Two years later his parents removed to Uxbridge, Mass., where he attended the public schools until he went to Hamilton, R. I., in 1880, where he was employed in the office of the Hamilton Web Company as bookkeeper. Here he remained until the fall of 1882, when he engaged in the life insurance business which he pursued for one year. In 1884 he went to Albion, R. I., and was employed in the office of the Albion Company, now the Valley Falls Company, for one year. Early in 1885 he went to Hills Grove, R. I., as accountant in the local store, remaining until the fall of 1887, when he
HOPE WEBBINGC
AGAGA
Hope Webbing Co. Plant, Pawtucket, R. I.
surcingle department of the Springfield Blanket Company. After two years he resigned and later began business on his own account in com- pany with Charles Sisson under the firm name of the Hope Webbing Company. Mr. Steere has brought out many important inventions in connection with the machinery used in the manufacture of their goods and his office has directed the internal management of the works since its beginning.
Willis H. White, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of the company, is a native of Mil- ville, Mass., where he was born December 22,
associated himself with the Hope Webbing Company and has served as Secretary and As- sistant Treasurer since the incorporation of the business. The growth and success of this en- terprise has been largely due to Mr. White's careful and intelligent attention to the details of the office work.
Rhode Island Brush Co .- Manufacturers of revolving brushes, window washers, floor sweep- ers, and counter brushes. Brushes for mill work their specialty. Charles H. Grant, Gen- eral Manager. Works located at 50 Daniel avenue, Providence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Nayatt Brick Co. - Manufacturers of brick. Business established in 1847. Works located at Nayatt, in the town of Barrington, R. I. The company own some 400 acres of land, mostly good clay land. This is probably the most extensive deposit of clay suitable for the manufacture of first class building brick to be found in the State of Rhode Island. The plant is equipped with the most modern brick making machinery.
J. N. Polsey & Co .- Manufacturers of wooden packing boxes. Business established in 1857 by J. N. Polsey. John P. Hood became the sole owner in 1898, who is a native of Pawtucket, where he was born February 7, 1851. Works located at 41 Bayley street, Pawtucket, on the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. tracks. Employ 20 hands.
John Hope & Sons .- Manufacturers of panta- graph, mill engraving and grounding machines, also lathes, clamps, die blocks, steel and copper plate ruling machines, etc. Business established in 1847. Incorporated in 1890. Works located on Mashapaug street, Providence. John Hope, Treasurer.
Cruickshank Steam Engine Co .- Manufactur- ers of stationary and yacht engines, also experi. mental, special and general machinery. Works located at 286 Dyer street, Providence. Here the first Providence steam automobile was made by L. F. N. Baldwin, who was the Superinten- dent of the place.
R. I. Perkins Horse Shoe Co .- Manufacturers of machine made horse shoes of all kinds and sizes. Business established by Charles H. Per- kins in 1867. One of the largest plants of its kind in the country. Works located at Valley Falls. Office in Providence.
Rhode Island Tool Co. - Manufacturers of special machinery, bolts, nuts, tools, etc. Busi- ness established about 1847 as the Providence Tool Co., and reorganized in 1883 under the present name. Incorporated. Works located on West River street, Providence.
Phillips Insulated Wire Co. - Manufacturers of all kinds of wire for electric railways, cables, etc. Works located at Darlington, Pawtucket, R. I., on the India Point branch of N. Y ., N. H. & H. R. R. One of the largest plants in l'aw- tucket, and modern in every respect.
Israel H. Smith .- Manufacturer of card set- ting machinery, diamond point, fancy, doffer ring, sheet and hand-card machines, and cam wheels made to order. Works located at the corner of Pawtuxet and Wentworth avenues, Edgewood, R. I.
New England Steam Brick Co. - Manufactur- ers of brick. The most extensive brick manu- facturing plant in New England. Brick yards and works at Barrington and Nayatt, R. I. Every modern appliance for the manufacture of brick.
Winsor & Jerauld Mfg. Co. - Manufacturers of tentering machines, also the non-rupturable, patent convertible, automatic or spring clamp tenter chain. Tenter clips a specialty. Works located at 55 Clifford street, Providence.
American Seamless Wire Co .- Manufacturers of seamless wire for jewelry manufacturers' use. Business established in 1897. Works located in the Jesse Metcalf Building, Providence. William Oscar Cornell, Secretary and Treasurer.
Langelier Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of special machinery, tools, etc., including jewelers' and opticians' machines and tools. Works located at 67 Clifford street, Providence. A. T. Lange- lier, President and Treasurer.
