USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Smithfield > History of the town of Smithfield [R.I.] from its organization, in 1730-1, to its division, in 1871 > Part 10
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
In 1784 Keene sold one-third of the estate to Levi Hall, merchant, of Providence. At this time (1784), Keene & Hall owned the whole water power at Central Falls, al- though there are intimations in the deed from Gideon Jenks and Ezekiel Carpenter to Stephen Jenks of the three-fourths acre lot, and also in the deed of Cozzens to Keene, reserving one-third of three-fourths of an acre, but as has been said before, it is not found that any water power was used pre- vious to 1780 and before the building of Keene's dam.
In 1796 Anna Keene, widow of Charles, sold to Stephen Jenks, Stephen Jenks, Jr., and Moses Jenks, two-thirds of the Keene & Hall estate, and in 1806, Sarah Hall, widow of Levi Hall, sold to Stephen Jenks one third of the Keene & Hall lot. On the three-fourths acre lot, by Jenks in 1763,
115
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
afterwards known as the blacksmith shop lot, was built the trip hammer and blacksmith shop, in which were manufac- tured iron ship bolts and other ship work, the ship anchors being made by Stephen Jenks and Oziel Wilkinson, of Paw- tucket.
The water power, in 1806, was principally owned by Stephen Jenks, including the blacksmith shop lot and the Keene estate. The Keene building, called the Chocolate Mill, was, in 1807 or 1808, owned and occupied by the Smithfield Manufacturing Company, and used for the manu- facture of cotton yarns. In this mill, about 1812, and after, were employed Anthony, Eliza, Alexander, Isaiah and Rich- ard B. Gage and others. Their office and place of putting up their yarns was in Pawtucket, Mass., near where the Con- gregational Church now stands. It is said the Company, with their small amount of machinery-400 spindles,-suf- fered more from the lack of water than 40,000 spindles do now.
In 1811 Stephen Jenks made a contract with the United States Government to manufacture 10,000 muskets for $11.50 apiece. He erected a building to finish the guns in, part of which was afterwards used by. Stephen Jenks & Sons for a machine shop, and the balance for the manufacture of cotton cloth. This building was burned in January, 1829, and was on the site of what was afterwards the Duck Mill, built by Lemuel H. Arnold and Palemon Walcott, for the manufacture of cotton duck.
In 1832 Charles Moies and George F. Jenks bought the Duck Mill estate, and the mill was occupied by Moies, In- graham & Co., for the manufacture of cotton thread, the firm consisting of Charles Moies, H. N. Ingraham, Benjamin F. Greene and Samuel Saunders. The lot on which the mill stood was sold, many years afterwards, to Rufus Stafford, and is now part of the Stafford Manufacturing Company's estate.
116
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
In 1823 the owners of the water power at Central Falls had their property platted and divided into separate water privileges, numbered from one to six inclusive, which were apportioned among the owners according to their ownership, which appears on the records of the town of Smithfield. Each privilege was to have an aperture in the side of the trench six feet long and two feet below the top of the dam, making the aggregate length of the apertures thirty-six feet and two feet deep below the top of the dam, which, it was considered, would be the full capacity of the river at that time. The apertures have since been increased to one hun- dred and fifty-six feet in length and sixteen inches deep.
Lot and privilege No. 1 was bought by John Kennedy, and a brick mill erected for the manufacture of cotton cloth in 1825. It afterwards went into the hands of Wm. Jenkins, of Providence, from him to John Gardner and others, and from them to Rufus Stafford and others, and now belongs to the Stafford Manufacturing Company.
In 1824 a mill was built upon privilege No. 2 by David and George Jenks. Upon the completion of this the mill and the Central Falls bridge were dedicated. There was a foot-bridge built previous to this time. It was a gala day for the village. The meeting was held in one of the rooms of the mill, and attended by nearly all the inhabitants of the village, men, women and children, and a large number from Pawtucket, where some of the principal owners of the village resided. James C. Starkweather, of Pawtucket, was the orator of the day. After speeches were made and toasts drank, Stephen Jenks arose from his seat and proclaimed that the village should be named Central Falls, which was received with clapping of hands, stamping of feet and swing- ing of hats and bonnets. The meeting held until 12 o'clock at night. It was a moonlight night, and at that hour the cit- izens of Pawtucket who had attended the meeting, were seen wending their way over Central Hill towards Pawtucket,
117
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
some on their feet and others in the roughest part of the way on their hands and knees. There is no record that they did not all arrive safely home the next morning. There were anxious enquiries made by their wives during the night, however, for their absent husbands in Pawtucket.
