History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. ed. cn; Holmes, Frank R
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1260

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43

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).

450

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

15, 1857, to re-organize St. John's Lodge, the number being changed to 41. The following are named in the charter: James Lovell, Elias Damon1, E. H. Meacham, A. L. Thompson, Ebenezer Harlow, Ashel Burr, Martin Snell, Abial S. Smart1, L. M. Smith, Daniel Thompson, John Tolles1, W. R. Pierce, Simeon Harlow, A. Bixby, Laforest M. Smith, Ray Matthews, Barnum Harlow, Seth Damon, and George W. Porter. The lodge was re-organized February 3, 1857, by O. H. Macken- zie, R. W., district deputy. The following being named in the charter were duly installed : James Lovell, M .; Elias Damon, S. W .; E. H. Meacham, J. W. Regular communications continued to be held at a Masonic hall located where the Woolson block now stands, from this time till May 26, 1863, when a new hall was fitted up over the Tontine building. On the re-organization of St. John's Lodge their jurisdiction extended over Chester, Cavendish, and Weathersfield. In January, 1861, permission was given to form La Fayette Lodge, No. 53, at Caven- dish, and in 1865 Olive Branch Lodge, No. 64, at Chester. Communica- tions continued to be held in Tontine building till January 1, 1871, when the present hall located in the Woolson block was secured. The mem- bership is one hundred and forty one, and communications are held on the first Tuesday of each month. The present officers are W. M., Le roy M. Holmes; S. W., James H. Putman ; J. W., George F. Leland ; treasurer, Hermon W. Harlow; secretary, George W. Porter; S. D., Henry D. Sparrow; J. D., Charles H. Stone ; S. S., E. C. Nason ; J S., Charles H. Moore ; chaplain, Ellis W. Morse ; marshal, James P. Way ; tyler, David H. Haskins.

Springfield Council, No. 18, Royal and Select Masons, was chartered June II, 1878, the names appearing on the document being Jerome W. Pierce, Augustus L. Robinson, and Augustus Lane, who were duly ap- pointed the first officers of the council. They hold their communications in Masonic hall.

Jarvis Post, No. 7, G. A. R., was named after Major Charles Jarvis2, and was organized August 21, 1868, the following officers being elected: Commander, H. W. Floyd ; senior vice-commander, T. R. Proctor ; junior vice-commander, Adin H. Whitmore; sergeant-major, Edward D.

1 Were made members of the order between 1853 and 1857.

2 For sketch of the life of this gentleman see history of Weathersfield.

451

VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD.

Hatch; adjutant, J. Wood Hastings ; quartermaster, L. A. Pierce; sur- geon, L. M. Tuttle; chaplain, E. N. Dean. The post was disbanded in 1874, and was re-organized in July, 1884, with the following officers : W. H. H. Slack, C .; W. H. H. Putnam, S. V. C .; William Sparrow, J. V. C .; A. O. Coburn, adjutant; William M. Lewis, quartermaster ; S. Grow, chaplain. Meetings are held first and third Wednesdays of the month and the present membership is seventy-eight. The offi- cers elected in 1888 were : C., William Sparrow; S. V. C., Justus Dartt ; J. V. C., C. C. Johnson; adjutant, A. W. Stickney; Q., D. B. Lock- wood ; chaplain, Adelbert Allen.

Brook Freshets .- The brook running through the village has its source in the northern part of the town and empties into the Black River, be- ing about three miles in length. At about half-past two o'clock on July 12, 1883, a black cloud heavily charged with electricity was seen over the village during a rain-storm. Without a moment's warning a perfect wall of water came rushing down what is called the Brook road, swiftly across Main street, carrying everything before it that impeded its prog- ress. The loss to the village and individuals was estimated to be $15,- 000. Not quite a year afterwards, on June 9, 1884, at one o'clock in the afternoon, during the progress of a thunder-storm, the water in the brook again rose to a perfect torrent and for over a mile devastated the roadway, destroying the new bridge built over Main street, and causing damage to individuals aggregating over $10,000. At the time of the building of the present bridge over Main street the corporation thor- oughly walled the sides of the brook and changed its course.

The Springfield Board of Trade was organized April 25, 1887, and the following officers elected : President, Adna Brown; vice-president, R. G. Britton ; secretary, H. W. Harlow; treasurer, B. F. Aldrich. At a meeting held February 7, 1888, the present officers were elected, viz .: Adna Brown, president ; W. H. H. Slack, vice-president ; M. L. Law- rence, secretary ; and C. A. Leland, treasurer. There has been no meeting held since 1888.

