Dighton Town (part 3 of 3)

Not long after 1800 we find a cotton factory called Wheeler's Factory established on the Three Mile river at what was then known as Dighton Upper Four Corners, now the location of the Lincoln Paper Mill. The building was a small one, that had previously been used in connection with the Iron Works owned and operated by the Stephens family. They continued to retain an interest in the cotton factory. Whether Nathaniel Wheeler or his brother Russell was the manager cannot be stated definitely.

July 9, 1810, Thomas S. Baylies, after reserving to himself and his heirs one-sixteenth part, deeded to a list of individuals from Bristol, Providence and Boston two pieces of land in Dighton, one containing 17 acres, on which stood the dam and warehouse and later the mill and cluster of houses lining Mt. Hope lane; also a piece containing 18 acres lying north of the first named lot on the road to Westville reaching up to the 'Taunton line and from the river to the road. The price paid was $3,468.75. Access to the location for the mill was then only through Mount Hope lane. It was not until considerably later that a continuation of Spring street was built westerly from Pearl street to Walker street. Conspicuous among the names of the purchasers are those of William and George D' Wolf, of Bristol, whose interests combined represented one-half the broperty.

Nathaniel Wheeler looked on North Dighton as the most desirable place for him to locate. Just when Mr. Wheeler set up his home in Dighton does not appear but the records show a son born to him there in 1811, and when his connection with the Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company began is not now apparent. He was not one of the original incorporators, but his name does appear as treasurer of the company in 1820. In 1818 we find him building a brick mansion, the structure now occupied by the Mount Hope Hospital. He, also, owned the farm of nearly 100 acres that we now know as the Mordecai Lincoln farm. He was a director of the Taunton National Bank, selectman of the town of Wellington, when it was set apart from Dighton, twice elected to the Massachusetts Legislature. Possibly, his brother, Russell Wheeler, was the executive in charge of manufacturing operations in North Dighton. His name appears as agent for the Dighton Manufacturing Company. It seems plain that his contact with the cotton factory was that of the prompter, trader and merchant, not as mill superintendent. In 1820 all the property of the Bristol Cotton Manufacturing Company was transferred by deed to James D'Wolf of 3ristol. Then follows the incorporation in 1821 of the same property under the name of the Mount Hope Manufacturing Company. Mr. D'Wolf owned Mt. Hope at Bristol and it was, no doubt, out of compliment to him that the Mt. Hope name was given to the new corporation. In addition to Mr. D'Wolf and Mr. Wheeler, the other incorporators are Freeborn Sisson, James Maxwell, John T. Child, Oliver Chase and Levi D'Wolf.