The lower story of this mill was occupied by Simmons L. Hale and William Havens for the manufacture of cotton threads, and afterwards by Uriah Benedict and George F. Jenks for the manufacture of threads. The balance of the mill was occupied by the owners for the manufacture of cot- ton cloth. Afterwards the mill estate was divided by the Court-one-half to Andrew Jenks, son of George, and the other half to the representatives of David Jenks. H. N. Rogers and James Dennis bought the David Jenks part, which they have since sold to the Stafford Manufacturing Company, and is now a part of their estate. The other part of the estate is still owned by Andrew Jenks.
Privilege No. 3 was bought by the Pawtucket Thread Manufacturing Company, consisting of Jabal Ingraham, Bos- worth Walker, William Allen and Uriah Benedict. The present stone mill was built by them in 1825. The lower story was occupied by Fields & Jacobs for the manufacture of machinery, the two upper stories by Dwight Ingraham for the manufacture of cotton cloth, and the balance of the mill by the Company for the manufacture of threads. The estate is now owned, three-fourths by the heirs of Stephen Benedict, and one-fourth by the heirs of Bosworth Walker.
The north half of privilege No. 4 was bought by Stephen Benedict and Joseph Wood, on which they built a wooden mill, in 1840, for the manufacture of cotton cloth, and is now owned by the estate of Stephen Benedict, and at present leased by the firm of Thurber, Horton & Wood.
The south half of No. 4 and the north half of No. 5 priv- ileges were bought by Alvin Jenks and David G. Fales, on which they built a wooden mill in 1835. The lower story
¢
118
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
was occupied by them for the manufacture of machinery, and the other part of the mill was let to parties for the manufac- ture of cotton goods. The estate was sold by them to Phet- teplace & Seagraves, on which they have built a large brick mill for the manufacture of woolen goods, and now known as the Central Falls Woolen Mill.
The south half of No. 5 privilege was bought by Charles Moies, John Moies and George F. Jenks, and in 1839 they built a wooden mill, a part of which was occupied by them- selves for the manufacture of cotton cloth, a part by H. N. Ingraham for the manufacture of print cloths, and the base- ment by David Martin for the manufacture of spools and bobbins. Afterwards it was occupied by Greene & Daniels for twenty years in the manufacture of cotton thread and yarn, and has since been sold to the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Company, who now own it.
Privilege No. 6 was owned by Stephen Jenks. In 1826 he purchased the meeting house of the Universalist Society of Attleboro', Mass., removed it to this privilege, and in 1827 converted it into a mill for the manufacture of cotton cloth. This mill, in 1830, was sold by his assignee to Jas. F. Sim- mons, Lemuel H. Arnold and Ruel Richards, who made large additions to it. The lower story was occupied by Fales & Jenks for the manufacture of machinery, and the balance of the mill by the owners for the manufacture of cotton cloth. In 1837 Arnold sold to Charles Moies his part of the estate. In 1846 the whole estate was sold to Joseph and Samuel Wood, and upon the death of Samuel Wood was bought by Joseph Wood and John A. Adams, and by them sold to the Paw- tucket Hair Cloth Company, who now own the estate. The old mill building was sold to Weatherhead & Thompson, and by them moved south several hundred feet, where it now stands. It is at present used by them as a tannery, for the manufacture of leather belting, etc.
119
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
THOMAS D. RICE & COMPANY,
manufacturers of wooden jewelry, curtain fixtures, chairs, and of every variety of goods turned in wood. This is the only concern in the country where wooden jewelry is made. At first blush, one would hardly suppose that an article of this kind would appeal very strongly to an esthetic taste, or meet with a large demand. But a little reflection suffices to recall the fact that those who cannot afford diamonds, nor coral, nor gold, nor yet shell ornaments, are still as fond as the rich of whatever is convenient, graceful and fashionable. The belles and beaux of the rural districts ; the young men and ruddy maidens of the villages, who are compelled to economy in expenditure for personal adornments, imitate as far and as nearly as they can those more favored with this world's goods, and display quite as insatiable a desire for ex- ternal embellishments. And in regard to the articles under consideration, as in respect to much more showy and costly trinkets, it may be said in the language of the poet, that " things are not what they seem." Many an apparent dia- mond, which to the uninitiated eye appears a gem of purest ray serene, is nothing but paste ; many a pretended pearl, is but glass ; and many a chain of ostensible gold, in lengthen- ed links of glittering metal, long drawn out, is simply brass within, and a film of gold without. And so we shall rightly expect that our sylvan jewelry will betray no glimpse of wood.
