Taunton City (part 5 of 13)

The purchasers were Josiah Dean, of Raynham, and Samuel Leonard, who continued the business several years. Deacon Lemuel" Leonard had charge of the mill where Russia and Swedes iron, imported in bars, was rolled and slit into rods, from which wrought or hammered nails were made in scores of small shops, or smithies, in the surrounding towns many miles distant. Messrs. Dean and Leonard finallj' abandoned the iron-works as an unprofitable enterprise. Nothing now remains to indicate its existence but the foundation and dam, submerged by back water from the Hopewell Mills below, which may be seen at low water at said crossing. The gristmill above referred to was attended a hundred years ago and over by Abram Lincoln, and being a devoutly religious man, with his band of friends held meetings in the mill, humblest of all places, except a stable, for worship. Mr. Lincoln removed to Tiverton, R. I., and died there. These mills were finally owned by Horatio and Gustavus Leonard, until they gave place to the extension of the buildings of the Britannia Works.

Samuel and William A. Crocker, Sr., were copartners. It is a well-founded tradition that, as the former mill below had not been a lucrative investment, when the latter was completed Mr. Leonard remarked to a friend, "I hope well of this enterprise,'.' thus originating the historical name of " Hopewell'' to the near locality.

In this mill Messrs. Leonard & Crockers prosecuted a large business in rolling plates and slitting rods, which were packed in bundles and taken out to be hammered into nails by hundreds of farmers and mechanics, as before mentioned, who had their little shops in the surrounding towns. The rolling-mill of that day was of crude construction, - the rolls set in a massive wooden frame and gearing of wood, the furnace of huge dimensions, of suSicient capacity for a ton of iron and a cord of pine wood to a heat, requiring five men to run four heats per day; while the iron was heating the men bundled the rods of the previous heat ready for delivery to nail-makers. After the death of William A. Crocker, the junior partner, which occurred Sept. 20, 1805, and that of Samuel Leonard, the senior, in 1808, Crocker, Bush & Richmond were successors to that business. Capt. William Danforth, who formerly owned the State Hospital farm, had charge of the mill, and his son, Horatio L. Danforth, employed there lost an arm, (referred to in a notice of Mr. Danforth in the Bristol bar of Taunton). The plates and rods for the Whittenton Nail- Works were rolled and slit there; the mill was afterwards used by Crocker Brothers & Co. many years for rolling their copper and zinc plates, also for making copper .shells, or calico rolls, a few years previous to the erection of their works at Weir village. The old slitting-mill was purchased by Benjamin Ingell, and converted into a furnace for the casting of small wares. After the death of the latter, the building was sold to Reed & Barton, who removed the last vestige of the old mill except the dam.

Britannia Works. - The britannia and platingworks of Reed & Barton, which occupies the site and privilege of those ancient mills, is the oldest establishment of the kind in the United States. The britannia business was commenced in Taunton nearly sixty years ago by Isaac Babbitt, in a small shop rear of his watch-maker's store, now City Square, its location about midway of the present Union Block, where he experimented with block-tin and other metals. Being a very ingenious mechanic, Mr. Babbitt entertained the idea that many articles of britannia ware for domestic use could be manufactured in Taunton instead of importing them from Europe, and he accordingly was succe.ssfTil in his experiments. He entered into copartnership with William W. Crossman, another practical mechanic, and leased a room and power of Roswell Ballard in his fulling-mill (formerly the elder James Sproat's snuff-mill), below the dam on Spring Street, and commenced the business in a small way.

Babbitt & Crossraan there produced, in 1824, the first britannia articles manufactured in the United States, inkstands, shaving-boxes, looking-glass frames, etc., furnishing stores with a stock of these useful American goods. The ware for tea-pots and other britanuia articles was afterwards rolled in plates. Nathaniel Leonard, in his shop on Weir Street, over fifty years ago made the first set of rolls for that use. These rolls may now be seen in Keed & Barton's works, and there was first made the first wrought metal goods. Specimens of the Babbitt & Grossman manufacture may still be occasionally found in use. They received awards for their productions at several of the Bristol County exhibitions, and their success in competing with foreign manufactures in this small way. The)' soon required larger quarters for their business.

A brick manufactory was built in 1827 for their use on School Street, and they removed from their more humble quarters. The location is now " Leo's building," and was once occupied by William Mason, in making his first " ring speeder," and afterwards by Dixon, Atwood & Vickery, in developing their crucible business. In 1828, William Allen West and Zephaniah A. Leonard associated with Mr. Crossman, under the firm of Crossman, West & Leonard, Mr. Babbitt remaining as metallurgist. All these persons connected together in the early days of the britannia business have passed away, Mr. Crossman, the last one, about a year ago.'