In 1827 Russell Wheeler died, and in 1829 reverses overtook Nathaniel - Wheeler, and he made an assignment to four trustees for the benefit of his creditors. Mr. Wheeler moved with his family to Essex county, New York, where he prospered moderately in the iron business. In the spring of 1838 with his two sons he began farming, but returned in 1845 to Fall River where he died in 1854. North Dighton had lost the man who made the community. The village with its two cotton factories, a machine shop, a foundry, saw mill, grist mill and two stores was a lively place of business for those days. Mr. Wheeler's stock in the Dighton Manufacturing Company was sold to Job Eddy of New Bedford. Mr. Eddy became actively connected with the management of the business. Following the death of Mr. D'Wolf in 1838, the property of the Mount Hope Manufacturing Company was sold for $8,500 to Theophilus, Azariah and Jervis Shove. From then on the management and ownership of the two cotton mills was entirely distinct from each other. Azariah and Jervis Shove lived at the old Baylies homestead. They came from Fall River where they had been engaged at what was known as the Nankeen Mill, one of the earliest mills to use power looms. Naturally, they installed looms at Mt. Hope and curiously enough they chose the attic of the old mill for the location. In the list of industrial pioneers in this section are the names of Dexter, Russell and Nathaniel Wheeler. Russell and Nathaniel Wheeler were brothers and were born in 1772 and 1781, sons of Lieutenant Jeremiah Wheeler, of what is now Seekonk. Dexter Wheeler, their nephew, was born in 1777, the oldest child of their elder brother, Jeremiah Wheeler. Dexter and Nathaniel Wheeler as boys were both associated with the Wilkinsons of Pawtucket. After a start with cotton machinery they drifted off to New York State and interested themselves in the improvement of farming machinery. In 1806 Dexter Wheeler and Nathaniel Wheeler with others were engaged in the erection of a mill at Swansea of some 200 or 300 spindles capacity. In 1809 Nathaniel Wheeler then a resident of Swansea in connection with Daniel Gilbert, of Mansfield, Josiah Dean, of Raynham, Nathaniel Williams of Dighton, Seabrey Lawton of Rehoboth, Nicholas Stephens of Dighton, Oliver Chase and Hezekiah Anthony of Swansea and James Maxwell of Warren, R. I., made an agreement to organize a company to be known as the Dighton Manufacturing Company, to enter into the manufacture of cotton and erect a mill or mills for that purpose. Land along the Three Mile river, including two lower mill privileges, was purchased. Capital stock of sixty shares was to be issued. No charter was obtained, however, until 1822, at which time also appears the first entry in the corporation's record book. It was at this time, also, that James D'Wolf of Bristol acquired thirty-six shares of the stock of the company. In April, 1812, Dexter Wheeler with his cousin, David Anthony, who had previously been in the employ of Samuel Slater of Pawtucket, settled upon the village of Troy, now the city of Fall River, as the most advantageous spot for their future operations. In 1813 we find their names as the principal incorporators of the Fall River Manufactory. The same year the name of Nathaniel Wheeler appears as one of the incorporators of the Troy Cotton & Woolen Manufactory, and in 1821 he was one of the subscribers in the incorporation of the Pocasset Manufacturing Company.

In 1875 the Mt. Hope property was purchased by Stafford & Company. The record shows an assignment in 1884 for the benefit of their creditors. William Mason, who was one of the firm of Stafford & Company, acquired the property in 1885. The mill was operated by him and after his death by his widow as the William Mason Manufacturing Company until 1895, when a mortgage was again foreclosed and the property changed hands. The mill was then operated for a short time as the North Dighton Cotton Co. When the New England Cotton Yarn Company was organized in 1898, it was among the properties included in the consolidation. The New England Cotton Yarn Company did not care to operate the mill. They stripped it of all its machinery, even the engine was removed from the foundation. Two old boilers and the water wheels were the only equipment left. The chairman of the executive committee of the New England Cotton Yarn Company, soon after its organization, was Joseph F. Knowles of New Bedford. He was also treasurer of the Acushnet Mill and the Hatha- way Manufacturing Company; and among other industrial enterprises with which Mr. Knowles was associated, was the Dunnell Manufacturing Company in Pawtucket, a bleachery, dye house and print works. The plant of the Dunnell company was destroyed by fire in 1888. In the rebuilding new capital was required, and considerable of this new issue was subscribed by New Bedford investors, Mr. Knowles being president of the corporation. He continued in this office until the Dunnell company was combined with other plants in 1899 to make the United States Finishing Company.

