Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 16, 1884

Chapter 16

First Coverings for the Feet - Modern Shoes - Boot and Shoo Trade in New England - Store Trade in Masaaehusetta - Improvements in Manufacturing - Introduction of JIachinery - Early Shoe Manufacturers - Statistical Tables fur llrockton - Brockton as a Boot and Shoe Manufacturing City.

Boot and Shoe Manufacture. - This imptirtant industrial interest, having assumed such wonderful proportions, and towering as it does above all its compeers in magnitude and importance, deserves more than a passing notice. When we consider the amount of capital devoted to this branch of the meclianie arts, the energy and peraeverance of the leading men engaged iu the same, we cannot fail to give it a place amon<r the sreatcst of manufactures. It is a curious and interesting study to trace the variotis changes that have taken place in coverings fur the /i:i;t.

The first known to have been used were fifteen hundred years before Christ, and the first or oldest form was the sandal. Those used by the poorer classes cousisted of flat slices of the palm-leaf, lapped in the centre, forming the sole, and a double band of twisted leaves secured and strengthened the edge. A thong of strong fibres of the same plant was aflixed to each side of the instep, and was secured round the foot, while those of the wealthy classes were luaJe of leather, and frequeotly lined with cloth, tlie point or end turning up like a pair of modern skates. Specimens of these sandals, made of leaves or papyrus, are now ou exhibition in the British Museum. Among the Hebrews, shoes were often made of wood, and those for soldiers of brass or iron. Among the Greeks and Romans the use of shoes was not common, and the Spartan youths were early taught to go barefooted, females only being allowed to wear shoes.

From the earliest days there has always been a great diversity of style in the different periods of time. The Lacademonians wore red shoes. Roman senators and patricians wore high, black, laced buskins, with ornaments of ivory. Some were made with tops of great length, to cover the legs, and were called boots, the tops often being made of skins of wild animals laced up in front, great care being taken to procure an exact fit.

The Jews commonly went without covering for the feet, except when on very long journeys it became necessary to wear something, - in such cases sandals, made simply of a sole with one or two straps across the instep, heels being seldom used.

During the reign of Edward the Third of England, those that worked at the shoe-trade were denominated the " gentle craft," as they produced shoes of the most gorgeous descriptions ; the greatest variety of pattern was devised and the richest contrast of color elaborated. Coming down to the reign of Richard the Second, boots and shoes were made of great length, so that they were chained to the knee of the wearer with gold and silver straps or cord. This fashion was iu use till Parliament, in 14G3, forbade shoemakers making points on shoes over two inches long for tlie unprivileged classes under penalty of twenty shillings, and for those that wore them excommunication was denounced against any persons wearing such. This move had the effect to widen the toes to such an absurd extent that Queen Mary limited the width to six inches.

During the reign of Charles the First, in the sixteenth century, boots were made of elegant Spanish buff leather, with tops of such enormous dimensions as to obstruct walking with ease. The distinguishing mark of gentility during the reign of George the First and Second was red heels. The ladies wore silk or velvet in preference to leather, and the favorite color was figured blue silk, with bright red heels and silver buckles. In 1790 the low, flat slipper was introduced, and the shoe-buckle disappeared and the plain shoe-string was introduced. The Prince of Wales endeavored to preserve the use of the

The shoes of the Oriental ladies are highly ornamented, the covering being wrought with gold, silver, and silk, and set with jewels. The sahot is a shoe peculiar to France, and is made of wood, very clumsy, but warm and comfortable.

Of all the varieties of shoes none are so curious as the Chinese, none are so costly or elaborate, and none so unnatural. Their feet are kept bandaged from their infancy, so that when they arrive at maturity they are enabled to wear shoes of three or four inches in length, which are usually made of beautiful silk.

Of the boots and shoes of modern days, those manufactured in America excel all others in style and variety of kinds. The celebrated gaiter-boot inaugurated a new era in coverings for the feet, and its introduction is attributed to the Countess of Blessiiigton ; but owing to the labor of lacing and unlacing, holes wearing out, breaking off, etc., these gave way to the elastic gaiter, which has been universally adopted and approved. The Americans are rapidly securing to themselves a superiority over ail other nations in this most important of manufacturing interests, and they are now regarded as the manufacturers of the world. American ingenuity and skill has couiplctcly rivaled the best specimens of Parisian handicraft, and the importation of French gaiters has nearly ceased. Narrowing our limits down to home interests, we may safely say that the highest perfection of this branch of the mechanic arts has been attained in Massachusetts.

