USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 12
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
present there are some twelve dwellings, a schoolhouse, sawmill, gristmill, and bobbin and spool factory. The bobbin business was established in 1864 by Henry Parker and Alphonso G. *Washburn, and in 1882 was purchased by P. W. & S. B. Gould, formerly of Connecticut. The senior member of the firm was at that time a resident of Pittsfield, Mass., but came to Springfield in 1883, and has since managed the business. All kinds of bobbins and spools are manufactured, but a specialty, called Wait's patent cross-grain quill, is the chief article produced. The improvement claimed for this quill, over all others, is that a ring of white oak is inserted and cemented in a groove at the ends of the bobbin, thereby making a sure 'protection against splitting. About twenty-five hands have been employed.
JUSTIN T. ROBINSON is largely engaged in lumber business at Gould's Mills. He has a sawmill and machinery for the manu- facture of chair stock, employing some ten hands in the business.
COBB & DERBY'S MILL.
In 1774 a sawmill was built on the site of this mill by William Lockwood, the first man to build at the falls. The property passed through several hands, and in 1795 was purchased by Lester Fling, who probably built the first gristmill on this site, in company with Samuel M. Lewis and David Seymour. In 1799 the property came into the hands of David Houghton, who sold it to Lewis & Seymour, and they sold to John White. In 1806 Isaac Fisher purchased the property, and in 1813 sold to Peter White, reserving the right to the upper part of the building, which had been leased to Isaac Fisher, Jr., for carrying on card- ing and cloth-dressing business. Mr. White sold the mill to Daniel Cushing, and he to Henry Safford in 1857. The freshet of 1869 carried away the mill, and the site passed into possession of Charles Holt and Granville A. Leland, who built a new mill. Samuel E. and John R. Gowing bought the property in 1876, and the mill was burned in January, 1882. In the spring of the same year, William H. Cobb and Granville S. Derby bought the site and erected the present substantial and well-equipped mill. They deal in all kinds of grain and feed, doing a large business in this line.
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W. H. H. SLACK & BRO., MANUFACTURERS OF SHODDY.
This business was started in the shop now occupied by the firm in 1871 by W. H. H. Slack and F. G. Ellison, under the firm name of Slack & Ellison. Mr. Ellison sold his interest in 1875, Mr. Slack continuing alone until 1889, save in 1883 and 1884 when C. D. Brink was in company with him. In 1889 his brother, John T. Slack, became a partner, and the firm is now W. H. H. Slack & Bro. In 1887 Mr. Slack made a large addi- tion to his mill to meet the demands of the business, and in 1894 another addition was built, completing one of the best mills for the manufacture of shoddy in the country. They employ about twenty-five hands. The business has continued good through all the depression of 1893 and 1894, and much of the time they have been obliged to run nights to keep up with their orders.
BOYNTON'S MILL.
Durant J. Boynton owns the sawmill and water power at North Springfield, and deals largely in lumber. His mill was built in 1870, on the site of the old mill which was carried away by the freshet of 1869. Shingles and laths are manufactured at this mill.
SPRINGFIELD MARBLE WORKS.
This business was begun in 1841 by A. H. Grinnell, who came from Dorset, and was an inventor. The process of causing marble slabs to polish each other by giving one of them an oscillating motion, with sand and water between, was his inven- tion. In 1849 Hiram Houghton and Smith K. Randall took the business. In 1852 Houghton sold to Frank Barney. Randall & Barney ran it a year and sold it to Allen Sherwin, and he was succeeded by Henry Harlow and George H. Stowell. In 1861 the business was bought by Franklin Barney, who continues it, and is the only shop in this vicinity which uses Grinnell's process of polishing by power.
BLACK RIVER WOOLLEN MILL.
This business was established in 1836 in the mill built by Don
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Lovell by the Village Falls Manufacturing Company, which failed in 1837, and the business at the mill was suspended for some years. In 1854 business was resumed by Hamlin Whitmore, John Holmes, George Kimball, B. F. Dana, and Albert Brown. The mill was burned after a few years. In 1871, the mill having been rebuilt, Collins, Dillon & Co. started up, making union cassimeres. In 1874 Albert Brown bought Mr. Collins's interest, and the firm became Whitmore, Dillon & Co. In 1877, by the retirement of Mr. Brown, the firm became Whitmore & Dillon. In 1884 Mr. William Dillon assumed the business, making it very successful, until his death. It gave employment to seventy-five hands, and turned out twenty-three thousand yards a month. After Mr. Dillon's death, J. H. Kimball & Co. ran the mill for a while, at a loss, and then retired. The mill is now idle (1894).
