USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
The property, which eventually came into possessien of the Ar- nold family, east of the river in the northern part of the town, com- prises that territory which is an offspring of old Cumberland, and was subsequently held under the Mendon instead of the Rehoboth proprietary. May 19th, 1669, the general court of Boston granted 200 acres of land here to Samuel Chapin, of Springfield, for services ren- dered, but as he never came here to reside, in 1716 the court granted in lieu thereof 200 acres to his son. But on November 15th, 1710, Captain Seth Chapin sold about 40 acres of the former grant to John Arnold. May 20th, 1711, 25 acres were laid out by the Mendon pro- prietors to James Bick. Lands were about this time also laid out to Jonathan Sprague and Thomas Sanford. Bick's homestead was a lit- tle above Ballou's Bridge. Sprague lived near the mill of the Harris
234
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Woolen Company, at Mill River. William Arnold, the son of John, purchased the whole of the Bick and Sanford estates, and a portion of Sprague's. In 1719, and again in 1749 lands were laid out to Eben- ezer Cook. The greater part of the lands owned by Cook, Royce, Sewell, Chace and others eventually became the property of the Al- drich family.
The Dexter family also settled in this town. They were all de- scendants of Reverend Gregory Dexter, the transatlantic correspon- dent of Roger Williams, and elsewhere mentioned. James Dexter, his descendant, was the first to settle in this town. His wife was Sarah Messenger. She died about 1860, aged 99 years. James C. Dexter, the great grandson, now owns the estate. He is the son of Timothy W. Dexter. The descent is as follows: Gregory, John, James, James,2 Timothy W., James C. Mrs. Sarah Ann Kinsman is a granddaughter of James.2
The Ballou family formed what was known for a century as the Ballou neighborhood, and the old Ballou church, still in existence, was built about 1740, just north of the Iron Mountain, and is in about the same condition as when the first settlers gathered there in the service of their Creator. The building, with its heavy narrow gal- leries, is an interesting object for the visitor of the present day. From the Ballou family sprang the mother of the late lamented Presi- dent Garfield. 2
Fenner Brown was a prominent man in this part of the town. He was a seafaring man in his younger days, but settled down at Cum- berland Hill, where he became a prominent citizen of the county. He was president of the town council and a member of the general . assembly many years, was nominated for congress, and was once a candidate for lieutenant governor, but he belonged to the weaker party and was defeated.
In the days before railroads, stages, chaises and horse-blocks were the things talked about instead of depots, express and accommodation trains as now. But both the horses and chaises could be enjoyed but by the favored few. It is said of the celebrated "Squire " White, the eminent lawyer of Woonsocket, known not only for his abilities as a lawyer, and his faithful services in the Dorr war, but also as a pedes- trian, that he would seldom wait for stage coaches, but with law books and briefs under his arm would hasten on foot to Providence and beat the coaches every time.
About the year 1815 Abner Cooper, an enterprising man, started a public conveyance from Providence to Worcester, via Woonsocket. It was a one horse vehicle, and made weekly trips between these two places. About 1820 two coaches were put on, one going down the left bank of the river and the other down the right bank, i.e., by the Cumberland and Smithfield routes. On the Cumberland route the driver went as far as Coverdale place, and another driver
235.
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
continued from this point to Providence, Wheeler being the name of the former driver, and Aaron White the latter. In 1826 the drivers went through from Worcester to Providence. Their names were: John Prouty, 1826; Hall Bartlett, 1831; Beriah Curtis, 1833; Samuel Lawton, 1837; Aaron White, 1839, who drove till the stages were taken off.
When the Boston and Providence coaches lost their occupation by the introduction of railroad facilities, the proprietors thereof put on a daily line from Woonsocket to Providence and ran down the Cum- berland side of the river. In 1840 Henry Morris was discharged by the company and started an opposition line down the Smithfield side, which ran for two years, making at this time three lines, viz., the Morris line, the Cumberland line and the Smithfield line. The drivers on the Cumberland line were: Israel Wheeler, 1840; David Briggs, 1842; John Hunting, 1844; Governor Tourtellot, 1845; Charles Brown, 1846. The fare from Woonsocket to Providence was at first 75 cents. It was afterward reduced to 50 cents, and at one time was. but 25 cents.