Of course the work is done by machinery. Five thous- and sleeve buttons are turned out in a day, and breast pins and other articles in like proportion. These are then enam- eled ; some in gay single colors ; some in variegated hues ; and some in black. These latter are a useful and tasteful ar- ticle for every day wear as sleeve or dress buttons ; neat, un- obtrusive and admirably adapted to sedate attire. Nor should we forget to mention the cheap and handsome rosa-
120
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
ries upon which the unlettered Catholic may tell her prayers, with as true a devotion and as spiritual a fervor as animates her educated sister in perusing the illuminated page of her gold-clasped missal.
This concern has been in operation only one year, and yet its orders for children's chairs range from one to five thous- and, and for certain kinds of jewelry from one gross to two barrels. It uses five horse power of water, and, in dry sea- sons, a ten horse power engine, and employs five hands. It is certainly a curiosity and exhibits most conspicuously Yan- kee ingenuity and Yankee enterprise.
In 1830 DAVID G. FALES and ALVIN JENKS formed a co- partnership for the manufacture of cotton machinery, and commenced business in this place in a hired shop. Their first piece of work was a spooler, made for a firm in Rich- mond, Virginia, for which they received $60. In 1833 they purchased the right to manufacture in Rhode Island Hub- bard's Patent Rotary Pump. The first ring spinning frames were made by this firm in 1845; the first ring twisters, being among the first of these machines built in this country, for thread, worsted and silk, were made by them, in 1846, for Benjamin Greene. Several years since, Fales, Jenks & Sons made for and sent to J. & P. Coats, the celebrated manufacturers of " Coats " sewing thread, at Paisley, Scot- land, nine twisters, dressers and winders. In 1859-60 they built a furnace for castings, and in 1861 enlarged their operations very considerably. In 1862-3 they erected a brick shop, three stories high, 300x63, with an ell 70x60, which was afterwards sold to the American Linen Com- pany. In 1866 they removed their works to Pawtucket, whither we follow them only to say that they still added to the variety and importance of their business.
121
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
WEATHERHEAD, THOMPSON & CO.,
Manufacture oak tanned leather belting, and patent lace and picker leather. They commenced business in 1858, in a couple of buildings aggregating 70x20 feet. Their first year's sales amounted to twenty thousand dollars. This year (1870), they received the diploma of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, and their annual sales amount to $200,000. They occupy a building 110x40, built of wood, five stories high; one 100x 28 feet ; one of brick, 70x30 feet, two stories in height; use an engine of 70 horse power, and employ 35 hands. They also manufacture all kinds of spools for silk and cotton thread, employing in this department 15 hands.
M. B. ARNOLD & CO.,
Manufacturers of plain and fancy confectionery, occupy a building 67x30 feet, built of wood, two and a half stories high .. They employ sixteen hands, keep two double teams constantly on the road, and their annual sales amount to nearly one hundred thousand dollars.
PAWTUCKET HAIR CLOTH COMPANY.
This concern has grown out of the persevering efforts of a few individuals to establish a novel and difficult industry. In the last completed edition of the Encyclopædia Britan- nica it is stated that: "In the manufacture of hair cloth, either plain or damasked, the weaver uses a sort of hook shuttle, which he passes between the threads of the warp or shed, towards his left hand; the assistant, or server, places a single hair over the hook, and the weaver draws it through the warp. The placing of the hairs one by one renders this a tedious operation, and one that does not admit of the application of machinery, which is so advan-
16
122
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
tageously employed in fabrics where the shot or weft con- sists of a continuous thread."
And this statement is in accordance with the present state of manufacture abroad. There, two hands are required for each loom, and these looms are of the most cumbrous character, resembling the old fashioned hand looms, which, in the last century, were to be found in almost every New England farmer's household.