In the above manufactory, Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton, about seventeen years of age, commenced their apprenticeship in 1828, in the room of which William W. Porter, the retired veteran britannia worker, now in his eighty-sixth year, had charge as foreman. The company increased their business, manufacturing coffee- and tea-pots and many domestic articles, but perhaps owing to inexperience in the combination of metals in the infancy of the business they were not fully successful in securing the market.

To obtain a more economical power in rolling and finishing their goods, in 1830 the company erected a brick manufactory on the west side of Mill River, opposite Leonard & Crocker's slitting-mill (the oldest of the present cluster of buildings now comprising Reed & Barton's works, but much enlarged), and soon organized the "Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company," and enlarged their business. After a few years of unsuccessful experimenting to compete in the great markets with the productions of skilled labor of foreign manufacturers, the company suspended business and disposed of their stock, leavjng a por-

1 Isaac Babbitt, after retirinji from the Britannia Works, was a number of years superintendent of Alger's foiiiulry, at South Boston, and produced tlie first brass cannon cast in the United Stales. lie was also inventor of tlie well-known "Babbitt metal." A man of remarkably tion of their manufacturing tools in the custody of their former apprentices, Reed .^xd Barton". These young men, uniting their industry, ability, and practical experience in the business, with a small capital and an agent, hired a portion of the building and power in 18.35. They labored patiently under the ineffective discouragements of their predecessors, but they experimented successfully. Associating with them, after two years' trial, Gustavus Leonard, they purchased the buildings, implements, and privilege, enlarged their business, making a new departure, under the firm of Leonard, Reed & Barton, employing a dozen or more hands, still laboring themselves at the bench, Mr. Leonard as the outside business man.

With Mr. H. G. Reed as metallurgist their wares gradually obtained a high reputation ; their efibrts were no longer a doubtful experiment; their "metal had the right ring." Their wares were exhibited at the exhibition of the American Institute of New York in 1838.

During that exhibition a prominent member, Charles H. Delavan, sent several pieces of the Reed & Barton ware, with the same number of English manufacture to Mr. Wakeman, the secretary of the institute, accompanied by a note, saying, " I am satisfied that the Taunton ware will bear a favorable comparison with any in Europe for neatness and elegance of finish, and I beg leave to express my firm conviction that if such specimens of American manufactures are properly encouraged it will lead in a few years to the entire independence of foreign nations for articles of necessity and use, and I trust the time has arrived when the experiment should be made." In a postscript Mr. Delavan conipared the cost of each set of ware, - Taunton ware, coffee-pot, $2.65 ; sugar- and cream-pots, $2.40 ; tea-pot, $1.78 ; total, S6.83. English ware (similar patterns, no better quality), coffee-pot, .$4.06; sugar- and cream-pots, $2.57; tea-pot, $2M; total, $9.16, a saving of S2.33 in favor of the Taunton set, which, he added, " every American ought to be proud of." A gold medal was awarded the latter, and the reputation of the Taunton ware established. That ware was exhibited and letter written forty-five years ago when the works were in tlieir infancy. Since that time the company have invested half a million of dollars, made extensive improvements from time to time in the manufacture, quality, and style of their goods, which have entirely superseded foreign wares in the leading markets of this country, and found their way in successful competition in many of the markets of the Old World.

After the decease of Mr. Leonard in .\pril, 1845, Henry H. Fish purchased his interest, and succeeded him in joint proprietorship in the firm-name of Reed & Barton. In 1859, George Brabrook, who had been intimately associated with the business transactions of the firm, was a<linitted as a joint partner. After the death of Mr. Barton, Sept. 13, 1867, Messrs. Eeed, Brabrook & Fish purchased the interest of their late associate, and became sole proprietors, still retaining the widely-known firm-name of Reed & Barton. After the decease of Mr. Fish, occnrring Jan. 13, 1882, his sons, George H. and Frank L. Fij^h, succeeded to the management of their father's interest in the firm and business.

