USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 66
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A Mr. Edward Salisbury, another early settler, moved into the cen-
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
tral part of the town. He was the father of Duty Salisbury, formerly of Pascoag, and was once a resident of Smithfield, R. I. He was a soldier in the French war, his regiment being stationed in New York, and also on Lake Erie. It was engaged for a time in the erection of Fort Stanwix. Mr. Salisbury was saving enough of his earnings to purchase some 300 acres of land on the east side of what is now known as Herring pond. This pond derives its name from the fact that in early times large numbers of herrings used to come up the various streams in the spring to deposit their spawn, and in the fall became quite numerous. About this time the revolutionary war broke out, and Mr. Salisbury was summoned to Providence to take part in that contest. His youngest son, Deacon Salisbury, left the parental roof some 25 years afterward, and settled in or near Pascoag.
The family of Harringtons, of whom the descendants are now quite numerous, were also settlers here in an early time. A Doctor Har- rington, a physician of considerable distinction, practiced medicine in Burrillville many years. He had a large practice, and had at one time for a student Doctor Bellows, for a long time a resident in the Colwell neighborhood.
Joktan Putnam settled early in what is known as Rhodesville. He was the first moderator of the town, was a jolly kind of a fellow, and a lover of a good drink. He owned a large tract of land at Harris- ville and around Herring pond. During the revolutionary struggle he sided with the mother country and was called a tory. Becoming greatly involved, financially, he exchanged his lands here for a tract in the town of Sutton, Vermont.
William Rhodes, an early settler of the town, was a cooper by trade. He subsequently removed to the West Indies. He afterward fitted out a privateer and intercepted many English vessels laden with sugar, molasses, etc., and became quite wealthy. He purchased large tracts of land in and about Harrisville, then called Rhodesville, and also owned a store in South Carolina, where he used to journey to make new purchases, and look after his interests there.
The " Darned Man," for 40 years or more a strange and solitary man, was a frequent visitor to this town. He was a strange man and would travel great distances, as he was often heard from in Unadilla, N. Y., and other places. His coming was heralded by the singing of the birds in early spring, and after a time he would disappear. He was inoffensive and would sit for hours without uttering a word. He seemed to live alone, in a world apart from this one in which his sor- rows had their birth. Tradition asserts that this singular man had once been crossed in love, and became demented and an outcast. For many years he continued his regular visits, wearing the same old and patched wine-colored garments that by careful inspection bore traces of certain fineness of texture which clearly told of better days. He would often ask for thread and needle and invariably selecting that to
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match the color of his clothes, would proceed carefully to darn the threadbare places, until he at atlength acquired the appellation of the " Darned Man." Everybody seemed to know him, and all took an interest in the stranger. This melancholy worshipper of his broken altar idol has long since gone to that other world, leaving only faint remembrances of his blighted genius behind.
Cooper's Cave is located on the road leading from Glendale to the old Stephen Cooper residence. There is a tradition that this cave was the rendezvous at one time for a band of counterfeiters and that here they made their bogus coin. The place also bears the appellation of " Forger's Cave.
Round Top, in Buck Hill Woods, was also once inhabited by a band of counterfeiters, who, when talking to each other in the presence of strangers, called the place Newport. The several members of the gang lived in what is now known as Burrillville. They manufactured the old "eighty-six " and "Spanish milled " dollars, and had their forges and dies in this subterranean cavern, where they made one plated coin and one mixed. The plated coins were easily detected by cutting through their silver coating with a knife, when the copper or amalgam could be seen. There were a number of parties both inside and out who were furnished with the "queer," but at last they were apprehended and their business ceased. One of their number went one evening to a hotel on Brandy hill and having a large supply of this bogus coin spent it quite freely and became very tipsy. The large crowd present began to wonder where the stranger could have obtained so many silver dollars since there was so great a scarcity. They soon began to look upon it as a swindle of some sort, and the pieces were examined and it was found that all bore the same date. The stranger was at once arrested and confessed the whole thing. Several others were also arrested and brought to Chepachet before a justice. The cave was searched, the tools found and produced in court. The leader of the gang was placed on trial but he was cool and cunning, , and he came off the victor in the trial. The hammer and die being placed in his hands, he was asked to strike the blow that should deter- mine his skill, but he brought it down in such a manner as to bring the coin to a thin edge on one side. This test was thought by some to establish the innocence of the prisoner, as so bungling a job could have been done only by a novice. Although the band escaped punish - ment justly merited, a stain was left upon many of the citizens of the town.