About 1832 the people began to realize that the splendid coaches. so loudly boasted of did not always come up to time, and railroad projects were talked of. In 1843 the Providence Journal estimated the cost of a railroad between Providence and Woonsocket would be not over $1,000,000. There was some objection at this time to the iron horse, because he would not eat the hay and grain the 200 horses did; then what would become of these valuable products of the farm ? However, after due consideration the charter for the road was granted at the May session of 1844, and on August 9th, 1847, the locomotive engine "Lonsdale " arrived at Providence. In the following month the transportation of freight began. The road was formally opened October 25th, 1847. In 1878 the branch road from Valley Falls through the town was opened. The accommodations afforded by these railways proved a great blessing to the people of Cumberland.
Although the Blackstone river is the dividing line between the towns of Lincoln and Cumberland, for various reasons we will note the history of it here. This stream, which has pursued its crooked way for so many ages, has been called the Seekonk, the Narragansett, the Patucket, the Neetmock, the Nipmuck, the Great, and, finally, the Blackstone. In ancient times it was called the Blackstone in honor of William Blackstone, but not until the beginning of the present century did this name come into general use. Before the construction of dams upon this river salmon were very plenty, so much so that they formed the chief article in the farmers' bill of fare. In earlier times this river had to be crossed by the first settlers of Providence emigrating from the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies. Before the time of bridges they had what were known as wading places. The first of these was at a point called "Ware," now Central Falls. The second was at Blackstone's " Wading place," now Lonsdale; the third
236
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
was at Pray's, now Ashton; the fourth was at Senetchonet island, now Manville, and the fifth was at Woonsocket.
The town now has twelve bridges. . The most important are those over the Blackstone connecting Cumberland with Lincoln. Of the principal ones early built, the first was at the Falls. It was constructed in 1736. Toward its erection the legislature appropriated £128 and an additional sum was raised by subscription. The second bridge was raised in 1762, the funds being supplied by a lottery authorized by the general assembly. The third bridge was built in 1787, the legislature legalizing a lottery for the purpose, by which £900 was raised. The bridge of 1762 was above the grist mill of John Arnold, and the one built in 1787 was below it. In 1825 Dexter Ballou and David Wilkinson erected a stone arch bridge from the Smithfield shore to the island, and in 1833 Aaron Rathbun and Cephas Holbrook replaced the middle bridge with a stone arch bridge. In 1861 this was replaced by another stone arch bridge. In 1843 Mr. Eugene Mar- tin constructed a stone arch bridge from the Cumberland shore to the eastern end of the middle arch bridge. This, also, has been replaced.
Among the early sites of manufacturing in this town was what is called Robin Hollow, on the Abbot Run river. The first manufactur- ing done here was in the time of Charles II., when a royal license was obtained to manufacture tar. At this time there was a dense forest of pine in this locality and great quantities of pitch were easily obtained for the manufacture of this product. The establishment was continued for many years.
In 1797 Elisha Waterman purchased one-third of the property at Robin Hollow, and on the next day Benjamin S. Walcott purchased the remaining two-thirds. On this land was a two story building used as a dwelling house and fulling mill, erected by Samuel Chase. This was afterward converted into a mill for sawing marble. Near this property was a building where guns were bored, and a blacksmith shop. Farther down the stream was a furnace for casting cannon. By exchange and purchase Waterman and Walcott became equal owners in 1798. They erected a new mill at the easterly end of the dam and engaged in spinning yarn. The cotton was picked by hand, then spun and put out to weave. Boys used to whip the cotton as it was taken from the bales. This mill was 40 by 60 feet, 2 stories high. April 16th, 1813, Bennett Whipple purchased one-fourth of Walcott's interest. August 16th, 1816, Walcott sold his remaining interest to Elisha Waterman and Knight Whipple. The latter sold May 20th, 1821, to Palimon Walcott, who formed a partnership with Bennett Whipple, and they conducted the mill under the style of Whipple & Walcott. In 1824 they erected a new 2 story mill on the site of the present mill. In 1829 the firm failed, and March 15th, 1830, Elisha Waterman purchased the business at public auction. Squire French of Pawtucket bought an interest in the business, the new firm assum-
237
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
ing the liabilities of the old. The new firm was named Squire French & Co., and was composed of Elisha, Richard and Elizabeth Waterman, Sally Thompson, Daniel S. Cook and wife and Squire French. In 1850 the mill was burned. Amasa Whipple soon afterward gained control of the business, and a new mill was built, 80 by 40 feet, two stories in height, which was operated in the manufacture of thread. In 1855 David Ryder became owner of the property. In 1860 the mill was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in 1865-6, 100 by 40 feet. The mill was started in June, 1866, and in the following October, the Cumber- land Mill Company was incorporated with a capital of $75,000, George L. Littlefield, president, and Olney Arnold, treasurer. The company began operations with about 50 hands. In 1882 an addition 94 by 46 feet, three stories high was built, and the capital stock was increased to $100,000. In 1886 the dam and bulkheads were washed away by a freshet. In 1887 Daniel G. Littlefield became president. About 175 operatives are employed, and the goods produced are thread and warp yarns.