The Exchange Bank was incorporated by special act of the Vermont Legislature December 5, 1853. The books were opened to receive sub - scriptions to the stock February 5, 1854, the capital stock being $50,- 000, divided into one thousand shares at fifty dollars each, and the same

452

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

was taken by one thousand different parties. At the first meeting of the stockholders held March 8, 1854, John Holmes, Sylvester Burke, Samuel Alford, jr., Joseph W. Colburn, John Perkins, Aaron L. Thomp- son, and Mason C. Richardson were elected directors. The directors at a subsequent meeting chose Joseph W. Colburn, president, and Albert Brown, cashier, who filled these positions until the charter of the bank was surrendered. During the continuance of the bank there was but one change in the board of directors, John Holmes being succeeded by Levi C. Fay. The bank was located in the east side of the brick build- ing facing Main street, and was opened for business June 9, 1854. In

the early part of 1865 a proposition was received from the stockholders

of the First National Bank of Springfield, to the effect that if the char- ter of the Exchange Bank was surrendered, $50,000 of the stock of the first named corporation would be reserved and subscriptions taken only from stockholders of the latter institution. This was accepted and the two corporations were merged into one, every dollar of stock reserved being taken. This plan being rather a slow way to close up the busi- ness of the Exchange Bank a proposition was submitted on January 29, 1866, by Albert Brown, that on condition of all the assets being turned over to him, he would redeem the capital stock at fifty-seven dollars a share. This proposition was unanimously accepted by the stockholders and Mr. Brown received a vote of thanks for the faithful discharge of his duties while officer of the institution. The dividends paid by the Exchange Bank during the eleven years of its existence averaged eleven and one-quarter per cent. annually. After purchasing the assets of the bank Mr. Brown carried on business as a private banker for two years.

Springfield Savings Bank .- This institution was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature December 6, 1853, the original incorpora- tors being Samuel W. Porter, George Johnson, John White, Samuel Whitcomb, Henry Barnard, Abner Field, John Farnum, George Waslı- burn, James Whipple, Calvin Hubbard, James Lovell, Hamlin Whit- more, John Holmes, and George Kimball. At the first meeting held Henry Closson, Leonard Chase and George W. Porter were added to these incorporators, the minimum being thirty who had rights given them by the charter to choose the officers and who were required to be residents of the county. The following have been elected at different

Ges. H Walker & Co. Lith Boston.

Henry Gelassen

453

VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD.

periods to fill vacancies : In 1858, Amasa Woolson, William M. Pingry, Otis B. Litchfield, Jonathan Martin ; 1859, Hyrem Henry, Samuel Rol- lins; 1860, Charles A. Forbush; 1863, Daniel Rice; 1864. John R. Hall, George P. Haywood, George C. Porter ; 1869, James B. Whipple, Isaac G. Davis, Fred C. Field ; 1872, Charles E. Richardson, Gershom Closson, William H. Wheeler, John C. Loveland ; 1874, Rufus O. For- bush, James E. White, Rodney C. Britton, Horace H. Howe, Franklin P. Ball ; 1879, Lucius Streeter, Justus Dartt ; 1880, Fred W. Porter, Benjamin F. Dana; 1881, Edson X. Pierce; 1882, Albert M. Allbe ; 1883, Adna Brown, Daniel O. Gill ; 1884, Samuel Brown ; 1886, George Barrett; 1887, Charles F. Aldrich, Benjamin F. Aldrich ; 1889, Robert M. Colburn, Miles Smith and Albert D. L. Herrick. The first presi- dent was Henry Barnard, who was succeeded by Henry Closson in 1864, who held the position till 1874, when Charles A. Forbush became the next incumbent, he being succeeded in 1879 by Samuel Rollins. Since the organization of the bank there have been only two treasurers- George W. Porter, from 1853 to 1879, and Charles A. Forbush, the present incumbent. This bank is one of the most successful in the State and has a larger surplus than any other institution according to its liabilities. The amount on deposit July 1, 1889, was $583,892.38 and the surplus at that date amounted to $60,544. The officers for 1889 were as follows : Samuel Rollins, president; Horace H. Howe, vice-president ; Charles A. Forbush, treasurer ; George C. Porter, as- sistant treasurer ; Samuel Rollins, Charles A. Forbush, Horace H. Howe, Isaac G. Davis, Lucius Streeter, James B. Whipple, Roger G. Britton, Frederick W. Porter, Albert M. Allbe, trustees.