An old bark mill once stood in the valley of Muddy brook. It was used to grind bark, which was passed between two large stones simi- lar to those with which grain is ground at the present time. The mill was a small one run by horse power and has long since crumbled to ruins. Mr. Shadrach Steere formerly owned and operated a turning lathe a little below the old bark mill. He manufactured spinning
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
wheels, chairs, bobbins and hoe handles. Nothing now remains of this old mill, the dam itself having disappeared long ago.
Daniel Sayles, the grandfather of Albert L. Sayles, built a mill in Burrillville in 1814 for fulling and dressing cloth, on or near the site of the present Granite Mill, at Pascoag. Soon after the erection of his mill he put into it a wool carding machine and the farmers around began to bring their wool in small quantities (from three to ten pounds) to have it carded. They then took the rolls home and after the spinning and weaving were done the cloth was brought to the mill for fulling and dressing.
In 1819 Hardin Sayles came into the possession of his father's mill, which was subsequently enlarged, and in 1834 began the manufacture of satinets with one set of machinery, in copartnership with his younger brother, Pitts Sayles, and his brother-in-law, John Chace. This was the second mill started for the manufacture of woolen goods in Burrill- ville. Providence was the nearest market for both the sale of goods and for the purchase of materials and supplies, and one of the proprie- tors used to convey thither in a wagon a few pieces of finished cloth and bring back one or two bags of wool with other supplies as often as occasion required. During the financial crisis of 1837 the business was suspended and in 1838 a new partnership was formed, with an increase of capital and an enlargement of the business. Jacob T. and Josiah Seagrave, Jr., of Providence, were admitted as partners, the style of the company being the Union Woolen Company. In 1844 a further enlargement was made and the machinery altered to adapt it to the manufacture of fancy cassimeres. In 1847 the company was dissolved and a new one formed under the firm name of L. Copeland & Co., and consisted of Lyman Copeland and Hardin and Pitts Sayles. In 1850 Mr. Copeland retired, the other partners continuing under the style of H. & P. Sayles. In 1853 A. L. Sayles purchased his uncle's interest in the mills and the firm was changed to Hardin Sayles & Son. In 1861 Hardin Sayles died, when A. L. Sayles continued the business.
In 1865 he built the new stone mill, making the length about 300 feet and the main part 50 feet wide and five stories high, containing ten sets of cards and other machinery for the manufacture of fancy cassi- meres, at a cost of about $250,000. In 1868 Hardin R. Sayles sold out and associated with John T. Fiske under the name of Fiske & Sayles, who bought the Thompson & Copeland Mills. Subsequently Addison C. Sayles associated with William Nichols and leased the mill of Horace A. Kimball. Since that time A. L. Sayles has had full control of the property, the establishment being known as the Granite Mills. In 1880 he made another addition of 57 feet to the building, increased the number of sets of machinery to 15 and has now the largest and most elegant structure in the town, and gives employment to 350 hands. Recently Mr. Sayles has associated his two sons, A. H. and
.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Fred. L., with him in the operation of the Granite Mills, under the name of A. L. Sayles & Sons.
W. A. Inman in 1880 purchased the old mill privilege property formerly owned by George and James Smith, and later by Cyrus Sherman, and erected a building 200 by 52 feet, three stories high, for the manufacture of fancy woolen goods. The mill contains four sets of cards, 25 broad looms and gives employment to 125 hands. The site is near Harrisville.
Sayles & Nichols' Mill was formerly called Hunt's Mill and later was owned by George W. Marsh. Then it passed into the hands of Addi- son C. Sayles, and in 1887 Addison C. Sayles and W. H. Nichols pur- chased the property, and recently it was all sold to A. L. Sayles. The buildings are 175 by 40 feet in size and have been recently refitted throughout. It is a seven set mill, having 46 looms.
William and Monroe Wilson had a mill above Fiske, Sayles & Co.'s mills for the manufacture of yarn. It is now occupied by Herbert M. Wilson. It is a two set mill in which a half dozen men find employ- ment.