It was finally decided to incorporate a new company to purchase and operate the property as a bleachery, dye house and finishing works. The Mount Hope name was still associated with the property, so it was continued for the new company. Stock was subscribed to the amount of $125,000 by Mr. Knowles and a few of his business associates. Plans were made with the assistance of E. A. Rusden and C. R. Makepeace & Company of Providence, Rhode Island. June 1, 1901, the new company was formally organized with Joseph F. Knowles, president; Joseph K. Milliken, treasurer; and William W. Crapo and Thomas S. Hathaway, directors. Mr. Knowles continued president until his death in 1909. He was succeeded by Mr. Crapo, who pays the company a great compliment by serving as its president. Joseph F. Knowles, Jr., was elected to fill the vacancy in the board. June 25th, ground was broken for a small brick building to house the grey room, singe room, kiers, bleach house, drying cans and dyehouse. Work was also started to repair and make ready the old mill for the reception of tenter frames, some dry cans, one calender, a range for dyeing aniline black and the necessary making-up machinery. A Corligs engine was installed on the old foundation. One new boiler was added to the two old ones. The old mill chimney was repaired and put into use. Water, steam and sprinkler pipes were installed. An elevated tank was erected to provide water for fire protection. The estimates anticipated the employment of about 75 people and a product of 150,000 to 200,000 yards per week. Experienced help for bleacheries and finishing plants included many Englishmen, who gained their acquaintance with the bleaching, dyeing and finishing of cotton fabrics before they left England.

The new company was successful in obtaining the services of many of these Britishers, who brought with them a great faith in the Rochdale Plan of Co-operative Store Keeping. Quite naturally, therefore, one of the first undertakings for public betterment took the form of a co-operative grocery store. The North Dighton Co-operative Association encountered many difficulties in the beginning. It has now, however, long justified the faith of its founders. It is doing a business of about $50,000 per year, returning to its shareholders regular dividends of nine per cent on their purchases and occasional extra dividends. From a small beginning macadam roads have been built in North Dighton, much of the construction entirely at the expense of the company, some paid for jointly by the town and company. When the Mount Hope Finishing Company was started, motive power was supplied by an engine aided by two old water wheels; where variable speed drives were necessary, small engines carrying steam the full length of the stroke were installed connected direct to the engine by belt or gears. The only electrical equipment at the beginning was that necessary for lighting the mill building. No gas for singeing was available. It was necessary to make an installation for generating gas from gasoline. Later, when the pipe lines of the Taunton Gas Company were carried into Dighton, the inanufacture of gas was abandoned and the public supply was happily, also, available for lighting houses in the village. It was early found desirable to do away with the many small engines scattered through the plant, and substitute motors. As the electric generating plant was increased, it became possible, also, to provide the energy for street lights. A lighting district was organized, street lights were installed, and the expense was assessed directly on the district benefited. For many years the absence of a public water supply was a serious handicap. Wells were continually running dry or getting polluted. As the community became more thickly settled, the need for a proper water supply grew more imperative. After many tedious preliminaries, a contract was arranged with the city of Taunton to deliver to the company water from its pipes at the Taunton-Dighton line. The company made the installation of pipes in the streets, the hydrants and the house connections, and water was sold by it to the people at the same rate as in Taunton. The old home of Nathaniel Wheeler was converted into a hospital to take care of the accident and maternity cases in the village. As the building of plant and village increased, there was a continuing demand for crushed stone for new construction. Stone walls and field stone, which constitute the most conspicuous item in the natural resources of the town of Dighton, have passed in a steady stream through the company's stone crusher and into service as foundations, new roads and reinforced concrete buildings. Cleared of its stone, the nearby land, though of light, poor soil, can be made to raise good crops. Today there are many acres under cultivation and the company conducts a milk and poultry farm, raises potatoes, corn and garden truck, harvests ice for the domestic needs of the village and takes pride in maintaining its farm property and live stock in the best of condition. Coal for domestic purposes is purchased by the company and sold to employees practically at cost. A restaurant is maintained to supply meals for workers. A' moving picture machine is operated evenings.