Early in the seventeenth century the Lords of Trade reported to Parliament that the greater portion of leather used within the province was made in Massachusetts. During the war of the Revolution, Massachusetts supplied large quantities of shoes fur the array, and during the late Rebellion she supplied the demand of the government.

The boot and shoe trade of New England is of modern date. Previous to the war of 1S12, those engaged in shoemaking consisted of the " village cobbler," and those whose custom it was to travel from house to house and place to place, to repair and make shoes for the families, enough to last them till he came around again, which was usually once a year. Shoes were not made up in large quantities as at the present time, and it was by degrees that the shoemakers procured a little leather and made it into shoes, and bartered them at a neighboring store fur groceries, or exchanged them with the tanners for

The store trade of Massachusetts may be said to have begun in or about 1818, when the first cargo of shoes and boots was shipped to New York to Messrs. Spofford & Tileston, boot .ind shoo jobbers. The trade has since continued to increase, till it now forms oue-third part of the total maimfucturing power of the country. Nearly every small country town in New England does something in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and it has been estimated that every eighth man is a shoemaker.

The shoes that were made previous to 1818 were mostly of the sewed kind, until a patent was obtained for riveting the uppers to the bottoms, a steel plate having been used for that purpose. Then came wooden pegs, said to have been first used by Joseph Walker, of Hopkinton, Mass. Soon after pegs had come into common use, it produced a great revolution in the manufacture of sale work. Women and boys were employed to peg shoes that could not so well be employed on sewed work, and hence the number of shoemakers increased very fast. If we stop to consider the great improvements made in the manufacture of sale work by machinery, we cannot fail to see that it has become one of the most important of business pursuits. We now find, instead of the manufacturers sending out leather to make into shoes, as in former times, large numbers of men are engaged in making shoes in the manufacturing shops by the different machines that are in use, of which there is a great variety. Instead of cutting leather with a hand-kuife, it is now cut with dies, propelled either by machinery or by hand ; and in place of the uppers being sewed by hand as they were formerly, machines do the work nicer and much quicker. Then wc have the patent last-holder, for assisting in the process of lasting the shoes ; from this the shoe passes to the pegging-machine, where, in an almost incredible time, the shoe is pegged ; from thence the shoe is passed to the leveling machine, which is a powerful engine for rubbing down the bottoms. Then the shoe is handed from one person to another to do the different parts, of finishing the edges, and grinding the bottoms, putting on of heels, etc. After they are finished, by grinding the bottoms, they are colored and tied in pairs, or placed in single pairs in a paper box, and packed in cases for shipment. We have already seen that shoemaking and manufacturing are not what they were once. Manufacturing shops, instead of being small buildings, having a few cutters only, are now large and commodious buildings, several stories high, filled with machinery of different kinds, and propelled by steampower. In one room, usually the ba.sement, is the steam-boiler and engine, and machines for cutting sole-leather, rolling it and cutting out the soles at a single stroke. In another loft the leather is secured to the last, and the outer soles prepared for the pegging operation. This machine is supplied with a thin strip of wood, like a watch-spring, its width being the length of the peg. From the coil at each revolution of the machine, a peg is clipped, that falls into a cell, ready to be introduced by its next movement into its place in the shoe. The pegs are thus produced at the rate of fourteen in a second.

With the recent introduction of machinery there has been an increase in the amount of goods, with less help than formerly was required on the same quantity of goods.

The shoe manufacture in this town has become the prominent business of the town, giving employment to a large number of persons, both male and female. It commenced and became one of the leading branches of business previous to the incorporation of the town.

