330
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
CHAPTER XIX.
MANUFACTURES--FORGE AND GUN FACTORY--COTTON FACTORY--GRIST
MILL--WARREN'S FACTORY--MID. MAN. COMPANY--MARBLE MILL--FIRES--D. NICHOLS.
WE have already incidentally alluded to some of the
manufactures, and we here notice others more particularly.
The
forge, which we have mentioned, as established by Jonathan Nichols, falling soon
into other hands, was not long kept in operation. While the manufacture of iron
was carried on in it, the ore was obtained in part from Monkton, but principally
from Crown Point, west of the lake. The gun factory was established chiefly to
manufacture guns for the government. Nichols and the owners, who succeeded him,
had a contract for the manufacture of one thousand, which were finished, and inspected
by Major Orr of the army, and received by the government in 1802. Mr. Elias Hall,
who had been employed in the works, continued, on a small scale, the manufacture
and repair of guns for several years afterwards.
While
Josiah Nichols, mentioned elsewhere, was employed in the trip hammer shop, in
company with Daniel Pettibone and Ezekiel Chapman, in the year 1799 or 1800, they
discovered a process for welding cast steel, an operation which, although of great
importance, it is said, was not previously understood in the country. In 1802,
a patent was taken out in their names. Nichols, we believe, never obtained any
income from the patent, but one or both the others, who removed to other parts
of the country, used it and probably sold it to others; and it is now in general
use in the country.
In
the spring of 1806, Lavius Fillmore, an experienced architect, came to this village,
under a contract for erecting the Congre-
331
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
gational
church. In February following,
David Page, Jun, from Jaffry, New Hampshire, established himself here in the
mercantile business. At the last mentioned date, Page and Fillmore purchased
of Judge Painter his mills and water power, on the east side of the falls. Soon
after, Mr. Fillmore removed the old mills and made preparation for erecting
a flouring and grist mill, on a larger and more permanent scale. The result
was the completion of the stone mill and store rooms recently burnt.
As
early as 1811, Mr. Page commenced the erection of the stone cotton factory, on
the grounds north of the mill. The obstructions to the commerce of the country,
during the European wars, by the decrees of the French emperor, and the orders
in council of the British government, and the action of our own government in
their defence, had directed the attention of the enterprising people of this country
to the establishment of manufactories of our own. But the machinery for manufacturing
cotton in this country was very imperfect and not easily obtained. Mr. Page set
up such machinery as he could obtain, started his works on a small scale, and
manufactured some cloth before the close of the war, which he sold for fifty cents
a yard, and which might now sell for six or eight cents.
Mr.
John Houghton, from New Ipswich N.H., who had been employed in erecting machinery
in the cotton mills in that place, was first employed for that purpose in this
factory. In the year 1817, Mr. Joseph Gordon, who had been employed in the manufacture
of machinery, and had set up several factories in Scotland, and is still living
in this place, with his daughter, principal of the Female Seminary, immigrated
to this country and brought with him drawings of machinery used there. Mr. Gordon
built for Mr. Page twenty power looms at that time. These, Mr. Gordon informs
us, were the first power looms ever built in the United States, except six in
Rhode Island, which were built by a Scotchman, who came to this country the year
before. Isaac Markham, an ingenious young mechanic, who had worked under Houghton,
was set to work and manufactured the iron part of the machinery. He died, after
establishing a distinguished reputation as a machinist; in 1825, at the early
age of thirty.
332
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
After
these works were completed, Page and Fillmore divided their property, Fillmore
taking the mill and Page the factory. During the war, and subsequently, while
large crops of wheat were raised in the country, the manufacture of flour was
prosecuted with great success and profit.