So novel an industry is entitled to a brief space. To begin at the beginning. The hair used is that of horses' tails, and is imported from South America and Russia, mostly from the latter country. It is purchased at the great annual fairs of Isbilt and Nijni Nooyorod. That purchased in June at the latter place will be received in about sixty days; and that bought at Isbilt, in February, in about six months. As it comes in various colors, it is, for the pur- poses of this concern, all dyed black. A certain proportion, however, is purchased in England and France, already pre- pared for the loom. It is worth from fifty cents to four dollars per pound, according to length, the price increasing in rapid ratio after the length attains twenty-four inches.
The "rough hair," or that which is imported in its natural state, is hackled, and the shortest sold to the manufacturers of mattresses, it being first curled. After being hackled, the different lengths are combed out, assorted, tied in bunches, and ready for coloring. After this process, the bunches are carefully inspected, measured, and put away for the loom. The cloth is made in widths of from fourteen to thirty-two inches.
Contrary to the popular idea, the hair is not, as a rule, round. A section under the microscope shows a form as though a third of a circle had been cut off, and the flat por- tion slightly indented. This conformation caused some diffi- culties in the manipulation, which required great skill and the most delicate machinery to overcome. The warp used
1
123
.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
is made of cotton, and prepared with great care. A bunch of hair which has been soaked in water is placed in position, and the individual hairs are picked up, to be by the shuttle laid carefully in the weft. If the machine fails to take a hair, which occasionally happens at the first trial, it con- tinues its efforts until it succeeds, the other portions of the machinery standing still in the meantime. The shuttle is an awkward looking, but most delicately operating imple- ment. The hair must not be bruised, and it must not be stretched ; the necessity for such gentle manipulation led to the idea embodied in the Encyclopedia, that no machinery could be constructed capable of performing the operation with sufficient exactitude and regularity. It is impossible to appreciate this loom without seeing it in operation, and having the benefit of the explanations of its ingenious in- ventor, Mr. Isaac Lindsley, who has been many years at work upon it, and who, after surmounting obstacles which would have been insuperable to one less tenacious and skill- ful, has brought it to what to the common comprehension seems perfection. The precision of the loom will be seen when we state that one girl attends ten of them.
It will be readily understood that a manufacture of this kind has not grown up in a day, and that almost every pro- cess has required new inventions in order not only to cheap- ness and excellence of production, but to any product. Thus, in shearing by hand the cloth to get rid of the ends of hairs, which, more or less, would be found sticking up in the surface, it was impossible always to perform the work as rapidly as was necessary. Mr. Lindsley therefore in- vented an apparatus which takes the place of twenty-five girls, and answers the purpose completely. It is overlooked by a girl who earns a dollar and a half a day, without manual exertion save of the slightest character, but who gives the machine strict attention to see that it receives no impediment from clogging or otherwise. The finishing of
124
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
the cloth is the same as in the manufacture of woolen goods -with differences. The quality of the cloth is better than that made by hand, but it comes in the market in competi- tion with that made where twenty-five cents a day is ordi- nary wages. In Germany the awkward hand looms are found in the peasants' homes, and whatever the children earn by working them is so much gain.
In 1864 this company erected the spacious building in Central Falls, now occupied by it. It is built of brick, 204x54 feet, four stories in height, with an additional base- ment story under one-half its length, with an ell 75x24 feet, four stories. It is operated by water-90 horse power ; 100 hands are employed, and 400 looms are run. Eventually 525 looms will be put in. Three thousand five hundred yards of hair cloth are made per month.
The girls who tend the looms earn, on an average, nearly a dollar and fifty cents per day. To Gen. Arnold, the treasurer, is due great credit for the conduct of the business in its earlier days, and to Mr. Lindsley the praise of a per- severance which knew no flagging, and a fertility of re- source which surmounted every difficulty. The various in- ventions of Mr. Lindsley are patented as well in England, France and Germany as in this country, and there is no reason to doubt that in his case his labors will receive a generous reward, a fate which too many inventors have never enjoyed.
THE CENTRAL FALLS WOOLEN MILL.
The company was incorporated January, 1870, but is not yet organized. Phetteplace & Seagrave, of Providence, and James L. Pierce are the owners.