Mr. Micah Faxon was probably the first person that manufactured shoes for the wholesale trade in the town. He came from Randolph in 1811, and commenced cutting and making shoes in the house that was formerly occupied by the late Matthew Packard, and on the same lot that Mr. Faxon's house now stands. At that time there was no one in town that could bind the vamps and put the shoes together, and they were sent to Randolph to be made. At first he made one hundred pairs of fine calf springheel shoes, and carried them to Boston on horseback. His first lot was sqld to Messrs. Monroe & Nash, a firm on Long Wharf, Boston, who were among the first to send goods to the South. When carriages came into common use, he carried bis shoes into the city in wagons, and brought out his own leather. The market-men and those that carried wood and other goods to market used to bring out stock for him, which, of course, was in small lots at first. Soon after this time Messrs. Silas Packard and Col. Edward Southworth became engaged in the same business in connection with their store, on the corner of Court and Main Streets, where David Cobb's store now stands. Col. Southworth soon after built the store that he now occupies, which was in 181G. From that time to the present the business has continued to increase, till, in 1837, we find the amount of boots manufactured to be 79,000 pairs, beside 22,300 pairs of shoes, amounting in all to $184,200, giving employment to 750 males and 375 females. In 1845 the tables of iuduitry show the amount of boots and shoes uianufucturoJ in North Biidgewutcr to be §179,716. Number of pairs of shoes, 155,-170 ; number of paiia of boots, 44,711 ; giving employment to 301 males and 203 females.

By the above tables we see the amount of goods manufactured has decreased during the eight years intervening the dates above ; we also find the number of shoes luis increased by more than seven times, while the number of bouts is much less. We account for the number of hands employed being so much less by the introduction of machinery, requiring less help to peribrm the same amount of work.

In 1855 the amount of goods had greatly increased, and the number of both boots and shoes has also increased in number, and a corresponding number of persons employed, which is as follows: Number of boots manufactured, G6,956 pairs ; number of shoes, G'J4,740 pairs ; value of the same, S724,S47 ; uuiuber of males employed, G92 ; number of females, 484.

In 18G5 the number of boots manufactured was 103,060 paii-s; number of shoes, 1,009,700 pairs; number of males employed, 1059 ; number of females employed, 208. Total value of goods manufactured, $1,4GG,900. During the last ten years we find the increase to be §742,153 in amount; increase in the number of boots manufactured, 37,150 pairs ; increase of shoes manufactured, 314,900 pairs.

During 18G5 there was a decided increase in the number of manufacturers, and several stoam-engiiios, with tlie requisite machinery for making shoes, were introduced. A year or two since Messrs. A. & A. B. Keith introduced a new method of making shoes by new and improved machines. This firm was the first in the country to adopt nearly all machinery, such as pegging, sewing, cutting, scouring, etc. They had a large factory at Campello, and another in ll.iyiiluim, where they manufactured a large amount of goods for the Southern market, having a store in Pearl Street, Boston, for the sale of their goods. This firm have retired from business. Martin L. Keitli had a large establishment for manufacturing goods at Campello, and a store in Pearl Street for the sale of his goods. His factory was totally destroyed by liiv, and Mr. Keith is in otlier business in Boston.

Among the manufacturers who early iiitrudnced steam-engines in the manufacture of boots and shoes, was the late Charles R. Ford, who erected a very large building in the north part of the Centre, on 5Iaiti Street; Daniel S. Howard hud a large manufactory on Montello Street, and formerly used a hut air engine for power, now uses steam-power ; F. 0. et F. A. Thayer had a large new engine in their manufactory on Centre Street; Samuel Ilerrod al.^u ii/iruduced steam-power in his factory, at the nurtli end of the city, on Main Street ; George Stevens had a largo and commodious building for manufacturing bouts and shoes by steam-power, on Montello Street, Campello. This was in 18G5.

The foregoing manufacturers were tlie first to use steam for power ; now they are numbered to over a hundred who have steam boilers in the city.

History Op Brockton

Probably no city in the country lias superior aJvantages or facilities for manufacturing boots and shoes than the city of Brockton ; the facilities of transportation to Boston and New York are convenient, and workmen of all kinds are at hand to do any aiuount of labor that may be required.

B. P. Davis commenced the retail boot and shoe business on Main Street in 1850, and is the oldest dealer in that business in the city. Charles D. Brigham had a boot and shoe store at 423 Main Street. Thomas P. Reynolds had a custom boot and shoe store in Central Block, on Centre Street.

The present retail dealers arc Benjamin P. Davis, A. M. Nilcs, E. K Carll & Co., George H. Jameson, Walter C. Packard, John H. Carr, Sweetzer & Son, Thayer & Whitman, T. A. Corcoran, Kent & Hickey. We present to the reader the following list of the shipments of boots and shoes at different dates, giving an idea of the growth and prosperity in that leading branch of business of Brockton. A careful examination of the tables explain themselves.