The James Hanley Brewing Co .- Brewers of ales and porter. Brewery located at the corner of Fountain and Jackson streets, Providence. James Hanley, President and Treasurer. One of the oldest breweries in the city.
Narragangett Brewing Co .- Brewers of lager beer, ale and porter, and manufacturers of arti- ficial ice. Brewery at Arlington, R. I. Her- man G. Possner, Manager.
What Cheer Brewery .- Brewers of lager beer. Brewery located just outside of the city of Providence in the town of Cranston. H. T. Molter, Proprietor.
Eagle Brewing Co. - Brewers of ale and lager beers. Brewery located on West Ex- change, Ames, Spruce and McAvoy streets, Providence.
I. P. Richards .- Manufacturer of U. S. Stan- dard dies, standard punches, etc. Works lo- cated at 23 Pemberton street, Providence.
Hope Valley Woolen Co. - Manufacturers of satinets. Mill located in Hope Valley, Rich- mond, R. I.
321
AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
P. E. Thayer & Co. - Manufacturers of all kinds of brushes for manufacturing purposes. Their great specialty is jewelers' and mill
Philo E. Thayer.
brushes. Business established in 1870. Works located on East avenue, Pawtucket, R. I. Philo E. Thayer, the present proprietor, is a native of Bellingham, Mass., where he was born March 4, 1847. He received his education in the public schools. After leaving school he went to Worcester, Mass., in 1864, to work for his brother, Ellis Thayer, who was carrying on the brush manufacturing business. After a few months he went to Woonsocket to work for an- other brother, Allen Thayer, who was carrying on the grocery business in that city. In 1870 Ellis and George Thayer purchased the brush manufacturing business of Thomas Greene, of Pawtucket, whose works were located upon East avenue, and Philo E. Thayer was then em- ployed to take the foremanship of the works. Here he continued for two years, when he left to enter a grocery store in Woonsocket, and after about a year, his brother George being in ill health, he returned to Pawtucket to again be- come the foreman of the works. He later bought out his brother George's interest, and then the firm name of Thayer Brothers was adopted and used for a number of years, until he purchased his brother Ellis's interest in 1880,
then becoming the sole owner. From that time on the business has been carried on under the name of P. E. Thayer & Co. He also had an interest in a brush factory in Woonsocket, but he sold his interest in 1893 to his nephew, Walter S. Thayer, who had been his former partner. Mr. Thayer's brush works are among the most extensive in the State.
Mr. Philo E. Thayer has been a member of the Pawtucket City Council from 1886 until 1892, a continuous term of seven years, and he was again elected in 1895. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen for the years 1896, 1897 and 1898, being the President of the board. He was a member of the Special Committee of the City Council in charge of the Cotton Cen- tennial Celebration which was held in Paw- tucket in 1890. In 1894 he was first elected to represent Pawtucket in the Lower House of the General Assembly, and in many other ways he has been honored by the citizens of the city of Pawtucket. He was appointed by Governor Lippitt in 1897 as one of three commissioners to establish a new boundary line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Providence Ornamental Iron Works. - Man- ufacturers of fire escapes, iron roofs, cast and wrought iron fences, window guards, and shutters. Bostwick's folding gate for elevators and entrances. Works located at 288 Dyer street, Providence. John G. Lundgren, pro- prietor.
The Vermont Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of fancy butterine. Factory located at 13 to 17 Jackson street, Providence. Works thoroughly equipped with every modern convenience for the manufacture of butterine. Their products are said to be as fine as any made in this country. M. E. O'Meara, General Manager.
Huntoon & Gorham Co .- Manufacturers of union-made cigars. Factory located at 167 Courtland street, Providence. William C. Hun- toon, President; Harrison B. Huntoon, Trea- surer and general Manager.
James H. Tower .- Manufacturer of fire escape balconies, ladders, iron bridges, railings, steel cells, doors, shutters, and sheet-iron work. Works located at 48 Borden street, Providence.
Ashaway Woolen Co .- Manufacturers of cas- simeres. Mill located in Ashaway, in the town of Hopkinton, R. I. L. A. Briggs, Treasurer.