Sheffield Worsted Mill is located on grounds formerly occupied by Pliny Sayles for a blacksmith shop, and later by George W. Esten, known as the Lower Mill. In 1847 John T. Fiske purchased the prop- erty and fitted it up for the manufacture of print cloths. Thirty-six looms were placed in the mill at that time and the business carried on somewhat extensively. In 1858 the old mill was burned down, but was rebuilt in 1859. The new mill was 100 by 36 feet, two stories high. It was then operated in the manufacture of satinets. In 1867, in company with Hardin R. Sayles, John T. Fiske purchased the Peter Place property, or the old Thompson Mill, and the business was ex- tended under the firm name of Fiske, Sayles & Co. The mill was greatly improved by valuable changes, it being turned into a first- class cassimere mill of six sets. In 1869 the mills of J. T. Fiske and Fiske, Sayles & Co. were consolidated, and John T. Fiske, Jr., taken into the firm. In 1875 John T. Fiske, Sr., retired.
In December, 1883, the firm of Fiske, Sayles & Co. was dissolved. At that time A. L. Sayles leased the half interest of J. T. Fiske, and in 1888 purchased Fiske's interest. It has since been operated by Al- bert H. and Fred. L. Sayles, under the firm name of F. L. Sayles & Co., who have thoroughly repaired the mill, enlarged it and added machinery. The mill now contains six sets of cards and 62 broad looms. About 125 hands are employed.
The lower mill was enlarged in 1887 by an addition of 100 feet to its length, at which time 70 broad looms were put in, giving employ- ment to 100 men. In 1883 J. T. Fiske, Jr., leased the lower mill of his father, and on September 4th, 1889, he purchased this property, and is now manufacturing a good quality of worsted goods. The name of the concern is now the Sheffield Worsted Mill.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The water privilege at the Laurel Ridge Mills was improved first by Nathan Cooper, who owned a rude saw mill, which he deeded to Nancy Brown, the wife of James Brown, and his daughter, together with 16 acres and two roods of land, with the water privilege, April 28th, 1815. The succeeding owners were Asa Churchill and Horace Hopkins, who bought the property February 22d, 1831, for $350. On May 2d, 1831, Churchill and Hopkins sold a third interest to Cornelius Foster for $116.67, and during that year the water power was improved and a building erected for the manufacture of spindles and fliers. Oc- tober 18th, 1832, Horace W. Hopkins sold his interest to Levi Lap- ham, Jr., for $1,050. May 26th, 1834, Augustus Hopkins and Horace W. Hopkins bought Asa Churchill's interest for $510, and June 2d, 1835, they bought the interest of Cornelius Foster and Levi Lapham for $1,730, since which time the manufacture of spindles and fliers has been carried on under the firm name of A. Hopkins & Co. In 1845 Mr. Augustus Hopkins became the sole proprietor, and since that time the business has continued in the family. His son, Horace Law- son Hopkins, entered the mill at an early age and soon became a member of the firm, and for many years had the management of the business, in partnership with his brother-in-law, James A. Potter. With one or two exceptions, the same corps of help has remained in the employ of the proprietors for a third of a century. It has always been the policy of the firm to avoid changes in employees and to give no employment to persons of immoral or intemperate habits, to which fact is largely attributed the success of the business.
In 1864 Addison S. Hopkins became the book-keeper for the con- cern, and in 1868 one of the partners. In 1876 a flood, caused by the breaking away of the Clear river reservoir dam, carried away some of the buildings. They were soon rebuilt, and a brass foundry was added in 1881. For over 50 years the business has been managed by some member of the family, and since 1876 it has been carried on by James A. Potter and Addison S. Hopkins, under the old firm name of A. Hopkins & Co.
The first business done on the site of the Clear River Woolen Mills was in 1773, by Elisha and Daniel Sayles, two brothers, who estab- lished a forge and purchased some 200 acres of land. The site is that of the village of Saxonville, which is part of the thriving village of Pascoag, the mill privilege being where the Clear river and Pascoag unite their waters. The Sayles Brothers continued the manufacture of iron for a number of years, the ore being obtained from the town of Cumberland. About the year 1835 Whipple Sayles, a son of Elisha, became the possessor by inheritance, and erected a blacksmith shop for the purpose of making scythes. But after the shop was built the pro- ject was abandoned until about 1844, when the privilege was leased by George W. Marsh, with a few acres of land, for the term of 20 years, and he erected a mill for the manufacture of Kentucky jeans.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Mr. Marsh also built tenements for the accommodation of his help. Fancy cassimeres were afterward manufactured here by Mr. Marsh and his son Edward until 1861, when the mill was burned down.