It will be understood that the figures in each column represent first the shipments for the week endiii"- on the date opposite which they are placed, the footings for the month being placed after the figures for the last week in the month. The columns under Brockton show the shipments from the whole city, including Campello ; those under Campello the shipments from Campello alone.

Comparative Schedule And Shoes From

Brockton as a Boot and Shoe Manufacturing^ City. - Brockton is one of tlie most active and entorprlsing manufucCuring town.s of its size in Massacliusetts. In this city, which comprises the wide-awake little village of Campello, tlicre are between seventy and eighty shoe manufacturers, employing iu the prosecution of the business in all its diU'erent departments between four million and five million dollars, and from three thousand five hundred to four thousand operatives or workmen. There is but very little ladies' work made here, but the great bulk is men's, boys', and youths' congress, Alexis, Balmorals, and, in fact, all the difierent kinds of men's and boys' goods which are sold everywhere.

Heretofore Brockton has had a reputation of making cheap goods, and, while this is still true at the present time to a certain extent, it may be said with equal truthfulness that she makes whatever the demand is for ; and while, iu these depressed times, the consumer is obliged to make a dollar go as far as possible, and can only pay for a cheap shoe, her manufacturers are on the alert to comply with the demand, and let no opportunity escape to convert their leather into the kind of goods that will sell in the market. But it gives pleasure to note the gradual improvement and the growing inclination on the part of the uianufacturers eacli year to substitute j^ood solid leather work, made " upon honor," for the cheap, low-priced goods, filled in with what is comluonly known as shoddy. In 1875 this new departure was made in a large way, - although previous to this date some fine work was made, - and now there are some six or eight large factories whose machinery is run altogether on fine, firstclass work, and the workmen in which are all skilled in the higher branches of the business. Brockton people are justly very proud at the turn manufacturing has taken in this direction, and it can be stated, without fear of successful contradiction, that some of the finest, most '- nobby," and yet serviceable, men's goods to be found in the country are turned out at this enterprising shoe centre. Looking through the stock- and sample-iooms, one is forcibly impressed with this radical change from cheap to high-grade goods, as the leather used for both " uppers" and " soles" is of the very best quality aud tannage, and the " samples," in the almost numberless varieties of styles and patterns, are certainly worthy to grace, as they do, the counters and shelves of many of the first-class boot and shoe stores.

From those early days to the present, the manufacture of boots and shoes has been a distinctive business with the people of this city, and with the march of improvement and the adoption of the modern facilities for prosecuting the growing business, Brockton has kept pace, and from a few little obscure rooms once used, supplied with rudely-constructed shoemakers' benches, old-fashioned awls, waxed-ends, etc., have sprung up large two-, three-, and four-story buildings, constructed on modern principles and supplied with all the latest and most improved machinery known or used in the prosecution of the business. Nowhere has capital been more lavishly expended to secure the best facilities, and nowhere is a greater degree of enterprise manifested to keep up with the times and compete successfully with other manufacturing towns and cities.

Daniel S. Howard is one of the pioneers and most successful shoe manufacturers in the city of Brockton. He commenced this business about thirty-six years ago, with small capital, and is now said to be the wealthiest shoe manufacturer in the city. He has a large factory on Montello Street, and employs about 250 workmen ; daily capacity of factory, 1500 pairs.

George Elden Keith, one of the leading and most successful manufacturers of Southeastern Massachusetts, was born in Campello, Feb. 8, 1850. He received the education afforded by the common and high schools of his native town, and was a member of the first class at the opening of the high school at

Brockton. Idleness formed no part of Mr. Keith's life. While in school the mornings and nights were employed in working at the bench, making boots and shoes. After leaving school he continued at this work until July 1, 1874, when, in company with W. S. Green, he commenced manufacturing under the firm-name of Green & Keith. This copartnership continued until 1880, when he disposed of his interest to Mr. Green and erected his preseut large factory, and has since carried on the business as sole proprietor. This is one of the largest boot and shoe manufactories in this part of the State, the value of the annual product being from six hundred to seven hundred thousand dollars, and employing three hundred hands. It is a representative institution, and reflects great credit upon its enterprising proprietor, who in the brief period of ten years has gone from the bench to the ownership of this immense establishment.