In
the year 1821, Professor Frederic Hall published a "Statistical Account of the
Town of Middlebury," from which we propose to quote largely, as we can thus more
easily obtain the facts correctly, than from any other source. "The first," he
says, "is a grist mill, owned by Nathan Wood & Co. It is of stone, and the
form of its base is that of an L. Its length on the side next to the water is
forty-five feet, on the east side seventy-six, on the street forty-five, and it
contains five sets of stones, with screens and apparatus, moving with sufficient
power to manufacture into flour eighty thousand bushels of grain annually. The
situation of this mill is singular; and the plan, in part new, was formed by an
ingenious archetect, Mr. Lavius Fillmore, to whom I am indebted for the following
particulars relating to it. It stands on a solid rock, projecting into the creek
about thirty feet up stream from the falls. After leveling the rock sufficiently
for the foundation of the building, a vault was cut in it, 43 feet long, 25 feet
deep and 18 feet wide, which brought it nearly even with the surface of the water,
at the foot of the cataract. Then an inlet was formed, 26 feet in length, through
the solid rock, from the bed of the stream to the vault, through which water,
in sufficient quantity to carry all the stones and other machinery, flows into
a flume, 43 feet long, six wide and eighteen deep, fortified by solid rock, on
all sides, except one, where the water, in the ordinary manner, is thrown into
six tub wheels, built on an improved construction, and placed in the bottom of
the vault." The water is discharged "through a subterranean outlet" into the creek
below the falls. The mill cannot be endangered by the highest floods. "The inlet
and outlet of the floom, being formed in solid rock, is subject to no decay, and
the wheels are entirely secured from the frost.
Mr.
Hall says of the cotton factory: " The next establishment is a large cotton manufactory,
erected by Major David Page, who has
333
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
politely
furnished me with a description of it. It is constructed of grey and white lime
stone or marble, and its walls are thick and very substantial. It is one hundred
and fifty feet in length, thirty-seven feet wide, six stories high at one end,
and three at the other. The present proprietor, Mr. Joseph Hough, informs me
that the building contains at this time (December, 1820,) eight hundred and
forty spindles for cotton, fifteen power looms, together with two woollen carding
machines. The spindles produce a sufficient quantity of yarn daily for five
hundred yards of sheeting." This factory, not long afterwards, became the property
of the late Benjamin Marshall, of Troy, N. Y., a large manufacturer, who by
his will conveyed it to Mrs. Julia Carville, wife, of Mr. Charles Carville,
of New York, who now has the title. Mr. Marshall added a large quantity of machinery,
and among others, increased the number of looms to about ore hundred. It has
since been managed by different persons, as agents or lessees. In 1849, Mr.
H. W. Pitts, an experienced manufacturer, took a lease of it, and has since
carried it on prudently and judiciously, and with success and profit to himself.
It has exchanced much of the old, for new and improved machinery. He still has
one hundred looms, but has only sixty in running order. He manufactures daily
sixteen hundred yards of heavy sheeting, and from one to eight hundred pounds
of yarn, according to circumstances.
The
mill, after the time mentioned by Mr. Hall, became the property of Aaron and Timothy
Hall, of Keene, N. H., both. of whom died and it was carried on by different persons
under them and their administrators, until the 16th of September, 1854, when it
was destroyed by fire, together with the store in front, occupied by Nathan Wood,
and the brick store of Gen. Nash adjoining, occupied by W. S. Lane for a clothing
and furnishing store, and the shop attached, occupied by L. Bertrand as a tailor.
In the fall of 1855, the site and privileges of the mill, with its partially standing
walls, were purchased by Mr. H. W. Pitts and Mr. Harmon Sheldon, who have rebuilt
it and set it in operation, with four runs of stones and improved machinery, which
is capable of manufacturing one hundred barrels of flour daily.
We
quote again from Professor Hall. "On the opposite side of
334
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
the river
is another cotton manufactory, owned by Mr. John Warren, who communicated the
following facts. The building is of stone, fifty-eight feet in length, thirty-two
in width, and forty in height, containing six hundred spindles, with all the
necessary apparatus. They yield yarn enough daily for two hundred yards of sheeting.