The First National Bank of Springfield was organized May 25, 1863, and received its charter, which was numbered one hundred and twenty- two, November 11, 1863. The capital stock was $200,000 and on Jan- uary 12, 1864, the bank commenced business. Henry Barnard was chosen president ; George W. Porter, cashier; and the following consti- tuted the board of directors: Henry Barnard, Leonard Chase, Charles A. Forbush, Udney Burke and Daniel Rice. There has been several changes in the presidency of the bank since organization. Mr. Barnard was succeeded in 1870 by Albert Brown, who, being elected cashier the following year, was succeeded by Joseph W. Colburn, whose death occurred

454

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

in March, 1870, and the vacancy was filled by election of Henry Barn- ard, who served till the latter part of 1873. At his decease in Decem- ber, 1873, Samuel Alford, jr., became president and held the office till 1878, when the present incumbent, Amasa Woolson, was elected. Mr. Porter filled the position of cashier from time of organization of the bank till 1865 ; E. P. Gilson was then elected, but owing to his removal to Rutland, Vt., in 1866, Charles E. Richardson was chosen his successor. The latter gentleman resigned in October, 1870, and at the next annual meeting in 1871 Albert Brown was elected and filled the position till August 6, 1877, when B. F. Aldrich became his successor. He resigned in April, 1887, and the following June Gershom L. Closson became cashier, which position he now holds. At a meeting of the stockhold- ers held July 9, 1878, the capital stock was reduced to $100,000. In 1882 the bank was re-chartered for twenty years. The present board of directors are Amasa Woolson, R. A. Forbush, B. F. Dana, C. E. Richardson and C. A. Forbush.

Early Manufactures .- In the year 1806 Isaac Fisher, then a resident of Charlestown, N H., purchased the property lying on both sides of the Black River, thereby controlling all of the water privileges. During the following year he came to Springfield to live and made sales to vari- ous parties, giving them the right to use the water. The flat on which the cab shop now stands was bought in 1807 by Stephen Morse, who commenced to build a tannery. Mr. Morse was also from Charlestown, and in 1813 sold the works to Levi Carlisle, then a resident of Weathers- field ; the latter carried on the business for a number of years, and after passing through other hands, it was finally purchased by David Brown and his son William T. The latter continued the business till 1841, when he was succeeded by his brother Albert, who sold the plant in 1848 and the business was discontinued in 1850.

Journeying north on the same side of the river, in 1821, Don Lovell erected a fulling-mill, and upon the brow of the hill a foundry was located, run by Noah Safford ; this latter building was afterwards de- stroyed by fire. Where the cotton-mill now stands in early days was located a machine shop, run by Isaac Fisher, where card machines were manufactured ; this was destroyed by fire in 1831. On the corner where W. H. H. Slack's mill now is was a two-story building; the upper part

455

VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD.

was used by Horace Hawkins to manufacture furniture as late as 1842; in the lower part John Holmes made lead pipe and pumps. Across the road going north was the old cotton-mill built by Isaac Fisher, jr., pre- vious to 1820, which subsequently came into the hands of the Holmes Brothers as stated elsewhere. The cotton-mill was a two-story build- ing, the upper part being used to manufacture cotton, which was the first made in the State. The yarn was afterwards sent to the State prison, where it was woven by hand. Between the old cotton-mill and the bridge sand-paper was manufactured by Daniel Adams, Vespasian Messinger and Hiram Spafford. Lucius Page also had a machine shop in the same building. Opposite the old cotton-mill there was erected as early as 1812 a blacksmith shop by Luke Parsons. Above the mill on the same side of the road Isaac Fisher, jr., built an oil-mill, which was operated by different parties. The next building above this was a small carpenter shop and still further north a cabinet shop was built in 1820 by Abial Smart, it being a large two-story building, where the Parks & Woolson Machine Co. is now located. The buildings north of the sand- paper shop, and including the Parks & Woolson works and situated on the same side of the road, were destroyed by fire in May, 1859. Besides these buildings, previous to 1830, there were only the residences of Don Lovell, Samuel W. Porter, Samuel, John and Enos Holmes, besides the Methodist church, and card factory of F. A. Porter & Co., on that side of the river till you arrived at the residence of the late Enos Brown, and on the other side of his house there were no buildings till you reached Ginnery Hill. On the opposite side of the river, where the machine shop of Gilman & Townsend now stands, the manufacture of shoe-pegs was commenced in 1835 by Hiram Houghton and Smith K. Randall. This was afterwards purchased by Isaac and Ira Davis, who sold it in 1852 to Alpheus Batchelder, who carried on the business for six years in the building now occupied by George W. Graham. The works were then purchased by John Holmes, who removed them to the tannery flats and afterwards to White River Junction. The last house in the village on the Charlestown road was occupied by Noah Safford, and on the op- posite side of the road in a small shop he manufactured straw cutters. Among the early blacksmiths were John Nourse, George Kimball, Jo- seph Bigelow and Arthur Field, the latter located on a brook west

456

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

of the village and made hammers and hoes, being assisted by his son Richard. He gained the reputation of making the best hoes in the country. This constituted the manufacturing of the village previous to 1840, excepting that mentioned in other parts of this work and a few efforts which proved unsuccessful.