Mr. Keith is a Republican in politics, and was a member of the first board of aldermen of the city of Brockton. He is president of the Campello Loan Association, and a director in the Brockton National Bank, and also in the Brockton Savings-Bank. In religion he is a Congregationalist, and a member of the South Congregational Church.

Oct. 23, 1877, he united in marriage with Anna G. Reed, daughter of the Hon. W. L. Reed, of South Abington, and they have one child, Elden B., born Oct. 18, 1879.

Mr. Keith traces his ancestry to Rev. James Keith, who came from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1GG2. He was the first ordained minister in Bridgewater, having been ordained in February, 1G64. The line of descent is as follows : Rev. James, Timothy, Timothy, Levi, Benjamin, Capt. Ziba, Franklin. Franklin married Betsey, daughter of Paul Bailey, of Sidney, Me., and had six children, of whom George E. was the fourth.

George Elden Keith is essentially a self-made man. He has gained nothing by mere luck, but everything by perseverance and well-digested plans, and the intelligent applic-ation of his energies to the end in view. In social life he is gentlemanly and affable, and is one of Campello's most enterprising and honored citizens.

Preston B. Keith truces his ancestry in this country to the Rev. James Keith, who came from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1662. He was the first ordained minister in Bridgewater. The line of descent is sxs follows : Timothy, Timothy, Levi, Benjamin, Charles, and Charles Perkins, the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born June 20, 1820, and married Mary K., daughter of Josiah Williams, Dec. 4, 1843,

Preston Bond Keith was born in Campello, Oot. 18, 1847. He was educated at the Hi-h School in Brockton, and at the age of eighteen went to Boston, and entered tlie employ of Martin L. Keith, who wa.s a shoe manufacturer in Brockton, with a store in Boston. Here he lemaiued five and a half years, mastering the shoe busines.^. Returning to Brocktou iu 1871, he commenced business for himself in Campello, in a lactury which stood on Main Street, where he ooutinued three years, when he removed the building to Clifton Avenue, and enlarged it. Three years later Mr. Keith leased this property and erected his present large manufactory, which was opened in July, 1878. At the commencement of business the annual product amounted to about ninety thousand dollars, and he employed from thirty to forty hands. Mr. Keith has increased the business until at the present time the value of the annual product amounts to over four hundred thousand dollars, employing one hundred and seventy-five persons. A business man, with large mauuficturing interests to direct and care for, Mr. Keith has found but little time to devote to the public business. He was elected member of the board of aldermen in 1882, and re-elected in 1883. He is a director in the Home National Bank, and has been since its organization. He is a director in the street railway company, and vice-president of the Campello Co-operative Bank. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of tiie South Congregational Church. Dec. 8, 18C9, Mr. Keith united in marriage with Eldora Louisa, daughter of Josiah W. and Margaret (Duulap) Kingman, and they have one child, Allie, born April 2, 1877.

Warren A. Howard commenced business in 1870. His factory is one hundred by thirty-five feet, four stories high. He manufactures about 12U0 pairs of shoos per day, and employs about 200 hands.

S. Gardner Jones commenced the manufacture of shoes in 1878, and lias continued to the present time. He employs 100 hands, and the value of the annual product amounts to .§200, 000. Probably there is no establishment in the city that manufactures finer goods than Mr. Jones. He is a live man and always abreast, of tlie times in style. Mr. Jones shows his good taste in the care of his manufactory and grounds, which are very attractive.

Burt & Packard, on Pond Street. This firm was originally Jones & Packard, and commenced business in 1872. In 1875, Fred Packard was sole proprietor.

afterwards Fred Packard &, Co. till 1881, when John W. Burt, of New York, was admitted as a partner. The business was started with S.tOOO capital, and has been remarkably successful, till now the firm has a capital of $1G0,0U0, employing 225 men, manufacturing all kinds of fine goods for retail trade. This is one of the representative establisliments of the city.