Adjoining this is a stone building in which are eight power looms, weaving,
on an average, one thousand yards of cloth a week. Under the same roof is a
double fulling mill, or two stocks on one wheel, which for twenty years past
has fulled twelve thousand yards annually, also a double carding machine, which
cards from six to twelve thousand pounds of wool in a year."
This
is the factory into which John Warren converted his grist mill, about the year
1813. He enlarged the building, and among others erected, at the north end a stone
building, mentioned by Mr. Hall as containing his looms, and a wooden building
over the shed at the south end, which was occupied as a tenement for his employees.
In the summer of 1825, this whole establishment was consumed by fire. It was rebuilt
by Mr. Warren, Stephen Hinsdill of Bennington furnishing a portion of the machinery.
In 1835 the whole establishment became the property of Hinsdill, and he put in
the requisite machinery, and converted it into a manufactory of satinet. In February,
1836, the factory took fire again, and the roof and upper part of the building,
to the floor of the second story, and the wooden building at the south end, were
consumed. Not far from the same time, the stone building at the north end tumbled
down, for want of a substantial foundation. The damage done by the fire was soon
after repaired.
In
November, 1835, the "Middlebury Manufacturing Company" was incorporated by the
legislature, "for manufacturing cotton and woolen goods," with a capital of $200,000.
In the summer following, sufficient stock was subscribed and the company organized.
In the fall of that year, the company purchased of Hinsdill his factory, added
new machinery, purchased a large quantity of wool, and prosecuted, with all their
means, the manufacture of satinet; intending, in the spring, to enlarge their
establishment for the manufacture of woolen goods. As there was no means of transporting
335
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
their goods
to market in the winter, a very large quantity had accumulated by the spring
of 1837. By the time the goods could be conveyed to market in that fatal spring,
there was no market to be found for them. Many of them were sold at half their
cost, and the sacrifice was so great and the market continued so much depressed,
that the stockholders were discouraged from further prosecuting the business.
The corporation still own the works, and have since purchased the works formerly
owned by Capt. Moses Leonard and his son-in-law, Andrew Rutherford. The grist
mill in the basement, and the saw mill, west of it, continued in operation,
but the factory remained idle until 1840. At this time, Mr. Jason Davenport
and Mr. Oliver P. Turner, two young practical manufacturers, took a lease of
the factory, and part of the machinery, and prosecuted the manufacture of woolen
goods, with great success and profit. Turner died in 1847, and the business
was continued by Davenport and Charles D. Nash, and by the latter until 1851.
The factory remained idle again until 1854, when it was leased to Mr. Davenport
and Valentine V. Clay, as partners, who are still successfully prosecuting the
business.
We
quote again from Professor Hall. "Proceeding down the creek, on the western side,
after passing two saw mills, two grist mills, a clothier's works and some other
establishments of minor importance, you come to the Marble Factory. The marble
in this village, which is now wrought on a large scale, and extensively diffused
over the country, was discovered by Eben W. Judd, the present principal proprietor,
as early as the year 1802. A building on a limited plan was erected, and machinery
for sawing the marble (the idea of which had its origin in the inventive mind
of the proprietor) was then first put in operation. In 1806, a new and commodious
building, two stories high, and destined to comprise sixty saws, to be moved by
water,was erected. In 1808, this enlarged establishment went into operation, and
has continued to the present day."
The
saws are made of soft iron, without teeth, and are similar in form to those, which
are used in sawing marble by hand, in the large cities in Europe. The softer they
are the longer they last." "The marble until lately has been obtained chiefly
from a quarry,
336
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
situated
within a few feet of the mill. During three or four of the last years, much
has been procured, at the time of low water, at the bottom of the creek, immediately
above the falls. It is raised from its bed, partly by means of wedges, but principally
by blasting." "The marble, after being sawed into slabs, is manufactured into
tomb stones, currier's tables, jambs, mantle pieces, hearths, window and door
caps and sills, side boards, tables, sinks and various other kinds of furniture.
These articles are transported to Montreal, Quebec, Boston, New York and even
Georgia.-The machinery has sawn annually, from five to ten thousand feet since
the year 1808."