A club house with bowling alleys, billiard tables, locker room, shower baths, a ball field and tennis courts was built by the company for the use of its employees. Many new houses have been erected, mostly single houses of the bungalow and cottage types. An effort has been made to keep the village attractive by planting trees and shrubs and laying out small parks. Ample breathing spaces between houses have been provided and a variety of types of construction have been employed to avoid the dull monotony of many older mill villages. The company was fortunate from the start in preparing for the finishing of lines of cloth, which have steadily increased in popularity and consumption. The mercerizing of cotton was a new process at the time Mount Hope was organized. The prices that could be obtained for mercerized goods were attractive and the company early began to specialize in the finishing of mercerized cottons. From time to time as other new lines of goods with an appeal to popular favor appeared in the market, the management has sought to be prepared promptly to finish them. 'Today the company is able to finish a great range of cloths in white, black and colors in cotton and in silk. With the increase in variety has come an increase in the quantity of goods finished. The product is now more than ten times as great as was originally expected. The type of mill construction, commonly in use, has undergone a considerable change in the last twenty years. This plant, built almost continuously a little at a time, reflects these changes. From the brick building with small bays and little windows, wood posts with plank floors and plank roof, the first change was to a reinforced concrete building with larger bays, bigger windows and floors and roofs of concrete. Later this type of construction was found to have its disadvantages, and the change has lately come to single story buildings with steel trussed roof construction admitting of large bays lighted by monitors and saw teeth. While the type of machinery used has changed little in twenty years, methods of generating steam have made great progress and methods of generating electricity and applying the energy at the machines have also been greatly improved. To these matters much thought has been given and care taken to keep the boiler plant, the engines and the electrical equipment at the peak of efficiency.

Other Industries. - Thomas Coram stands out as one of the most prominent figures in the early story of Dighton. He was foremost in the settlement of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as well as in the founding of colonies in Georgia, and in the establishment of a children's home in London that has since become famous. Backed by a company of London merchants and bringing over to his aid skilled workmen from abroad, he took into his_ partnership in 1693 a Dighton man, John Hathaway, and gave impetus to an industry that was to continue in Dighton, though in other hands and at other shipyards, for a period of 125 years. The Coram and Hathaway shipyard was established at the foot of Main street, and this was the first industry in the South Purchase, the business continuing for ten years. Ebenezer Stetson started his shipyard in 1750 where the George Phillips boatyard was in recent years, and he retired from business in 1768. John Reed established a shipyard in 1755 in Muddy Cove, and continued to 1772. After the Revolution, Bowen and Hathaway started building ships on the south side of Whitmarsh's wharf; and later, Smith and Wardwell had a shipyard on the north side of that wharf. David Standish had a shipyard before 1800, north of the Dighton and Berkley bridge, and in the early part of that century Matthew Briggs built vessels on Pine Hill. During the prevalence of the Embargo Act and while the War of 1812 was on, the shipbuilding industry was brought to a halt here, but after the war, business started. Colonel Darius Perry had a shipyard near the Eddy house at this time. But with the launching of the barkentine "William Cobb," in 1874, the business that had lasted about two hundred years was brought to a close.

As early as 1700, iron was manufactured here, when Peter Walker built his furnace on the island in Three Mile river. The business came into the hands of the Dighton Manufacturing Company after it had been carried on by the Walker family about a century. Matthew Briggs, shortly after 1700, started a forge and grist mill on Segreganset river. Grist, saw and other mills were started throughout the 18th BERET, by Nicholas Stevens, Simeon Williams and Isaac Babbitt.

Isaac Babbitt and others organized and incorporated the Wellington Cotton Company in 1814, with capital stock of $90,000. After some years this mill, located east of Williams street, was leased by various parties, and in 1845 it was burned while David Wastcoat was running it. Other milling interests of the town have been the following: Joshua T. Williams' lap mill of 1840, on the west side of Williams street; Simeon Williams' saw mill; J. T. W. Reed's saw and grist mill; Captain David Perry's stone machine shop, built in 1822, later operated as a tack shop by Oliver Eaton and John P. Wade, still later by the Tack Combination; a flaxseed oil mill on the Segreganset; the Nathaniel Leonard & Son tack factory of 1845; the Simmons grist mill farther down the river.