In 1865 James O. Inman purchased the estate and erected a sub- stantial stone mill and out-buildings, and filled the mill with four sets of woolen machinery, which were put in operation in the spring of 1866, for the manufacture of fine fancy cassimeres, known in the market as " Clear River Woolens."
The reservoir dam and with it all the dams and bridges up to and including this dam here were filled to overflowing during the heavy storms of May 25th, 1876, spreading general destruction in its course. The loss of the water which had been stored for use in the summer left the mill without power in that direction. Steam was resorted to in the emergency, but the dam was soon rebuilt. In the summer of 1877 an addition was built to the mill, making it 52 by 150 feet, and two additional sets were put in the mill, making six sets in all, giving it capacity for consuming 400,000 pounds of wool per annum. It is now a seven set mill, and gives employment to 150 hands. January 1st, 1886, Mr. Inman took his son Olney T. in partnership. For five years previous to 1865, Mr. Inman leased and ran a satinet mill. This mill he now owns and rents for use as a shoddy mill. His father, James Inman, was a scythe maker in Burrillville and died in 1850.
William Tinkham & Company are extensive manufacturers in Har- risville, employing 400 hands in the manufacture of fine worsted goods. The mills at this place were established in 1856 by Job S. Steere and William Tinkham, who started first in Mapleville three years before, with one set of machinery in the manufacture of tweeds and jeans. In 1856 they purchased of Jason Emerson the Harrisville mill property for $30,000, removed their machinery from Mapleville to Harrisville and putting in two other sets of machinery, began the manufacture of satinets. In 1857 they built their dam, built an addi- tion of 100 feet to their factory and made other improvements, in all amounting to $20,000. At this time the financial crisis found them heavily in debt, with a discouraging outlook for business, but the cash system of the company was then adopted, and manufacturing begun on shares partly, so that a profitable business was conducted even when other mills were standing idle.
In 1860 they added four more sets of machinery and began the manufacture of cassimeres. In 1873 Mr. Tinkham purchased the in- terests of his partner and formed a partnership with F. S. Farwell. In 1878 Ernest W., son of William Tinkham, was admitted to partner- ship, the firm style becoming Tinkham, Farwell & Company. In 1884 Mr. Farwell withdrew, when the firm became William Tinkham & Company. In 1860 the new mill was furnished with new machinery, and the company manufactured fancy cassimeres till 1881, when the machinery was adapted for the manufacture of fancy worsteds, which
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
became and still continue to be the staple output of the works. Ernest WV. Tinkham is manager and agent. The main structure of these mills was built of stone 40 by 165 feet, with two wings, one 60 by 106 feet, the other 22 by 105 feet. In 1888, an addition of 200 feet, two stories, was built with the proportionate amount of machinery putin. The money distributed to the hands employed in these extensive mills is a great source of prosperity in the vicinity of Harrisville. In the manufacture of fine worsteds the firm has been remarkably successful; so much so that their leading brands are now among the most popular in the market.
Mapleville Mills consist of two distinct manufactories, known as the upper and lower mills. The former was completely destroyed by fire September 3d, 1871. At that time it contained six sets employed in the manufacture of woolen and union cassimeres. The first mill was erected by D. L. Whipple in 1846, and devoted to the manufacture of satinets. It was the first mill built in Mapleville, and was con- structed of wood. Sometime after this Mr. Whipple erected a stone addition, the rooms of which were subsequently rented to other parties. About 1862 these buildings were enlarged and consolidated into a six set fancy woolen mill. The subsequent owners were: in 1863, G. A. & J. A. Smith; in 1865, Whitehead & Legg; in 1868, James Legg.
In 1887 the upper mill was burned, and has not been rebuilt. Darius P. Lawton, in 1841, built a small stone mill containing one set of woolen cards and looms with preparation and finishing, on the site of the mills erected by James Legg on the lower privilege. It was destroyed by fire a few years afterward, and again rebuilt. In 1856 Oliver Tracy bought the mill and privilege and considerably enlarged it. Smith & Hawkins bought it in 1857, and subsequently trans- ferred it to Joseph B. Smith, who again enlarged it and converted it into a fancy woolen mill. Smith & Whitehead purchased the prop- erty in July, 1864, and the mill was operated by them until March, 1865, when Frederick B. Smith bought the interest of James B. White- head, thus becoming the sole proprietor. In 1866 Mr. Smith sold to Whitehead & Legg, and in 1867 Mr. James Legg became the sole owner.