In the reign of Charles II., a license was obtained to make hollow ware. Messrs. Hatch and Wilmouth then erected a furnace on the west side of Abbot Run river, about midway between Robin Hollow and the Abbot Run factory, and called Iron Rust. Cannon were made here during the revolution. Nothing has been done here for many years. Daniel Mowry took up the foundation walls in 1852 and worked the material into a mill dam at Robin Hollow. The old furnace stood on Hopkin's lot close to the river. On the south side of Bishop's brook at its junction with the Abbot Run river was situated this ancient manufactory. A popular name at one time was the "Fog Mill," the locality being peculiarly subject to fogs.
In 1820 the Walcotts built a factory. It was 30 by 40 feet, with an . ell 16 by 24 feet. They commenced operations with 16 power looms, the yarn being spun at Hawkins'. In 1832 Benjamin Crowningshield commenced the manufacture of cotton bats and continued till 1836. Nails were made here afterward, but subsequently the mills were torn down.
An old foundry and smelting works were erected in 1736, about one half mile south of East Cumberland, upon the west side of Abbot Run. The ore was carted here from the ore mine a few miles west of this place. At that time this was by far the largest foundry in the place. It was run under a license from George II. Cannon were made here that did good service at Louisburg. After the revolution the business was discontinued.
On the west side of Diamond Hill and on the northern branch of the west fork of Abbot Run, is located what is known as Grant's Mill. The Tower family had a nail factory and a saw mill which they operated before the revolution. The nail business was quite exten- sively carried on here, the iron being obtained at Taunton. The mill
238
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
was situated a few rods south of the present one. Joseph Brown owned and ran the privilege a few years. Joseph Grant built a new saw and grist mill about 1818. Fenner Grant purchased it in 1848.
The Tingley Mills are upon the eastern branch of the Abbot Run river. Job Hathaway owned and operated a saw mill many years ago. The mill was torn down in 1836, and a carriage shop erected by W. S. White, who now owns and runs it. Mr. Hathaway also operated a grist mill which he erected near this place. It passed through various hands, coming into the possession of John Arnold, who pur- .chased the property in 1870.
The Peck Mill was built about a mile above Lonsdale. Levi Peck commenced to spin yarn here about 1810, but the water power not being sufficient it was abandoned after a time and a saw mill built in its place. The place is now owned by the Lonsdale Company.
Happy Hollow is situated a short distance east of Valley Falls, on the Abbot Run river. A small cotton factory was started here in 1818, by Crawford Titus. It was a wooden structure two stories high with basement, and contained about 2,000 spindles. In 1825 a square brick mill was built by Harris & Titus. This firm failed in 1829. In 1834 the property passed into the possession of the Abbot Run Com- pany, Crawford Allen, Milton S. Morse, Benjamin Fessenden and George C. Nightingale being the members of the firm. The brick mill was a beautiful three story structure, with tower, belfry, etc. It was all destroyed by the freshet of 1887. The Providence water works has its pumping engine at this place.
A short distance south of Diamond Hill Jason Newell put up a saw mill about the year 1820. It was built on the west fork of Abbot Run. A fulling mill was in operation here years before and continued till 1838, when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Newell moved a few rods down the stream and then built a new saw mill, and a small factory, 25 by 40 feet, two stories high. Jesse Whiting leased the building first and used it as a machine shop. He made forge machinery and operated a trip hammer by water power. Allen Haskell leased the building, put in six looms, and commenced the manufacture of negro cloth. In 1828 the mill was partially destroyed by fire, but was imme- diately rebuilt and leased by Arnold & Sheldon, who occupied it as a sash and blind factory. Subsequently Tisdale & Thayer operated it in the manufacture of cotton bats. Alfred Peck then leased it and occupied it about 14 years for a boat shop.