Cobb & Derby Mill .- In 1774 a saw-mill was built on the site of this mill by William Lockwood. The property passed through several hands and in 1795 was purchased by Lester Fling from Nicholas Bragg and Elisha Rogers. In the conveyances made by these parties there is the first mention made of a grist-mill. Mr. Fling seems to have been un- successful, as in 1798 executions were served against him in favor of Aaron Dean and other persons of Charlestown, N. H. In January, 1799, the property came into the possession of David Houghton, who sold it on March 14, 1802, to Samuel M. Lewis and David Seymour, who in the following year sold to John White, who caine from Grafton, Mass. In 1806 Isaac Fisher purchased the property on both sides of the river, and in 1813 sold to Peter White, reserving the right to the upper part of the buildings, which had been leased to his son, Isaac Fisher, jr., for the purpose of carrying on the carding and clothing busi- ness, there being a dye house in connection with the works. Mr. White ran the grist-mill until 1844, when he was succeeded by Daniel Cush- ing, who sold to Henry Safford in 1857. The mills were destroyed in the flood of 1869, and the property passed into possession of Charles Holt and Granville A. Leland, who built a new mill. Mr. Leland after- wards disposed of his interest to Allen Slade, who subsequently sold to Charles Holt, and on March 16, 1876, the latter sold to Samuel E. and John R. Gowing, who were burned out January 20, 1882. In the spring of that year the present proprietors, William H. Cobb and Granville S. Derby, bought the site and erected the present buildings. They confine themselves to custom work and deal in all kinds of grain.

D. M. Smith & Co .- On the site occupied by this firm the Spring- field Woolen and Cotton Company originally located, and in 1812 con- structed a dam twenty or thirty rods farther up the stream than the present one. They also built at the same time the present brick shop. Jonathan Williams was interested in that company, and the business was afterwards carried on by his son, Luke. Among the later occupants

457

VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD.

were Hamlin Whitmore and Luke Williams, under the firm name of Whitmore & Williams, who manufactured woolens. Afterwards Smith, Luther & Shoals made shoddy cloth there, but they suffered by fire. The Vermont Hames Company made hames in one part of the build- ing. The firm of D. M. Smith & Co. was formed in 1853, consisting of Albert Brown, Hamlin Whitmore, D. M. Smith and Henry H. Mason, for the purpose of manufacturing a patent spring clothes-pin invented by D. M. Smith. They occupied the building on the west bank of the river, on the southwest corner of the falls bridge. They afterwards re- moved to the cab shop flat, where they remained till 1860, when they took up their present location and built the dam. During the flood of 1869 the bulkhead was destroyed, but it was repaired, and the dam was rebuilt in 1886. The business of manufacturing mop-heads, to which that of Diamond churns was added, has been carried on for a number of years. On May 22, 1875, Mr. Brown purchased the interest of D. M. Smith, and on March 16, 1877, that of Hamlin Whitmore, but disposed of the same to H. H. Mason, November 23, 1887, who now carries on the business. He employs from fifteen to twenty hands, and manufact- ures about 5,000 gross of clothes-pins and 600 gross of mop-heads yearly. He also turns out 1,300 dozen of a jointed wooden doll an- nually ; this doll was invented by Joel H. Ellis, and was formerly made at North Springfield, but in September, 1878, having been purchased by W. H. H. Slack, it was removed to Springfield village. D. M. Smith & Co. attempted to manufacture this doll on a royalty, but it proved unsuccessful, and in April, 1884, H. H. Mason purchased the patent and has continued to manufacture it. Mr. Mason also purchased from A. B. Oaks & Co., in the spring of 1889, their business of manufacturing ox- bows, 500 dozen of which are now turned out annually ; a small num- ber of Diamond churns are also made.