The lower mill at Mapleville was built in 1872 and 1873 by James Legg, and operated by him and his sons under the firm name of James Legg & Sons. In size, thoroughness of construction, protection against fire, etc., it is unsurpassed by any like institution in the town. Mr. Legg was born in England in 1822, and married Betsey Whatley in 1842. He first came to America in 1848, returning to England nine months later. In 1854 he came again to this country with his family. He owns a mill at Worcester, Mass., managed by his son.
Mathews & Haine operate the store at Mapleville. Albert Stocky is postmaster. The church at this place is under the charge of Reverend
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J. H. Follanbees, the Methodist minister at Oakland. Mrs. J. H. Fol- lanbees is Sabbath school superintendent.
Oakland Mill was erected by John L. Ross in 1850, and leased to the Woonsocket Delaine Company for several years for the manufac- ture of worsted goods. Subsequently Mr. J. L. Ross filled it with cot- ton machinery, and commenced the manufacture of satinets, and while hoop skirts were in fashion a large quantity of yarn was made for this purpose. It was enlarged in 1870. The mill was run up to about 1883, when the buildings were burned. Mr. Ross then rebuilt and leased the property to Bogart Harris & Co., who put in machinery in 1887 for the manufacture of silk yarns, hosiery, etc., and have for the past three years been doing a thriving business. They employ 120 hands.
The village of Oakland, besides the mills and a number of beauti- ful residences, has one store, one blacksmith shop, and one wheel- wright shop. The store is a large one near the depot, and was erected by W. A. Read, who kept it several years. The successive owners have been: J. H. Stott & Co .; Brown & Stott; and D. C. Rem- ington, Jr., and Charles D. Burbank, under the firm name of Reming- ington & Burbank, who took possession in 1885. In 1881, N. S. Cary established the first blacksmith shop in the village, and is still labor- ing at that forge. Mr. C. P. Tucker owns the wheelwright shop.
Glendale is a thriving little village in the northeast part of the town 12 miles from Connecticut, and four miles from Massachusetts. It contains two stores, a woolen mill and one church. J. Henry Car- penter is engaged in mercantile business here in the store erected by Anthony Steere before the late war, and in which Paris Mathewson kept store. Mr. Carpenter has been a trader in the village for a num- ber of years. Mr. A. S. Greene erected his store building in 1887. He formerly traded in Harrisville.
Over a century ago a grist and saw mill was erected here on this water privilege, which is one of the best in the town, having the Pascoag and Chepachet streams, with Laurel Hill, Herring pond and other helps. This property passed through several owners' hands and was finally purchased by Mr. Anthony Steere, who discarded both the old mills and built a large cotton mill in their stead. This building was completed and immediately afterward destroyed by fire. The mill was rebuilt and sold to Mr. Lyman Copeland in 1853, who put in nine sets of woolen machinery and began the manufacture of fine fancy cassimeres. In 1858 the mill was leased to Olney & Metcalf, of Providence. In 1863 it was leased to Day & Chapin, of Providence. In 1868 it was leased to Francis Carpenter, of Glendale, who operated it some four or five years and then purchased the entire property of Mr. Copeland. Mr. Carpenter improved the property and increased the machinery to 100 full fancy Crompton looms, and run in the manu- facture of fancy cassimeres, worsteds and coatings, making a monthly
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production of 60,000 yards and giving employment to some 250 hands .. In 1883 Joseph H. Carpenter and William Orrill succeeded Francis Carpenter. They employ 100 'men at the present time.
Pascoag is the largest village in the town of Burrillville. It con- tains a number of mills and stores, three churches, one bank, two hotels, and a live newspaper, and is the center of trade for miles around. Elisha and Daniel Sayles were early settlers in this place and their houses were among the first erected and are still standing The resi- dence property now owned and occupied by A. L. Sayles was built by Arnold Hunt, one of the early and prominent merchants in Pascoag. He also erected the brick store opposite the residence of A. L. Sayles and traded there as early as 1825 or 1830. He resided in the upper part of this building and kept his store on the ground floor many years. Following him in that place came Moses B. Salisbury and Dutee Steere, who after a short time failed, Augustus Steere going their security, who also broke up financially in consequence. Augustus Steere died about the close of the war. He was a prominent man of the town, respected for his honesty. He lived about a mile and a half below Pascoag. Horatio Cook next kept the old brick store, but after a few years he went to the town of Glocester. The old brick store is now used for a tenement house.
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