This
was the first manufacture of marble upon an extensive scale established in this
state, and the machinery for sawing on this plan was first put in operation by
Dr. Judd,* and has since been exten-
----------
*There is no doubt, we think, that Dr Judd was the first to put
into operation the machinery for sawing marble by water on this plan, now so extensively
used through the country; and it is the general understanding that he invented
the machinery. But it is now said that Isaac Markham, who was afterwards known
as a very ingenious mechanic, and then only ten years of age, first conceieved
the plan, and exhibited a model to Dr. Judd, who built his first experimental
factory for the purpose of trying it. This is now understood to be the fact by
the family connections of Markham, and his mother, who was an observing and intelligent
woman, often so stated in her life time. And it is thought, that was the reason
Dr. Judd did not then take out a patent for the invention. In 1822, he obtained
a patent for machinery, which he invented for raising and lowering the saws, as
required in their operation. It is stated also on the same authority, that about
the same time, two men were engaged secretly in contriving and building a picking
machine. No persons were admitted to a sight of the machine, lest the secret should
be discovered, before a patent was obtained. But Isaac, being a boy, was admitted
without suspicion. When he went home he said he could contrive a better machine,
and, with such tools and materials as he had, formed a model, which, it is said,
was adopted by the men, instead of their own. Dr. William McLeod, of Poultney,
a son of Mrs. McLeod, mentioned elsewhere, and a nephew of Isaac Markham, in a
letter to his brother Thomas H. McLeod of this place, dated March 11, 1859, says-
"In the year 1806 or 1807, when I first came to Middlebury, or shortly after,
while uncle Isaac Markham was living at his father's house, I frequently saw a
model of what was called a stone saw mill, in a room he occupied as a shop. I
also very well recollect of hearing the subject conversed upon in the family,
and I feel confident by others also, for some time after, in reference to the
machine or its principle having been taken or borrowed from his model and applied
to a factory erected by Mr. Judd for sawing marble." "I recollect hearing the
subject of the invention of the picking machine conversed about at the time referred
to." "On another oc-
337
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
sively
adopted elsewhere. He was an ingenious and somewhat scientific man, and having
been committed to the liberties of the jail here, on a judgment of the United
States court, he set himself to contrive some mode of employing his faculties,
and obtaining the means of subsistance. In anticipation of establishing the
manufacture of marble, in the spring of 1803, he obtained from Appleton Foot
a lease for 999 years of the right to dig marble on any part of his lot, between
his house and the creek, the foundation of which was marble throughout, and
the privilege of erecting a mill. He afterwards obtained a title to the land
in fee, and occupied the house on it, until he built, on the same site, the
large brick house, now owned by Dr. Nathaniel Harris.
Dr.
Dwight, on his visit in 1810, says of this marble and its manufacture, "A quarry
of marble has been discovered in the bank of the river just below the bridge,
a continuation of the ledge, which forms the falls. It is both white and dove-colored,
elegantly variegated, and of finer texture than any other, which has been wrought
hitherto in the United States. It is sawn, ground and polished by water machinery;
and is cut and carved, with an elegance not surpassed on this side of the Atlantic."
After
Professor Hall's account above quoted, Dr. Judd purchased the quarry of beautiful
block marble, on the lake shore in Shoreham, which he transported by teams and
extensively manufactured at his mill here. In the year 1820, he received into
partnership his son-in-law, Lebbeus Harris, son of Lebbeus Harris, Senior. By
them the business was largely prosecuted, and agencies for the sale established
in some of the large cities, and in Western New York. In 1837, the whole establishment
was brought to a close by the death of both the partners. Mr. Harris died in April,
at the age of forty-five, and Dr. Judd, in September, at the age of seventy six.
The mill has never been in operation since. Dr. Nathaniel Harris, a brother of
Lebbeus, who had also been engaged in the
----------
casion, when
uncle was employed in Waltham, Mass., he, in showing me the machinery of the factory,
referred to the picker, and remarked to me, that he was the inventor, and also
referred to his being the inventor of the machine for sawing marble."