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322
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
William D. Cross .- Manufacturer of a high grade of cigars. Business established in 1869. Works located in Carolina, R. I. Mr. Cross is a native of Charlestown, R. I., where he was born November 5, 1832. He completed his education in the East Greenwich Academy. After learn- ing the cigar makers trade he was employed in the city of Providence for a time as the man- ager of a cigar factory, and in 1869 began busi- ness on his own account in the town where he now resides, and still carries on the cigar manu- facturing business. Mr. Cross is one of the most influential men of the town. He was elected to represent the town in the House of Representatives in the years 1872, 1898, and 1899, and was elected to the Senate in 1880, 1900, and 1901. He served in the Town Coun- cil from 1869 to 1872, and from 1879 to 1891. From 1893 until the present time he has been President of the Council. In 1873 and 1874 he served as Commissioner of Indian Schools, for the Narragansett Tribe, which was then living on the reservation in Charlestown. He was elected Town Treasurer and Collector in 1897, and has held the office continuously from that time to the present.
William H. Haskell Mfg. Co. - Manufac- turers of bolts and nuts. Business established in 1853 by Lewis T. Haskell, under the firm name of Pinkham, Haskell & Co. In 1857 William H. Haskell bought out the entire busi- ness. In 1861 Robert Sherman became a part- ner, but in 1868 he sold his interest to Mr. Has- kell. The business was incorporated in 1881 as the William H. Haskell Co. The manufact- uring plant is one of the largest in New Eng- land, which was developed under Mr. Haskell's management, and after the incorporation Mr. Edmund S. Mason as Treasurer and Daniel A. Hunt as Agent, were instrumental in its growth.
Allen's Print Works. - Printers and dyers. Works located at the North End of the city of Providence. The first building erected on this site was built for a woolen mill about 1812. J. B. Kelley, is the Treasurer of the corporation. The plant is quite an extensive one, and has been used for a dyeing and printing establish- ment for many years.
Barr & Thornley. - Globe Brass Foundry. Manufacturers of all kinds of brass and bronze castings and lining metals. Foundry located at 38 Wayne street, Providence.
New England Brush Co .- Manufacturers of all kinds of brushes, for silk, cotton and woolen mills, also for machine builders, silversmiths, sprinkling brushes for printers and bleachers, and for manufacturing jewelers. Works located at 77 Page street. Joseph Adams and Samuel M. Robinson, proprietors.
Charles E. Taylor .- Manufacturer of paper cop tubes, made to fit all kinds of spindles of American and English manufacture. Successor to the Burgess Cop Tube Co. Received a gold medal at the Mechanics Association Exhibition of 1869 of Boston. Works located at 21 Eddy street, Providence.
Philip L. Voelker .- Manufacturer of brushes for silk, cotton and woolen mills, furnishing and sprinkling brushes for printers and bleach- ers. Business established in 1858. Works located at 935 Westminster street, Providence.
Volney W. Mason & Co. - Manufacturers of friction clutches, hoisting machinery, etc. Business established in 1861. Works located on Lafayette street, Providence. Volney W. Mason, Proprietor.
John D. Lewis .- Manufacturer of dye-wood liquors, extracts, etc., for dyeing, bleaching and finishing cotton and woolen fabrics. Works located on Charles and Bark streets, Providence. Office, 4 Exchange Place.
The J. A. Gowdey Reed & Harness Co .- Man- ufacturers of reed and harnesses for woolen and cotton mills. Business established about 1840. Works located at 40 Clifford street. Providence.
Livingston Woolen Mills .- Manufacturers of woolen goods. Mill located at Washington, in the town of Coventry, R. I. Operate some twenty looms.
James Morton .- Manufacturer of shawls. Works located in Washington, in the town of Coventry, R. I. The only shawl manufacturer in the State.
Hand Brewing Co .- Brewers of beers. Brew- ery located at Darlington, Pawtucket, R. I., on the India Point branch of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Brewery erected about 1899.
Joseph J. Schofield .- Manufacturer of special machinery, appliances for woolen and cotton mills, bleacheries and print works. Works lo- cated at 282 Dyer street, Providence.
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AND BUSINESS MEN OF RHODE ISLAND.
Horton Brothers .- Photographers. The Hor- ton Brothers were born in Westmoreland, Cheshire county, New Hampshire. In 1878, in
E. Chamberlain Horton.
Providence, E. C. Horton established the busi- ness and one year and a half later took as a partner, his brother, E. K. Horton. Since then the firm has been known as Horton Brothers. E. C. Horton, as an operator, ranks among the very best and has a thorough knowledge of all the diffent branches of the business.
E. K. Horton is financial manager and by the personal supervision of each in their de- partments they have kept pace with the times and maintained an enviable reputation, second to none. Their patrons are from all parts of the country, many of them being our most dis- tinguished citizens. For eighteen years they have been photographers to Brown University. Most of the portraits used in this book were made by them from special sittings.