INSURANCE.
The insurance business of this town is represented by two agencies, Lawrence & Wheeler, and L. B. Hurd, and both do a general insurance business in fire, life, and accident, representing the leading American and European companies.
Lawrence & Wheeler began insurance in 1880, when they suc- ceeded to the business that had been started by C. C. Boynton, and sold by him to Arthur E. Bosworth. Mr. Lawrence is the manager, and gives his personal attention to the business. This firm also deals quite largely in coal.
L. B. Hurd was for a time in insurance business at Bellows Falls, but returned to Springfield in 1890, and carried on the business in connection with the harness shop.
BLACKSMITHS.
Asahel Draper, who had a shop in Eureka, and afterwards on the Common, Lieut. Isaac Parker on Parker Hill, and Bartlett Damon in Scrabble are the first blacksmiths of whom we have any record.
In 1821 Capt. George Kimball with Capt. Hawkins ran a shop on Clinton Street not far from the bridge. About 1823 Mr.
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Kimball built the shop, so long known as the Kimball shop, just above the present Jones & Lamson machine shop, where he did a large business for many years, and also with his brother, Brooks Kimball, built many horse rakes. He was succeeded by his son George, who continued the business until 1890.
Joshua Davis had a shop for many years on the spot where R. T. Johnson's house stands, and later just above the Messer homestead, part way up Seminary Hill.
R. T. Johnson established a shop on the present stand about 1850, and continued the business, with the exception of about a year in 1874 or 1875, when it was carried on by Fred Johnson, Michael O'Brien, and one Collins, up to 1893. Mr. Johnson did a very large business, and maintained a first-class reputation for work, employing the best workmen known in the trade, Mr. Johnson himself being regarded as having few, if any, equals in horse- shoeing. At the last-named date he sold out to Russell S. Herrick, who continues the business.
Reynolds occupies the shop near Graham's carriage shop formerly used by George Gallup.
LIVERY.
F. G. Ellison in 1894 bought of John Hart the livery formerly owned by Hart & Dodge, and the former reputation of this stable is fully maintained.
Eli P. B. Pulsipher has carried on livery business since 1882, and occupies a stable back of the Hotel Block, where he furnishes first-class service.
PHOTOGRAPHY.
G. B. Perrin has a gallery in well-fitted apartments in Wool- son's Block, having taken the business of W. J. Cady in 1888. Mr. Perrin is a native of Lowell, Mass. It is probable that James D. Powers was the first photographer to locate in this town. This was in the early fifties, and for many years he was a well known artist in this and neighboring towns. He was fol- lowed by Lewis E. Jackman, who for many years had a saloon between the town clerk's office and the Pingry Block. Other artists have located in town, but none remained very long.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
BARBER SHOPS.
The first barber's shop in town was opened by one Moore, a fugitive slave, about 1850, in an addition to the hotel, which was made by closing up horse-sheds under the dancing hall, and fitting up rooms for business purposes. Moore continued the business quite a number of years, and accumulated some' property. The business was continued by John H. Stiles and others.
J. Wood Hastings located in town in 1867, and now has rooms in the Chase Block, well fitted with all modern appliances. Mr. Hastings is a veteran of the late war, having served in the 16th New Hampshire Regiment. He was also commissioned as captain in the 75th United States Colored Infantry.
A. W. Lafountaine has finely appointed rooms in Hotel Block, opening from the office of the Adnabrown.
Fred Dashner has his shop in the Pingry Block, opposite the hotel, in convenient rooms which are easily accessible.
BRICKMAKING.
This business was carried on in several places in this town in the early years of its history, and in later years there was a yard on the land of Lincoln J. Ellis up the Brook Road. The business was principally carried on from the first by members of the Har- low family. In the summer of 1894 William A. Lewis opened a bed of clay on his land on Mansion Hill, northerly from the Com- mon, and made several hundred thousand of excellent quality, which were used in building the new schoolhouse and the Spaf- ford Library building. M. O. Harlow had charge of the making.
William A. Lewis has for many years been identified with the business of Springfield. In company with Dexter B. Lockwood he managed the freight business for a term of years until they sold to Wm. H. Loveland in 1893. He was for some years con- nected with the manufacture of the Diamond churn and improve- ments, also dealing in lumber extensively. He is now the largest dealer in coal, having been engaged in the business for many years, during which time it has grown from the sale of a few tons to that of thousands.
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INVENTIONS.