The saw mill at this place has been run by the Newell family since the year 1838, Mr. Jason Newell owning the property now. Rawson & Crowningshield built a factory here, 50 by 30 feet, two stories high with basement, in 1840, for the manufacture of yarn. It was operated by this firm till 1857, when Mr. Crowningshield died and it passed into the hands of the surviving partner. In 1882 the present company was organized, consisting of A. M. Cargill, president, and D. O. Car-
239
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
gill, treasurer, and the factory was changed to a grist mill. This small hamlet is upon Abbot Run, about three-quarters of a mile above Hawkins, and on the New York & New England railroad. W. M. Rawson formerly kept a grocery store at this place for his factory help. It is now kept by H. C. Rawson. Willard B. Scott is station agent.
It is generally conceded by geologists that there is no town in New England richer in mineral productions than Cumberland. So well was this fact established that the name bestowed upon the town was taken from Cumberland, England, a place which is said to contain more traces of the various valuable metals than any other in England. In an early day a soapstone mine was opened just back of Mowry Staples' house, and tons of this product were sent to Providence to be used as lining for furnaces. The business has been discontinued since the introduction of clay for the same purpose.
The Blackstone Coal Mining Company, Valley Falls, was originally owned and operated by a Boston company. The digging of a well by Samuel Chase led to the discovery of coal in that region, but it proved comparatively valueless as a product for fuel and the project was aban- doned. About 1850 Edmund N. Clark established the present indus- try. The coal obtained here is composed of a large percentage of plumbago and carbon and makes an excellent article for foundry facing. The present building was erected soon after the late war. The coal is ground finer than flour and to what is known as 14 bolts, and in this shape it is shipped throughout the states. John L. Clark was associated with his father prior to his death. The works are now owned by Edmund Clark.
The granite quarry of Diamond Hill has been worked very suc- cessfully. The Diamond Hill Granite Company was chartered in June, 1877, George F. Wilson, president, and a large amount of money has been expended to place the enterprise upon a permanent founda- tion. Francis B. Fisher is now proprietor of the quarry, and is oper- ating a force of about 20 men.
A company was formed about 1838, consisting of Benjamin G. and Timothy W. Dexter, Elisha Waterman and Benjamin Walcott, to operate a coal mine. A shaft was erected about three rods from Mrs. Dexter's house, in her front yard, on the north side of the road. A second attempt was made on the south side of the road a few rods east of the 300 foot shaft. When about 100 feet deep Benjamin Dex- ter, a son of Timothy, was killed and the work abandoned. A com- pany from Maine took hold of the mine and commenced operations on the 300 foot shaft. They continued work on the mine until an- other life, that of Joseph Mason, was taken, and the mine was again abandoned, and finally the coal was found unprofitable for fuel pur- poses.
General Leach, of Massachusetts, opened the celebrated gold mine
240
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
on the land owned by Joseph Burlingame, but it proved to be iron pyrites. The copper mine was discovered by Mr. Tower, and a tun- nel 250 feet long run into the hill, while shafts more than 100 feet deep are found here, but it all has proven a monument of disap- pointed hopes.
The celebrated iron mountain is situated about a mile and a half north of Cumberland Hill. The ore is quite pure, and considerable quantities were dug and used in foundries in years past. General Leach used quantities of it in his foundries in Massachusetts, and thought favorably of it. The ore bed is said to be the largest in New England.
Lime stone is found here on Copper Mine hill. No experiment as yet has been made as to its commercial value.
Valley Falls (Cumberland side) is the largest village in the town. It is the seat of the town house, has four churches, a number of stores, and has always been a center for manufacturing purposes since the first factory in the place was built by Crawford Titus in 1818. Wil- liam Harris was connected with the mill in 1822, and Valley Falls was more picturesque at that time than at present. The advance of civilization has robbed it of its natural beauties. The alders that fringed its glassy pond, and the groves that adorned its hills have been ruthlessly swept away.