The financial agent of this firm is Ili.n. Edward Crocker, son of Perez and Freelove (Tli'mipson ) Crocker. He was born in Brockton, March 1(1, 1S14. In his early youth he attended tlie common sclioijls of his native town, and at the age of thirteen engaged as a clerk in a store at Boston Highlands, where he remained five years, and then (1833) removing to New Bedford, entered the employ of William H. Crocker, a merchant of that cily. He continued with Mr. Crocker until 1837, when he purchased the establishment and conducted the business as sole proprietor until 1812, when, having disposed of his dry-goods store, he commenced furni,-.hlng supplies for whaling vessels, there being at that time about four hundred hailing from that I'amous old whaling town. la 1849, well remembered as the year of the great exodus to the gold fields of California, Mr. Crocker joined the adventurous pioneers, and going to California located in Beuieia, where, in company with Samuel C. Gray, he commenced getieral luerehandlsing, and here remained until 1850. In that year he returned to New Bedford, and in 1SG4 to his native town, where he has since resided. While in Benicia he was chosen one of the trustees of the fir>l female academy established in the State of Calilbinia.

Mr. Crocker is held in liigh esteem by his fellowcitizens, and has been honored with various positions of trust and responsibility. In 1SG8 he represented his district in the State Senate ; lias been an asses.^ur of the town three years ; was a member of the first City Council, and is now one of the conimi.-^sioncrs of the sinking fund. He is a director in the Home National Bank, and has been since its organi/.tlion, in 1873.

Feb. 3, 1840, while residing in New Bedford, he united in marriage with Caroline H. Blacknicr, of that city, and they had one child, Edward Le.ilie, who died at the age of four years.

In 1873, Mr. Crocker became financial agent of the firm of Burt & Packard, shoe manufacturers, and has continued in that position to the present time, and it is only justice to add that no man in the city of Brockton has done more than Edward Crocker Id aid its manufacturing enterprises by counsel and advice ; his practical knowledge of business rendering

The Cliarlea W. Copelaud Manufacturing Company is a corjioration formed under the laws of the commonwealth of JIassacliusetts, and has succeeded to the business of the well-known tirra of Charles W. Copelaud & Co. This company owns a large factory at Cumpello, five stories high, and well equipped with the latest improved machinery. The capacity is from SO to lUU cases of boots and shoes every day.

Slaniii Wild, Jr. Wild & Robinson founded this business in 1S69, and one year later it passed into the possession of Mr. Wild, who still carries it on. Value of annual product at beginning, $30,000 ; present value, S2U0.000 ; employs 85 hands.

A. M. Herrod & Co. This business was established by Reynolds & Herrod in 1872. In 1874 the tirm changed to Herrod & Grant, which continued until 1879, wlien the firm became A. M. Herrod & Co. In the beginning employed about 30 persons; now employ 100. In 1872 the value of the annual product amounted to about §80,000 ; present annual product, S175,U00.

L. M. Reynolds & Co. Business was commenced in 1881 on Montello Street, in Charles Howard & Co.'s ueedle-factoj-y, occupying the two lower floors. In the fall of 1883 built a large factory on a private way off from Court Street, just east of the railroad. Size of factory, one hundred and twenty feet long by thirty wide, three stories. Employ 100 to 150 hands. Annual sales amount to 8200,000.

C. F. Porter & Co. This business was established in 1S()5, under the firm-name of Porter & Packard, and continued until 1873, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Porter, who has since continued it as sole proprietor, retaining, however, the firm-name of C. F. Porter & Co. Value of annual product, §200,000. Employ 125 hands.

The firm of N. R. Packard & Co. was established in 18G'J. When starting they employed about 40 hands, and now employ, when running full force, about 250. Their product is from 40 to 50 24-pair cases daily. Capt. R. B. G rover became associated with ^Ir. Packard in 1872, and severed his connection with him in November, 1883, and is now one of the firm of M. A. Packard & Co.

W. S. Green & Co. Business founded by Green & Keith in 1874. In 1880, Mr. Gree'n purchased Mr. Keith's interest, and the firm became Green, Thomas &, Green, and one year later W. S. Green & Co., consisting of Mr. Green and Myron F. Thomas. Value of annual product, $300,000. Employ 250 hands.

Flavel B. Keith commenced business in 1873, in a factory on Montello Street, and remained there until the erection of his new factory, about six years ago. In 1873, employed about 50 hands; now, 100. Annual sales at commencement, about S75,000 to $100,000; now, $250,000 to $300,000.

Nahum Johnson & Son. Nahum Johnson commenced the manufacture of .shoes about thirty years ago at South Easton. The present firm was established in 187G. Employ 75 hands.

E. H. Reynolds commenced business in 1857, and continued until 1863, when the firm became Reynolds & Parks. In 18GG it changed to Reynolds ifc Co., which continued about five years, when Mr. Reynolds became sole proprietor, and has continued as such to the present time. Value of annual product at beginning, about $10,000; present value, $75,000. Employs 50 hands.