The remarkable development, from an early day, of the manu- facturing industries of Springfield has fostered a spirit of inquiry and invention. The sharp competition of the business world has excited a wish to originate new things, and to make old things in a new way. The great variety of articles, old and new, made here at various times, is certainly remarkable. This diversity of manufactures has been both a cause and a result of the activity of the inventive genius of her people, which is almost without a parallel in a place of its size.
Improvements in machinery for finishing cloth were among the first of which we have a record, and John Davidson was the pioneer in that line of work. As early as 1828 he invented the vibrating shearing machine with a capacity of shearing to a finish forty yards a day, which was much in advance of any machine then in use. He soon introduced revolving blades, using at first six and increasing to twenty-two cutters, with a capacity of twelve hundred yards a day.
Amasa Woolson, who was a partner with Mr. Davidson, made valuable inventions in shearing machines. His first was in the manner of saving the lists on cloth. His thirty-edged perpetual shearing machine, with self operating list guards, is capable of shearing to a finish four thousand yards a day, more than twice as much as any other machine in the world. He was awarded eight patents.
Adna Brown has taken out some twelve patents. His first invention was a wire device for holding a boiled egg when taking off the shell. This he sold to the Sherwood Bros. of Lowell, Mass., manufacturers of wire goods. He next invented a tricycle for boys, then a flock protector for shearing machines, a cloth measuring machine, a machine for folding cloth, a cylinder for steaming woollen goods, a worsted polishing machine, a brushing machine, a combination napper and gig. The latter was patented in 1893 and is perhaps the most valuable of his inventions.
The inventions by these three men, of improvements in cloth finishing machinery, have not only been far in advance of those
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of all other inventors all over the world, but have enabled them to take the lead, and hold the markets for the machines they made.
The wealth they gained from the business they built up has been so used that the people of Springfield have enduring cause to rejoice in their success.
Frederic A. Porter was the inventor of automatic card ma- chines, which punched the holes in the leather belt, took the wire from the reel, cut it off, bent it into shape, inserted it and bent the knee. At the slightest imperfection the machine would stop, and wait for the attendant to remove the trouble.
David M. Smith was a prolific inventor. One of his first was an awl haft, which is still in use.
In 1849 he invented a combination lock, which Hobbs, the great lock expert, said was the only one that could not be picked; also a combination keylock. Then he invented the first iron lathe dog ever used, and which is still in common use. The spring clothespin in common use was his invention.
His blanket hook and eye was much used in the army. He invented a corn planter, a screw head and driver, a broom holder, a lifting spring for match-boxes, an adding machine, a breech- loading firearm, a joint for carpenters' rules, and many others.
Many of his inventions he manufactured for sale, and not the least important were the machines he invented for manufacturing the patented articles, thus creating new industries which gave employment to many hands, and brought wealth to those engaged in the enterprises inaugurated by his genius, and prosperity to the business interests of the town.
James Hartness is an inventor of distinguished ability. For thirty of his inventions he has been granted letters patent. Many of them have proved valuable, and some of them of very great value.
Among the most important are those on dies for splitting hot rods of iron, on tricycles, locks, carpenters' planes, sensitive drills, and turret machines for shop use.
The automatic check, roller-feed, flat-turret lathe (called the screw machine) is a great advance over anything previous in that
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line, in its capacity for work never accomplished before, and in its perfect, rapid, and economical execution. It is a fortune in the hands of the inventor and builders.
Miles Smith of the Vermont Snath Company invented improve- ments in scythe snaths which were patented in the United States and in Canada.
In 1848 Joel A. H. Ellis invented a steam excavator for use in the building of railroads, and in 1856 he patented a farm basket, made of splints, now in common use. About this time he also patented a child's cab or carriage, of which he sold large numbers. He made the first toy carts, and the first guitar and violin cases offered in the markets. These were followed by doll carriages and jointed dolls. In 1870 he patented the principle of utilizing exhaust steam applied to bisulphite of carbon, for motive power.
Mr. Ellis received patents for some thirteen different inventions, and he made others which should have been patented.
Luke W. Taylor was an inventor of rare ability. He patented the Taylor mop and other articles, and perfected machines for other inventors in many cases.
Jonathan Woodbury invented the sweep horse power used ex- tensively at the West.
L. T. Guernsey, who published the Springfield Telegraph, in- vented an improvement in printing presses.
Moses H. Grinnell invented a process of polishing marble and other articles.
Dr. Eleazer Crain invented an abdominal supporter, which was manufactured here, giving employment to a good number of per- sons.