There were two roads that passed through this region. One was the ancient Rehoboth road, laid out December 10th, 1650, by the Rehoboth proprietors, four rods wide. It passed through the village of Valley Falls, going up the east side of the river, crossing Abbot Run at that place, through the park of Mr. Blackstone at Lonsdale, the lands of the Whipples, the Pecks, Bartletts and others over Cum- berland Hill, and so on by Crook's to the Mendon line. The other road was afterward a turnpike, and is now Broad street. These two roads were connected on the Cumberland side of the river by a pri- vate way which came out of the last mentioned road near where now stands the Baptist meeting house, went over the hill where stood the mansion of William Harris, and intersected with the Rehoboth road at " Happy Hollow."
Edward Harris in 1823 entered the office of his Uncle William, and, with the snug little capital of 25 cents in his pocket, began his career in life, afterward becoming a millionaire of Woonsocket. In the summer of 1824 he went to Albion, where he continued his labors. He at first received $1.33 a day for his labors, but was afterward pro- moted to the superintendency of the works.
In 1824 Nathaniel Dana came to the place and began work in the mills of Mr. William Harris and Crawford Titus. In 1829 came the great crash. Mr. Dana afterward ran the mills, leaving there in 1834, when Harris bought back the whole concern. At this time the mill on the hill was burned, after which Crawford Allen rebuilt the main
241
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
part and operated it till he made a failure, when Samuel and Horace Chace, in 1830 or 1840, took possession, since which time the pros- perity of the undertaking has been marked. Arnold B. Chace now owns the mills on both sides of the river, and is doing a thriving business. The prosperity of the village has always kept pace with that of the mills, but its greatest growth has been within the past 20 years.
In common with all manufacturing centers during that earlier period, the proprietors of the mill also ran the store. Upon the fail- ure of Harris in 1829, Nathaniel Dana went into the store on the hill opposite the mill and kept there three years. He then turned his attention to the calico printing business, running the works from 1839 to 1848 successfully and controlling as many as 70 block printers at a time. On March 28th, 1848, a boiler explosion occurred that com- pletely blew up the works, killing twelve of his men instantly and ruining his business. He estimated his loss at $250,000. Mr. Dana then went into the store again and traded in goods till 1857, then sold his stock to William H. Brown, now of Providence. After him came Olney M. Cooke, who was here in 1856. He sold to Mr. Segar, he to Jenks Follett. Thomas D. Elsbree was in that store also, and moved into a building on the opposite side of the street. He was in business from 1866 to 1885 and was succeeded by I. Kibbee. The store is now owned by Walter M. Brown.
A. D. Shaw came to the place in 1858, and began clerking in Mr. Cooke's store. He began trading on the Lincoln side the day before Fort Sumter was fired upon, and continued on that side of the stream till February 23d, 1883, when he came over on the Cumberland side, and is still trading. The beautiful Valley Falls store structure was erected in 1882. Mark A. Burnham is manager for the company's in- terest here, also for the one in the Sprague Building, Central Falls.
John Patterson was the originator of the drug trade in the place. He owns a large store and has been in business many years. He began first on the hill, but when business was moved on Broad street he left there and located where he is now.
William H. Bolster owns the principal dry goods house in the vil- lage. The trade in dry goods naturally all went to Pawtucket and Providence until attractions of unusual character drew attention here.
Nathaniel Dana is now in his 85th year and is the oldest merchant in the place. He and his brother, George Dana, built their residences in 1845. George Dana was a politician, and held very many of the principal offices of the town and was representative and senator in the general assembly many years.
The Rhode Island Horse Shoe Company, located at Valley Falls, commenced business in 1867 under the style of the Union Horse Shoe Company. They erected commodious buildings on Dyer street, just below the Point Street bridge. The succeeding company, of which
16
242
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
F. W. Carpenter was elected president, C. H. Perkins, agent, and W. R. Comstock, secretary, was organized in 1872, and erected large and convenient buildings near the river. They erected the present build- ings after the company was formed. They employ 400 men in the manufacture of Perkins' Patent horse shoes, embracing over 160 styles.
Boat building has been extensively carried on since it was brought into the town by Alexander Thompson in 1790. It is said that in 1815 there could be counted within a short distance of East Cumber- land and Diamond Hill no less than 19 boat shops.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.