Wickford Worsted-Woolen Mills. - Manufac- turers of woolen and worsted goods. Business established in 1881 by William Gregory, Ex- Governor of Rhode Island, whose biographical sketch is printed on page 7 of this book. Soon after Governor Gregory's death in December, the business that had been carried on so suc- cessfully by him, which included the mill at Wickford and the Oak Hill Mill, at Bellville,
R. I., was incorporated under the name of the Wickford Worsted-Woolen Mills, the former name being the Wickford Worsted Mills. The incorporation papers were granted December 27, 1901. Capitalized for $100,000. Officers : Mrs. Harriet Gregory, President, widow of the late Governor; Albert Gregory, Secretary and Treasurer; Miss Louise Gregory is a member of the Board of Directors. Under the new name the company plans to resume business January 1, 1902.
Canonchet Mills. - Manufacturers of cotton yarns and warps. Mills located in Hope Valley in the town of Hopkinton, R. I. Mr. L. Ed- wards, proprietor. The plant was built by Mr. Edwards in 1876, and is one of the most sub- stantial of any textile establishment in the State. Power is supplied by water to the ex- tent of about 100-horse power, and an auxiliary steam plant supplies all that is needed in time of low water. The mills have about 3,000 spin- dles. Mr. Edwards is well known as a thorough textile manufacturer.
Eagle Dye Works. - Dyers and finishers of cotton from the bale. Business incorporated in 1886. Snow & Earle, Agents. Employ about
Edgar Kendall Horton.
75 hands. Newton Earle has served as Presi- dent and Treasurer of the concern for a num- ber of years.
324
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
Bernon Mills .- Manufacturers of print cloths and twilled goods. First factory built in 1813, of stone, and known as the Georgiaville Cotton Manufacturing Co. Mill. Present company incorporated, with a capitalization of $125,000. Officers : Royal C. Taft, President ; Robert W. Taft, Asst. Treasurer ; H. R. Farnham, Super- intendent. The mill contains some 30,000 spindles, and 641 looms. Works at Georgiaville, R. I.
Household Sewing Machine Co. - Manufact- urers of the Household Sewing Machine. Busi- ness established about 1847. Factory located on Wickenden street, Providence. These works have in the past been devoted to various manu- facturing purposes, including marine hardware, railroad supplies, rifles, and various other lines. George H. Newhall, Treasurer.
Nayatt and N. E. Brick Co. Plants, Nayatt, R. I. [See page 320.]
Coventry Co .- Manufacturers of sheetings, twills, and goods for the converting trade. First mill built in 1805 or 1807. Mill located at An- thony, R. I. Incorporated in 1864. Capital- ized for $300,000. Officers : Rathbone Gardner, President ; Robert W. Taft, Treasurer. There are some 40,000 spindles, and 916 looms. Power is supplied from the Pawtuxet River, and from a steam engine.
Dyerville Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of cotton goods. Mill located at 610 Manton avenue, Providence, on the Woonasquatucket River. Truman Beckwith, Treasurer.
Greenville Mfg. Co .- Manufacturers of woolen goods. Business established in 1856. Factory at Greenville, R. I.
Ellis Thayer. - Manufacturer of all kinds of brushes, principally for manufacturers' use. Mr. Thayer originally began business in Wor- cester, Mass., along about 1863, and in 1870 he purchased the brush business formerly carried on by Thomas Greene, of Pawtucket, on East ave- nue, his brother George being a partner in the enterprise. Later his brother, Philo E. Thayer, bought out George Thayer's interest, and the firm name then became Thayer Bros. In 1880 Mr. Thayer sold out his interest in the business to his brother Philo, and later began business in his own name on Exchange street, Pawtucket, in a new factory which is equipped with all of the latest brush making machinery.
American Yarn Co .- Manufacturers of tailors' trimmings, fancy cottons, etc. Business incor- porated in 1892. Works located in Pawtucket, R. I. Mr. L. M. Smith was the prime mover in the establishment of the business, and to his care- ful oversightis due thesuccess of the enterprise. Mr. Smith was for some fifteen years the super- intendent of the Harris Woolen Company's mill at Woonsocket. Hezekiah Conant, Presi- dent ; Jude Taylor, Treasurer. Mr. Smith was elected Agent and Superintendent of the com- pany May 1, 1894.
N. E. Ventilating and Heating Co .- Manufac- turers of Richardson's system of mill ventil- ation, including exhaust fans, revolving ventil- ators, etc. Works located at 926 Manton ave- nue, Providence. Richard Richardson, Pro- prietor.