A. J. Fullam invented improved stencil dies and machinery for making the same in which he did a large business. He also in- vented a machine for shearing sheep which has since been devel- oped into a horse clipper.
B. B. Choate invented a mop wringer.
Charles C. Johnson has taken out quite a number of patents, and has invented many useful articles and some machines of intri- cate construction.
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G. A. Watkins, who at one time manufactured abdominal sup- porters for Dr. Eleazer Crain, invented a process of weaving cane . in webs for chair work, and this was afterwards largely used in chair shops.
Capt. Alvin C. Mason invented many machines and improve- ments in machinery used by Smith, Mason & Co. in the manufac- ture of their goods.
Asahel Burr, Joseph Smith, and Isaac B. Smith made inventions of improvements in hames. Henry C. Burr made improvements which were patented.
Rev. Pinckney Frost invented an improvement in scythe snaths of great value.
Noah Safford invented hay and straw cutters, which were patented.
Jesse Warren invented the " Warren plow," which he manu- factured at the foundry now owned by the Vermont Snath Com- pany, which he operated several years.
Herbert M. Warren, son of Jesse, invented Warren's improved gravel roofing, which made fortunes for the family and those engaged in the manufacture.
F. B. Gilman invented several improvements in lathes, for turning lasts, hat-blocks, and other irregular forms, in wood.
MERCHANTS.
The first store in Springfield is said to have been kept by Jesse Sanderson, at the ferry, in 1788. His business consisted mainly of the sale of liquor. In 1790 Ashbel Wells kept store in Newell's store, on the corner, in Eureka, and a little later it was kept by Joseph Selden. It was on the main road of travel from Northern Vermont to Boston, in a part of the town at that time thickly settled, and there was a large amount of business. A tavern, a courtroom, and a jail were in the same building, which was in the centre of activity of the town. Here subscriptions and taxes for building the new meeting-house on the Common were payable in beef and grain.
In 1800 Michacl Lincoln opened a store in the Goodrich house at the northwest corner of the cemetery on the Common. In
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1803 he moved to Seminary Hill, and also ran a potash and distillery. In 1796 Joseph Selden also moved to the Common. In 1803 Goodwin & Lynde had a store on the Common. Daniel Lockwood had a store on Ginnery Hill in 1804. J. F. and Daniel Brooks built, on the site of the present Woolson Block, what was for many years called the Brooks store, since removed up the Brook Road by M. W. Newton. Here they kept store two years, when Daniel Brooks bought out his brother's interest, and continued the business ten years.
W. H. Wheeler's store is an ancient landmark of trade. Here, in 1806, Whipple & Lynde kept store for three years, followed by James Whipple for two years, when Brown & Potwine took the business until 1815, and then James P. Brown ran it alone up to 1818. Jonathan Chase began trade in the Chase Block, now (1894) undergoing extensive repairs, in 1815. He continued in business with John Perkins from 1823 to 1825, with B. F. Dana from 1838 to 1840, and at other times alone up to about 1850. In 1819 Russell Burke began trade where Leland's Block now stands, later with A. L. Thompson as a partner, and after that with Udney Burke until about 1852.
May & Wales were in business in the Dr. Granville Knight house from 1816 to 1828. Herbert Pratt had a store in 1820, and Emerson & Brooks in 1825. Perkins & Duncan traded in Wheeler's Block from 1825 to 1833, and John Perkins up to 1845. Eleazer May had a store in 1829. Morris & Whitmore traded in the Brooks's store from 1832 to 1835, followed by H. Whitmore, who, in 1837, was succeeded by Whitmore & Clark, and in 1838 by E. P. Whitmore,
Thos. H. Smiley & Co. were in business on the present site of Deal's restaurant in 1834. Solomon Clement was in trade in Dillon's Block at the head of Main Street in 1836. In 1840 Porter & Dana traded in the Brooks store, followed by Thompson & Dana, who were succeeded by B. F. Dana, and later, in 1855, by C. K. Labaree, who at first had B. T. Lombard as a partner, and later, until 1867, Horace W. Thompson. In 1871 he sold out to Carpenter & Green, followed by H. W. Green alone, who sold out to Henry Fletcher, and he to Ranney & Perkins, who now continue the business (1894).
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Selden Cook, who had a shoe store, formed a partnership with Geo. W. Porter, and did a general business, on the site of the Fairbanks Block. Later Mr. Porter continued the business alone, and Cook & Boynton had a store in the south end of the same building. Afterwards Mr. Cook was in trade in the Tontine, now Commonwealth Block, and later moved into the addition to the Chase Block and resumed the shoe business.