338
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
business
in various ways, continued the manufacture on a small scale for a few years,
but has now, for many years been in the practice of dentistry. Mr. Daniel Judd,
son of Dr. Judd, still prosecutes the business on a small scale in a shop near
the former factory.
At
an early day, Rufus Wainwright and Jonathan Wainwright Jun., sons of Jonathan
Wainwright, Esq., of Salisbury, established themselves in the tin and iron business,
on a small scale, and having enterprize and energy, they enlarged their business
from time to time. Not long after the close of the war of 1812, they erected a
furnance below the mills, built by Appleton Foot, on the site of the former forge,
for casting stoves and other articles. They purchased the store now occupied by
Mr. Davenport, for their place of business, and greatly enlarged it, as their
business increased. In the summer of 1826, their furnace was consumed by fire,
with the neighboring grist mill and trip hammer shop. They then purchased the
water power on the east side of the paper mill falls, and erected there a new
furnace and machine shop on an extensive scale. Their principal business was the
manufacture of stoves, which then went into all parts of the state and into Canada,
where they had agencies for the sale of them. Rufus Wainwright, some years before
his death, withdrew from the concern, and devoted himself to his farm, and by
his labor and counsel, and liberal contribution from his large estate, to the
promotion of every important interest; our literary and religious institutions
and every important enterprise exhibit the effects of his large liberality.
The
business was continued by Jonathan Wainwright until his death. In the meantime,
after the death of Judge Painter, they purchased his beautiful residence, together'
with a part of his lands. Rufus occupied this house with his family until his
death, and fitted it up in an improved style. They also built, for a residence
for Jonathan, the large brick house, now owned by Hon. Joseph Warner. In this
his family resided until his death. In their business they were not only enterprising
and judicious, in all their transactions, but liberal with their employees and
others with whom they dealt. Jonathan Wainwright died in September 1845, aged
fifty-nine, and Rufus in March 1853, at the age of sixty-seven.
339
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
After
the death of Jonathan Wainwright, Jason Davenport purchased the furnace and machine
shop, and the store which had been the place of business of the partners, as well
as of Jonathan, and became their successors in the iron and tin business, which
he still prosecutes. His stove business is principally confined to sales at home,
but his other business has been greatly extended, so as to embrace every department
of iron, hardware and agricultural tools.
In
the fall of 1851, Mr. N. H. Hand established a pail factory, and for that purpose
purchased the building erected by Dr. Judd for his marble factory. In this he
has established an extensive manufacture, not only of pails, but of butter tubs,
keelers and other articles in that department. The timber which he uses is sapling
pines and white cedar. His works, when in full operation, are capable of manufacturing
six hundred pails daily. He has added recently a mulay saw mill, on a new and
ingenious plan, which he thinks will saw double the quantity of lumber sawed by
common mills.*
In
addition to the fires, already mentioned, which have destroyed factories and mills
in this neighborhood, we notice one or two more, which completed the entire destruction
of all the buildings originally erected there. At an early period of the present
century,-the exact date we have not ascertained,-the forge and gun factory were
consumed. In March, 1831, at midnight, a fire broke out at the south end of the
bridge, which consumed the saw mill, then owned by Daniel Henshaw, the building
built by him on the lower side of the bridge, in which Gen. H. Warren and Timothy
Harris had a dry goods and grocery store, Jared W. Copeland his printing office,
and John Vallett his shoe shop, and on the opposite side of the bridge, the building
erected by Joshua Henshaw, and then owned by David Nicols,† in which Mr. Nichols
had his leather store, and Ephraim R. Smith his dry goods and grocery store, and
a part of which was occupied as a tenement.
----------
*Since
the above was written, the establishment has fallen into the hands
of J. M. Slade & Co.
†Mr.
David Nichols, mentioned above, was a tanner and currier, on an
extensive scale. He owned a small dwelling house, in which he resided, and a tannery
on