Kendall Mfg. Co. - Manufacturers of soap and the widely known "Soapine". Nicholas Shel- don, Treasurer. The largest soap manufacturing plant in the State. Works located on Friend- ship street, corner of Page street, Providence.
Wanskuck Co. - Manufacturers of worsted goods. Business begun in 1864. Mill located in the Wanskuck section of Providence. Jesse H. Metcalf, Agent of the corporation. Office, 36 Exchange Place.
Geneva Mills. - Manufacturers of worsted goods. Mill located on Douglas avenue, Provi- dence. One of the extensive manufacturing plants of the State. Business office, 36 Ex- change Place.
Combination Ladder Co. - Manufacturers of ladders, of all kinds including extension ladders, wood and iron fire escape ladders, etc. C. N. Richardson, proprietor. Works at 366 Foun- tain street, Providence.
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Winthrop Phillips.
View of Woonsocket, R. I., at the Time of the Building of the New Bridge Across the Blackstone River. [See page 71.]
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
RHODE ISLAND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.
As a fitting close to the last years of the Nineteenth Century, which marked a wonder- ful growth in the line of manufactures in the State of Rhode Island, the Providence Board of Trade planned and organized an Industrial Ex- hibition to be held the week of June 17, 1897, the prime object being to place before the Mexi-
the most complete exhibition of its kind ever held in the State, reflecting much credit upon the organization and the committees appointed to look after the various details. Not only were the products placed on exhibition, but there were many enterprising concerns who placed in operation many of their machines, thereby giving an accurate idea of the manner in which their goods were manufactured. Nearly every line of goods made in the State were on exhi-
FULLER BLDG.
FULLER BUILDIK
Egaucher
Fuller Building. The Industrial Exposition Building of 1897.
can, Central and South American delegates, who were at that time making a tour of the United States, on the invitation of the Philadel- phia Commercial Museum, the manufactured products of the State so that they could inspect them under one roof, and get an idea of the ex- tent of our manufactures without the necessity of visiting numerous factories. Under the effi- cient management of its Secretary, George H. Webb, the exhibition was completed within a very few days, the time being limited. It was
bition from the minutest piece of jewelry to a Corliss steam engine, and everything was ar- ranged in an attractive manner. Upon the ar- rival of the delegates a reception was tendered them on June 17, at which Governor Elisha Dyer made the address of welcome.
The Fuller Building was erected by Frederic Fuller in 1896. It is located at the corner of West Exchange and Sabin streets. The build- ing is devoted principally to manufacturing, in- cluding jewelry, bicycles, ring travellers, etc.
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Industrial Exposition. DEPT. I.
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DIRACars & Dicino Co.
June 1897
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
APPONAUG AND EAST GREENWICH.
The village of Apponaug lays claim to about the first fulling mill built in the State, and East Greenwich claims the first calico printing es- tablishment in the United States. These places have both become somewhat famous for their dyeing, bleaching and printing establish- ments, but they are not engaged very exten- sively in other lines of manufactures, although East Greenwich had quite a record in the tex- tile line soon after the advent of the Nineteenth Century. At present there is but one cotton factory in operation, and one bleachery and print works.
The following is the act of the "Proprietors" in reference to the establishment of a fulling mill in Apponaug :
June 6, 1696. "These presents declare and testify that John Micarter, of the town of Provi- dence in the colony of Rhode Island, and Provi- dence Plantations, having made application by way of petition to this town of Warwick, desir- ing leave and liberty for the building and setting up a fulling mill upon a small river at the place called and known by the name of Aponake (Apponaug), also some convenient accommo- dations for the abode and residence of himself and family. The town having considered the premises have granted his request, always with this proviso, that the said fulling mill shall be finished and completed fit to do the town ser- vice at or before the first day of May, which shall be in the year 1697. And that the said John Micarter shall always be ready to do the town's work upon as reasonable terms as they can have it done elsewhere in the states about us; upon these considerations the town hath granted him one acre and a half of land situate and being between two wading places, the up- permost being the foot-way and the lowermost the horseway, as also allowed liberty for digging a trench at the entrance of Kekamewit brook to raise it sufficiently, which done will make a small island, which he may also make use of ; and hath also liberty without and besides the bounds appointed him to dry cloth upon the common ; also privileges upon the common for fuel or fire wood necessary, and privileges for ten head of cattle to feed on the common ; more- over seventeen acres of land or thereabouts, eastward from Robert Potter's farm, ranging
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