The building is of brick, very substantially built, 150x50 feet, four stories high, with an ell, constructed of wood, 81x88 feet, with basement, 88x38 feet. The boiler house
125
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
is of brick, 50x30 feet. Water power is used, the capacity being 50 horse power, and is to be supplemented, when the mill is filled with machinery, by an engine. This mill is just starting up with 24 broad looms, and six setts of cards. The product is to be cassimeres and doeskins. The full capacity of the mill is fourteen setts.
Mr. Pierce is a practical manufacturer, having been with Edward Harris, of Woonsocket, for some fifteen years, and a member of the manufacturing firm of J. T. Seagrave & Company, (Granite Woolen Company,) Burrillville. He will have the charge of the mill, and will make a medium and fine quality of goods, having introduced all the newest and most improved machinery. With the capital of the old- established firm in Providence, and the skill and energy of Mr. Pierce, success is not doubtful.
THE STAFFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY
make white and colored soft enameled spool thread, for hand and machine sewing. This company was incorporated in 1864, with a capital of $300,000. It is named in honor of the late Rufus J. Stafford, who originated the business in 1859, raised it to about one-half its present dimensions, and died in 1863. The organization is as follows:
John A. Adams, of Central Falls, President and Agent. Joseph Wood, of Central Falls, Treasurer. John A. Taft, of Providence, Secretary.
The premises occupied by this company are situated on the west side of the Blackstone River, and consist of a very eligible lot of land and two mills, with the requisite build- ings. Very great improvements have been made, and are now making. One mill is stone, 102x40, three stories high, and was formerly used for the manufacture of cotton cloth, the company owning one-half. The other mill was built in
126
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
1824, of brick, and was originally about half its present size. It is now 204x40 feet, and five stories high. The dye house is also of brick, 60x30 feet; an addition to the mill has been made by the present company, of brick, 140x30 feet, three stories high, and one of the same material, 70x36 feet, four stories high. The store house is of stone, 60x30 feet, two stories in height.
This mill was erected by John Kennedy and Almy. & Brown, was afterwards owned by John Gardner, then by Stafford & Wood, and finally passed into the hands of the present owners. When in full operation this concern pays about $2,000 per month for spools, and about $5,000 per year for printing labels, &c. Every spool of thread is in- spected before it is packed, and the number of yards war- ranted is conscientiously given. The girls who wind the thread earn from $1 to $1.25 per day. The work is of course light, requiring rather care and dexterity than severe labor. The establishment is evidently managed with that judgment and scrutinizing care which are essential to success in so large a concern.
The number of spindles is 13,000; 25,000 dozen spools of thread are manufactured per week; about 300 hands are employed; the pay roll is $6,500 per month; the water power used is 300-horse power; 500 tons of coal are con- sumed per annum, and 500,000 pounds of cotton.
The President, Mr. Adams, is a thoroughly practical man- ufacturer, having begun at the beginning and witnessed and made the business as it has grown in magnitude and the ex- cellence of its product. Competent to superintend the mills, and manage the out-of-door affairs of this extensive manu- facture, it is not surprising that this company should stand in the front rank in its own line of trade.
It is always as pleasant as it is instructive to meet one who, fully conversant with an important branch of business, is yet willing to communicate general information respecting
127
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
it to those who are in pursuit of knowledge. Abernethy was a very great physician, but an unchancy man to interro- gate largely. We are indebted to Mr. Adams for the pleas- ure of a good deal more than a merely formal interview, and for ideas concerning topics of a wider scope than his imme- diate personal interest.
C. C. Holland, manufacturer of cotton yarns, began busi- ness in 1867, in company with A. A. Stafford. He now oc- cupies the Andrew Jencks Mill, so-called, which is built of stone, is 40x90 feet, three stories in height, and uses 30-horse power of water, taken from the Blackstone River. The mill contains 2,500 spindles, employs 22 hands, and consumes 2,500 pounds of cotton per week.
Thurber, Horton & Wood are manufacturers of light sheet- ings, print cloths, threads and yarns. They occupy a stone mill erected in 1824 by Uriah Benedict, Bosworth Walker and William Allen. It is a very substantial and handsome structure, 78x44 feet, four stories high, with an ell of brick, 28x16 feet. Another mill occupied by this firm is a wooden building, 82x32 feet, three stories in height, and other room. The entire power used is water-115 horse-power. They run 7,800 spindles, 125 looms, and employ 125 hands, turn- ing out 800 pounds of thread per day ; use 270,000 pounds of fine cotton yearly, and the annual value of their product is $125,000.
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.