Fay & Forbush followed R. & U. Burke in trade on the site of the Leland Block in 1852. After a year Fay retired and R. O. Forbush came in. In 1863 they sold out to Walker & Howe. About 1867 Cobb, Dartt & Co. opened a general store in Brown's Block. Mr. Dartt's interest was bought by Geo. P. Haywood and the business removed to the Randel Block, now Leland's Block, then just completed. Granville S. Derby purchased Mr. Haywood's interest. In 1882 Cobb & Derby sold out to C. A. Leland & Son who continue the business. E. C. Burke was in trade some five years in the Chase Block, and when Woolson's Block was built, Burke, Brown & Tenny engaged in a general trade, in the store now occupied by Dodge & Merrill. A. L. & H. L. Robinson were in the grocery trade in the Tontine in 1868, and later the same business was carried on by Doubleday & Hol- man, and is now continued by A. H. Holman.
C. M. Keyes has been engaged in the clothing and millinery business since 1854; a part of the time in company with G. L. Closson, in Woolson's Block, and since then alone in the Tontine.
M. W. Newton bought the Brooks store, moved it up on to Valley Street, and set it over the brook. There he carried on the grocery and grain trade for many years. Later he moved to Dillon's Block, and continued until 1888, when he sold out to L. R. Barney who carried on the grocery business there for two years.
In 1849 Charles Sabin opened the first drug store in town in Wheeler's Block. After four years he sold out to Porter & Crain. Crain sold out his interest to William H. Wheeler, who for some years carried on the business with F. W. Porter. Since then he has alone conducted a large business in drugs, paints, and jewelry.
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About 1872 Boynton & Warren started a drug store in the Pingry Block. They sold out to Dr. E. W. Davis, who was succeeded by L. C. Richmond, who removed to Woolson's Block. He sold out to Frank W. Morris, who was followed by M. D. Fisher. He sold out to Dodge & Merrill who now continue the business.
Doubleday & Gill opened a general grocery store in the Fairbanks Block in January, 1889. After about six months Mr. Doubleday retired, and Daniel O. Gill continued the business alone, to which he added a meat market. He closed out the grocery business and with O. E. Noyes engaged extensively in the clothing business, under the name of Noyes & Gill. This firm continued about eighteen months, when Mr. Norris retired and Frank D. Gill came in and the business continued under the firm of D. O. Gill & Son.
June 7, 1894, a serious fire destroyed most of the stock of goods in the store, which was closed until their winter goods were opened, and in December following the entire stock was sold to C. H. Moore.
Mr. Gill continues the meat market, which is now managed by John H. Hammond under Deal's restaurant.
MERCHANTS IN BUSINESS 1894.
Ranney & Perkins, who succeeded Henry Fletcher in the cor- ner store of Woolson's Block in 1889, deal exclusively in dry goods. The partners, T. T. Ranney and C. D. Perkins, have both had long experience in the business. Mr. Ranney has sole man- agement of the store. Mr. Perkins is engaged with a house in Springfield, Mass.
C. A. Leland & Son, dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and general merchandise, occupy Leland's Block, having succeeded Cobb & Derby in 1882. They carry a very large stock.
Sheldon & Witt are also dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and general merchandise. Mr. Sheldon established the business in 1891 in company with George H. Dodge. Mr. George M. Witt bought the interest of Mr. Dodge in 1892. They occupy a fine store, fitted with modern improvements, in Hotel Block.
A. H. Holman, groceries, occupies the large commodious store
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
in Commonwealth Block. O. M. Doubleday was formerly a partner, but Mr. Holman has been sole proprietor since 1882.
Bert D. Bowen opened a grocery and grain store at west end of Falls bridge in 1893.
Pond, Gridley & Company succeeded to the long-established hardware business of A. O. Coburn in 1893, occupying the store in Woolson's Block.
R. J. Kenney has, for twelve years, kept a stock of hardware in connection with his house building and lumber business in his block at head of Main Street.
W. H. Wheeler, dealer in drugs, medicines, jewelry, silverware, paints, oils, glass, etc., has been longest in trade of any of the merchants now doing business in town (1893), having located here in 1852. He is a practical pharmacist of over forty years' experience. The Western Union Telegraph Office has long been in this store. Mr. Joseph Clissold has charge of the watch and jewelry department. Mr. Wheeler is a native of Fitzwilliam, N. H. He has been town treasurer since 1874, and has won to himself in a very large degree the confidence and esteem of his townsmen.
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