We have in the foregoing sketched one of our leading industries from its humble origin in that little workshop to Deacon Ballard's mill, more than half a century ago, thence to the room where Reed & Barton first worked in metal, to their present manufactory of vast proportions, forming a cluster of sixteen spacious and substantial brick buildings, erected from year to year, as the exigencies of their increasing business required, from one to five hundred feet in length, three to four stories in height, also a dozen lesser appendage buildings, all comprising two hundred and sixty thousand square feet, or about six acres of flooring, and covering an area of territory within their yard of ten acres. Besides their supply of water-power, an engine of three hundred and another of one hundred horse-power moves the costly scientific machinery of that great hive of industry, thus furnishing employment of eight to nine hundred persons, including some of the most skilled artists in the metal line in the world, many having been upon the rolls twenty, some thirty, years, while Deacon Barnas L. Burbank, Luther Babbitt, N. Bradford Leonard, William W. Thayer, and their senior book-keeper, Alfred Brabrook (now a salesman), over forty years, and Nathan Lawrence, superintendent, J. A. B. Woodward, John C. Macdonald, Peleg Francis, Charles H. White, Abel Palmer, and Edwin Reed, nearly that length of time, in their employ. Such has been the success of their experimental improvements in metals the past twenty years, since britannia ware was their chief production, that they now manufacture annually hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of the richest patterns in nickel (or German ) silver electro-plated, gold-lined ware of rare artistic designs, and manifold descriptions, to be found in any market of the world.

A visit to the departments of this model establishment, and an inspection of the interesting processes of production of the many articles in use in every family residence or humble cottage in the land, will confirm all we have said of its merit as an ornament to the industrial achievements of our city and county.

Hopewell Mills. - About a hundred years ago, a third of a mile below the old grist-mill dam (now Britanniaville), on Mill River, was another dam, and a small "cutting-mill," owned by Samuel Leonard,' where, a few years later, .Joseph Burbank, with a few ancient machines and two or three men, cut nails, such as were headed by hand in those days of simple machinery. It was said to be the first nail-cutting mill in Taunton. The site had no special history; there was a small waterfall and a rocky ravine. It was the site of the present Hopewell Mills and surrounding buildings. Charles Richmond, with his irresistible energy and enterprise, conceived the plan of building cotton-mills there, in his own emphatic words, "To make Hopewell shine with industry."

He purchased the old cutting-mill dam and privilege, with surrounding land, ravine, and rocks, of the heirs of Samuel Leonard. Then he purchased the old Leonard & Dean slitting-mill, and saw-mill dam and privilege above, to enable him to make back flowage without damage, and then raised the dam ten feet. With the aid and experience of Silas Shepard and Samuel Crocker he erected a cotton -factory (stone and brick) one hundred feet in length, completing it the season of 1818. The basement was a machine-shop and nail-factory, and in the upper stories looms and cotton machinery. In 1821 another mill was built, near the dam, about the same size, both containing about one hundred and fifty looms. Some years 'later an addition was built, connecting the Mills, for a weave-shop. Silas Shepard had the superintendence, until he left for building his Oakland Mill in 1827, and was succeeded by Ezekiel B. Leonard and Elisha Copeland. Elias Strange had charge of the machineand nail-shop before he removed to the brick mill. Horatio Leonard & Co. built a small rolling-mill at the west end of the dam, under the brow of the hill (now hospital farm), which was operated a few years, when the machinery was disposed of.

This mill property was merged in the capital stock of the Taunton Manufacturing Company in 1823, and was managed in that interest until 1843, when, after a brief control by William A. F. Sproat, it came into the possession of Cyrus Lothrop in 1844, for about ten years thereafter. After the accidental death of Mr. Lothrop, May 21, 1854, tlie property, by will, passed into the hands of Charles Albro, who had been superintendent nearly ten years previously. Mr. Albro has been the manufacturer of various cotton fabrics about twenty-eight years.

In June, 1883, a new arrangement was made in the p^'oprietorship of Hopewell Mills. A company was organized with Charles Albro a third, and Porte W. Hewins two-thirds interest in the property; Enoch Hewins as superintendent. They have two hundred and twenty-five looms, employ about one hundred and fifty persons, and manufacture jeans, satteens, and shirtings.

Over sixty years have passed away since the indomitable spirit and energy of Charles Richmond originated the enterprise of the Hopewell Mills, the Brick Mills, the Calico Printing- Works, and other le-sser enterprises, which have made Taunton what it is in prosperity and wealth, furnished employment for thousands, bililt up hundreds of comfortable homes, and made many wealthy. But he had not the million reserved to carry through his great projects amid the reverses and misfortunes which beset many human undertakings, and his remains now rest without a tablet to indicate the spot where they were interred in the far-ofT land whither he went in 1849, hoping to repair his fortunes. Charles Richmond deserves a monument at home contributed from the wealth he was instrumental in building and making.