L. C. Bliss & Co. established their present business Jan. 1, 1881, and their sales the first year amounted to about $100,000. The present annual product is $125,000. Employ GO hands.

Churchill & Alden, established in 1877, under the firm-name of Whitman, Churchill & Alden, and continued for five years, then changed to present firm. At beginning of business employed about 25 hands ; now employ 175, with annual production of $400,000.

Henry M. Kingman commenced business in 1882, on Spring Street. In August, 1884. removed to his new factory near Court Street. This building is one hundred and fifty by thirty-five feet, three stories, with basement. Employs 150 hands. Capacity, GO cases per day.

Emerson, Weeks & Co. established Dec. 1, 1881, and commenced business in Marshall's factory, on Franklin Street. In 1883 removed to their present factory on North Main Street. In the beginning employed about 50 hands, and value of annual produet was $100,000; now employ 125 hands, and annual product amounts to $200,000. Charles 0. Emerson, D. L. Weeks.

The firm of Stacy, Adams & Co., was established in 1875 as Stacy, Adams & Jones. In 1878, Mr. Jones was succeeded by Mr. 0. B. Quimby, who had been book-keeper for the earlier firm, who associated himself with Messrs. Stacy & Adams, and the firm took its present name. They employ 225 men and women, and manufacture fully 125,000 pairs of shoes annually.

George G. Snow started in business about the year 1874, in the old marble-works building, corner Main and Crescent Streets. Commenced in a small way,

Jay B. Reynolds began business May, 1874, in a room on Pleasant Street ; counueDced in a small way, employing not over 2 or 3 hands. He now employs, when running full, from 150 to 175 operatives. His annual product amounts to 3250,000.

Keith Brothers commenced business in 1874, in a small way, on Chestnut Street, employing at the time S or 10 hands. Afterwards removed to the Mitchell factory, on Clifton Avenue, which was burned. They removed to their present location in 1881. This concern employs at the present time about 50 hands. The annual production at commencement of business was $25,000, and at the present time, $75,000.

Marcus Leach commenced the shoe business in 1847, on the old Leach homestead, in a small way, and has continued alone to the present time, except one year, 1857, when P. S. and Lucius Leach were associated with him, under the firm-name of M. & L. Leach.

Jonas Reynolds & Co. This business was established by Whitten & Reynolds about 1869. About three years later Mr. Reynolds purchased his partner's interest. The present firm consists of Mr. Reynolds and Charles E. Drake. Employ 25 hands, and turn out 15 24-pair cases per week. Located at Marshal's Corner.

Packard & Grover commenced business April 1, 1884, succeeding M. A. Packard & Co. M. A. Packard & Co. commenced in December, 1879. Previous to that Mr. Packard was in business alone. Mr. Grover was formerly firm of N. R. Packard & Co. They turn out between 40 and 50 24-pair cases per day. Hands employed when running full time, from 150 to 200.

Howard & French. F. 0. Howard commenced the shoe manufacture in 1852. In 1876 the present firm was established. They employ about 125 hands, and the annual product amounts to $150,000.

H. H. Mitchell commenced business Dec. 1,1882, and turned out the first year about $71,000 worth of goods; employed 50 hands; now employs 75 hands, and the value of the annual product amounts to $130,000.

L A. Beals & Co. Established 1882 as BluIs & Perkins ; name changed to L A. Beals &, Co. July 9, 1883, Mr. Perkins retiring from the business ; hands employed when starting, GO; now employ 150; at commencement turned out from lU to 15 cases per day ; now from 25 to 35.

Perkins & Joyce. Over in Factory Village, a local appellation for one section of the city, Messrs. Perkins & Joyce are operating a large factory. Although a young firm, they have been remarkably successful. Beginning in 1878 with 20 hands, they now employ over 125 men and women, and make from 300 to 500 pairs every day. These two young men constitute one of the young and enterprising firms of this city.

Richard M. Fullerton commenced the manufacture of shoes in 1858, being one of the oldest houses in the city. Employs 30 hands, with a daily capacity of 500 pairs.

The firm of Whitman &, Keith was established in August, 1883. The present product is 90 cases per week, and the number of hands employed, 50. It is composed of W. E. Whitman and D. N. Keith.