The site of the plant of the Anchor Color and Gum Works was formerly that of a cashmere mill of New York capitalists, built of brick and finished in 1862. The plant was destroyed by fire, after which Captain William Cobb rebuilt the mill and manufactured furniture. Later, the Albion Lead Company of Taunton purchased the property and pursued their business. Again the works burned, and a company formed by John C. Jessup bought the plant, who changed it to a color works. Then Mason, Chapin Company, of Providence, Rhode Island, purchased and manufactured water colors. Arnold, Hoffman Company of Providence, Rhode Island, purchased the plant in 1900. In July, 1906, the works were again partially burned, but were rebuilt. The company manufactures water colors, soap and corn starch products.

One of the best-known paper manufacturing plants in New England is that of L. Lincoln and Company at North Dighton. Caleb and Lorenzo Lincoln established the firm in 1850 as C. M. and L. Lincoln. At the death of Caleb M., the firm name was changed to L. Lincoln and Company, with Lorenzo Lincoln as senior member, and Edward and James M. Lincoln as the junior members. E. Ellsworth, Nathaniel R. and Charles E. Lincoln were admitted as partners on the death of Lorenzo Lincoln. The plant was twice destroyed by fire but was promptly rebuilt. .

The Dighton Stove Lining Company's plant is located on an old industrial site, and was started in 1874 by Gideon C. Francis, G. Henry Horton, Stephen H. Pierce and John Hines for the manufacture of stove linings. In 1877, Joseph B. Warner was admitted as a partner. They with others incorporated as the Dighton Stove Lining Company. Alfred W. Paul was chosen president; William Z. Whitmarsh as treasurer and clerk.

An industry that once flourished here was that of clock-making, begun by Joseph Gooding fourth in descent from George Gooding, first of the name in Dighton. Five brothers of the name averaged over half a century in the clock-making industry. The Groveland Foundry Company was organized in 1882 to manufacture stoves, the plant continuing some years under different managers and owners. Finally the Century Stove Company bought the business and operated the plant until it was destroyed by fire in January, 1900. The Crossman Tack Company was established in 1908 by W. W. Crossman in Lakeville, who removed to Dighton in 1910. Hamilton Brothers manufacture tin capped lining, and saddlery nails.

the first in the industry being Daniel Chace, his son, Hon. Charles S. Chace and Dexter Pierce. Their farms and others' brought a large amount of money into Dighton during a period of a half century. The Dighton Building Association built their canning factery here in 1890, and a number of others have followed. The Dighton Nursery Company was established in 1845 by Dr. Alfred Wood. He retired in 1862, and successive owners have been: John A. Lewis, Edward P. and Charles Lewis and Josiah S. Place.

Miscellaneous. - The beginnings of the Dighton Public Library are to be found in a magazine club that was formed by Segreganset residents in 1890, who through the proceeds of entertainments placed books for distribution in the Segreganset postoffice. The library of about 400 volumes thus started was placed in Town Hall in 1895, when Hon. Charles §. Chace secured a gift of one hundred dollars worth of books from the State, with the condition that the town provide a suitable place for them. In 1895 Dwight F. Lane, Rev. William D. Athearn and Edward Lincoln were elected library trustees, with Mr. Lane as secretary and treasurer. Up to the year 1911, the library headquarters were in Town Hall, and that year the present Carnegie library building was built at a cost of $6,000, the site being paid for by subscription. The new library was dedicated August 3, 1911, and was opened to the public August 4, with about 3,200 volumes. The present librarian is Lydia J. Cole. The board of trustees: Ellsworth EK. Lincoln, chairman; Dwight F. Lane, Philip K. Bowden.

Dighton Rock Grange was instituted December 5, 1912, with seventy charter members. The masters of the Grange to date have been: Hiram ©. Palmer, Joseph Howland, Trevor F. Goodell, George H. Phillips, C. Thacher Pardey, Leland F. Bullard. The membership in 1923 was 192.

The Brick Social Club originated in 1913 to hold annual clambakes at the Brick Church extension. The officers are: President, Charles Richards; secretary, George H. Walker; treasurer, William W. Hamilton.