Brick Mill, - This manufacturing location, on Mill River, is one of ancient origin, almost coeval with the settlement of Taunton. It was a portion of the property sold by Bartholomew Tipping, a merchant, to Rev. Samuel Danforth soon after his settlement in 1688, as the fourth minister of Taunton, for his homestead. He died in 1727. He had a grist-mill at the dam, and a malt-house, which he gave in his will to his son Samuel, including the house he resided in and surrounding land.

In 1760, Samuel Danforth, Jr., sold to Thomas Cobb,- of Attleborough, his " new dwelling-house, grist-mill, fulling-mill, dam, and appurtenances, with ponding and flowing, with the utensils of both mills and four acres of land, for four hundred and sixtyfive pounds." Capt. Thomas Cobb was the father of Gen. David Cobb. He returned to Tauntop in 1762, and was probably engaged in the iron business in Attleborough with Thomas Leonard. He built a rolling- and slitting-mill at the Danforth dam, and followed the business until his death in 1779, leaving the mills and privilege to his son, Jonathan Cobb. He also engaged in the iron business, and died in 1801, leaving the iron-works and mills to his widow, who gave the property to her son, Jonathan B. Cobb. In 1803 the latter sold the mills and privilege to Samuel Fales, whose son, Sam. Cook Fales, carried on the iron business a few years. Job King occupied the old Danforth Fulling-Mill for cutting nails several years with the original machine.

Crocker and Ricliinond, who were engaged in several large manufacturing enterprises, including Whittenton and Hopewell Mills, and the calico printing establishment, purchased a large portion of the site of the Cobb Mills and privilege, and, after clearing away the old mills and appurtenances, erected in 1823 the Brick Mill for the manufacture of printing cloths for the new calico-works. This mill was for several years under the superintendence of Je.sse Hartshorn, and the machine-shop in the basement was in charge of Elias Strange, now the senior mechanic in this vicinity.

Arrangements were matured by Crocker and Richmond, in 1823, with Boston capitalists, to organize a large company, and the Brick Mill property was merged in that, called the Taunton Manufacturing Company, and remained so incorporated until 1834, when a division was made, and the Brick Mill reverted to Mr. Richmond and his associate, Mr. Crocker. They continued the business of manufacturing cotton goods and machinery until the memorable panic and

After a few years of trusteeship and liquidation of the large estate of Crocker and Richmond, the latter repurchased the brick mill property and resumed business. From 1837 to 1843, Robert 8. Dean liad charge of the manufacturing of cotton, and Leach and Keith the machinery department. After they retired, the business was in charge of Mr. Dean and Lovett Morse, a capitalist, for a few years.

In 1845, Mr. Richmond built the new brick mill in rear of the old one for the manufacture of cotton, ginghams, etc. Experiments were made with a new carpet loom, which, after a few years' trial, was transferred to Thonipsonville, Conn., and proved a remunerative success. The old brick mill was burned in 1845, then in charge of his son Edward, with serious loss to Mr. Richmond, and rebuilt in 1846. Two years later the entire property passed out of Mr. Richmond's control, and in 1849 he went to California, where he died December 19th of the same year.

In 1848 a new company was organized, with Nahum Stetson, president, and R. S. Dean, agent and treasurer, with a capital of $100,000, called the Dean Cotton and Machine Company, for the manufacture of cotton cloth and machinery.

In 1876 a new company was organized, called the Taunton Cotton and Machine Company, with a capital of $65,500;' Nathan S. Williams, president ; F. B. Dean, managing agent and treasurer, which continued several years. About four years ago another company was organized, called the Park Mill Company, with the same officers, having control of the cotton inanulacturing department only, the machineshop still remaining under the former name. The new brick mill was leased a few years ago to L. A. Rounds, nail and tack manufacturer.

The Old Green Mill. - The first manufactory of cotton goods in Taunton was called the Green Mill, located near the present bridge at the junction of Hill and Weir Streets, on Mill River. The old, or " Lower Slitting Mill," stood at the side of the river, owned by Simeon Tisdale and others, who in 1797 sold their interest in the premises to Samuel Fales (for many years clerk of the courts and judge) and Samuel Leonard. In 1806, Silas Shepard, cotton manufacturer from Wrentham, purchased of Samuel Fales hisshare in the old mill and privilege, and upori the site, associated with Samuel Leonard and Samuel Crocker, erected the Green Mill. Jesse Hartshorn and Thomas Bicknell, then expert manufacturers, assisted Mr. Shepard in the mill, where for ten or twelve years cotton yarn was made, partially colored, and i)ut out in families where they had the hand-looms for weaving into checks, ginghams, and tickings, which furnished hundreds of women, wives and daughters of farmers and mechanics, employment, and this homemade cloth was durable for years' wear. During the war of 1812-15, and days of the embargo, there was great demand for these domestic goods. A few years later, in 1818, an addition was built to the mill, and Capt. Shepard introduced a power-loom (a crude machine compared with the "Scotch loom," so called), afterwards in use, which was succeeded by a still greater inprovement in the modern, compact, iron framed loom, forty years ago or more in use. The manufacturing business of this mill was not a profitable investment, with the crude loom disadvantages, aside from the line of cotton yarn, and it was finally given up.