John C. Holmes & Co .- In November, 1821, Samuel Holmes, a former resident of Peterboro, N. H., purchased of Isaac Fisher a cotton-mill lo- cated on the west bank of Black River. In March, 1823, his brother John became a member of the firm, and in June of the same year a fourth interest was purchased by another brother named Enos. Samuel disposed of his interest to his brothers April 23, 1827, and they carried on the business together for a number of years. Under date of April 13,

458

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

1835, the property was sold to a stock company called the Black River Manufacturing Company. The factory up to this time was located be- tween the road and the river, the upper story of a two-story building being used. In 1836 the present brick building was erected on the op- posite side of the street, and the property was consolidated with the Vil- lage Falls Manufacturing Company, but owing to the failure of that con - cern Nathaniel Fullerton purchased it in 1838, and in 1847 sold a half interest to Frederick E. Fullerton, and in 1848 Jonathan Martin, who had been connected with the factory since 1838, became a partner, under the firm name of Fullerton, Martin & Co. During the year 1865 John Holmes purchased the mills, forming the firm of John Holmes & Co., which was changed in 1874 to the present title, John C. Holmes & Co. The wooden addition to the mills was finished October 1, 1879, and in 1886 an interest was purchased by Wilson S. Lovell. About twenty-two hands are employed, and there are nineteen hundred spin- dles in operation, manufacturing fourteen and eighteen principally, with occasionally twenty-two and twenty-six cotton, 200,000 pounds being turned out annually.

Springfield Toy Manufacturing Company .- Upon the site occupied by this company there was begun in 1826 one of the most original in- dustries ever carried on in Springfield. The present buildings, except- ing additions built on the north and south of the main building, were erected at that time. Frederick A. Porter, a brother of the late Judge Samuel W. Porter, being attracted to Springfield on account of the resi- dence of the latter, and also by the first-class water-power to be obtained, came from Greenfield, Mass., where he had been employed in helping to manufacture card machines. Mr. Porter was a practical mechanic and conceived the idea of making machines on his own account. A copart- nership was formed by him with his two brothers, Samuel W. and Charles E., under the firm name of F. A. Porter & Co., and prepara- tions were begun for making the machines, the construction of which ·devolved on F. A. Porter. He personally made sixteen and made many valuable improvements, the most noted of which was an automatic stop by which one girl could attend to twenty machines, while before a girl was required to each one. By this stop the slightest inequality in the setting of the teeth, or in any part of the machine, caused stoppage with-

A.LITTLE.

459

VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD.

out incurring any damage. None of these improvements were ever pat- ented for fear that they would be duplicated. Mr. Porter had a work- room located in the lower story of the building, where he could lock himself in, and allowed no visitors. The entrance to his machine ·room was protected by a locked door, through which a hole was cut to ascer- tain who wished to enter. No mechanics were allowed on the premises. While Mr. Porter was a man of great mechanical ability he did not adopt the modern style of conducting business, relying on himself wholly to manufacture the machines, thereby losing the opportunity of securing great financial returns from his valuable inventions. The cards com- manded at one time four dollars a square foot, but afterwards through competition the price was reduced to eighty cents a square foot, the cost of the raw material being about the same at the different periods. In 1837 Samuel W. Porter sold his interest to his brother, George W., and the style of the firm was changed to F. A. & G. W. Porter & Co. Owing to the breaking out of the civil war, and the ill-health of F. A. Porter, the firm was dissolved, the works closed down and the machinery sold. The plant remained idle until 1868, excepting two years, when it was occupied by the Western Hoop Company. The property about this time was bought by William H. Wheeler and F. W. Porter, who, under the name of the Springfield Toy Manufacturing Company, began to manufacture wheel wooden toys. In 1870 Mr. Porter purchased his partner's interest, and in 1873 R. H. Holbrook was given an interest. In 1884 Frank F. Porter acquired an interest. Employment is given to fifteen hands, and, as Mr. Porter jocosely says, he " makes 75,000 chil- dren happy every year."

The Parks & Woolson Machine Company .- This industry was estab- lished in Springfield in 1829. Previous to this time John Davidson, the inventor of the cloth-shearing machine, was engaged in manufacturing them at Acworth, N. H., and formed a partnership with his son-in-law, Frederick Parks, under the style of Davidson & Parks. There being no water-power at Acworth, they decided to seek another location, and came to Springfield. They purchased a two-story wooden building on the west bank of Black River, formerly used as a cabinet shop. In 1846 Amasa Woolson became a partner, the firm name being changed to Davidson, Parks & Woolson. Their buildings were entirely destroyed

460

HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.

by fire in May, 1859, and the following year the present brick shop was erected. The business was incorporated under the present name in 1874, the capital stock being $60,000. Amasa Woolson was elected president and superintendent. In January, 1881, Adna Brown and Charles E. Richardson purchased of Amasa Woolson his interest in the concern. There are at present twenty-five hands employed and one hundred and fifty machines are manufactured annually. The present officers are Adna Brown, president and superintendent, and Charles E. Richardson, treasurer.

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.

History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. ed. cn; Holmes, Frank R Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1260

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. ed. cn; Holmes, Frank R
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1260