In 1824 the Green Mill was converted into an appendage of the new Print- Works, where machines with copper cylinders were introduced and used many years for printing calicoes of choice qualities. Delaines were also printed in this old mill by the Taunton Manufacturing Company and its successor, the Bristol Print-Works. After the discontinuance of the latter works in 1844, the old mill was remodeled into a bleachery and an appendage to the Taunton Paper Manufactory by William A. Crocker and others. This enterprise w-as discontinued after a few years' experiment for the lack of that indispensable agent in making good paper, pure spring water. The old Green Mill came into the possession and control of the late Samuel Crocker, and it was finally taken down and the brick removed or utilized for other purposes, leaving its tall chimney a standing landmark of unsuccessful enterprises.

Dean Cotton-Mill. - In the easterly part of Taunton, on a stream called in ancient deeds " Littleworth Brook," which takes its rise from the springs in the vicinity of Elders' pond, in Lakeville, and runs through Barehole Neck, stood Cain's grist-mill over a century ago, owned partly by Joseph Dean, Sr., Caleb Turner, and Moses Cain, and had been a convenience to the people in that vicinity many years. In 1784 the latter owner sold his share of the mill and privilege to Henry Strobridge, of Middleborough, for seventeen pounds and fifty-five shillings in silver. A few years later, 1792, Mr. Strobridge conveyed the same portion to his grandson, Robert Dean, a merchant of Taunton, son of Joseph, Sr.

In May, 1812, a joint-stock company was organized, consisting of Robert Dean, Jesse Hartshorn, Joseph Dean, Jr., William Strobridge, and Caleb Turner, with a capital of $16,000, to build a mill at Barehole Neck, for mamil'acturing cotton yarn, to be called the Dean Cotton-Mill. During that season the little mill - fifty feet in length, two stories - was built, with accommodating dwel lings, store, etc., under the direction of Mr. Hartshorn, the manufacturing agent and treasurer of the coni|)any. This was the third cotton-mill built in Taunton. William Read and Cyrus Caswell became stockholders. The capital was increased to S25,000.

The yarn made there was taken out in packages by families in that region and woven into cloth by the domestic hand-loom, several of which were operated in the mill. Mr. Hartshorn retired iu 1818; he was succeeded by Benjamin Lincoln a year or two, and then by Harvey Hartshorn, brother of the former agent, the latter introducing the old-fashioned powerlooms.

The senior proprietor, Robert Dean, died May 24, 1822. Robert S. Dean was the next agent for about eleven years, and the mill with its twenty power-looms made domestic goods. Charles R. Atwood and ChaYles H. Stephens followed in .succession a few years in the agency of the Dean Mill, when it was closed as a cotton manufactory.

James Sproat and Eleazer Richmond purchased the factory in 1888, and converted it into a circular sawing and box-board and stave mill. Mr. Richmond succeeding the former in business over forty years until his death, Oct. 10, 1876; some twelve years of the time Nathan S. Williams was associated with him, until he retired in 1851 to the mill below. Charles R. Richmond succeeded his father in the box and keg manufacturing business to the present time. The location has been familiarly called Barehole a hundred years or more, but the tradition name is a mystery.

Littlevi;orth Brook is a valuable stream, identified with the records of Littleworth farm, assigned by Capt. Miles Standish and John Brown, Plymouth commissioners, to Elizabeth Fool in 1640, and probably received its name from her after some location near Shute, England, whence she emigrated. On the same stream below was Williams' mill (grandson of |lichard'), and below that Turner King's saw-mill, now operated by his sons. Earl King & Co. ; then Pool's dam, located where, tradition says, Elizabeth and her brother, William Pool, had a grist-mill over two hundred years ago. Littleworth stream thence passes down by King's Furnace, an old saw-mill near Robinson's bridge (which unites Raynham and Taunton), and is the third or fourth stream in size which flows into Taunton River in its serpentine course ! of some twenty miles to its confluence with Mill I River.

King's Furnace. - The oldest hollow-ware manufactory in this county was King's Furnace, situated about a mile from the present village of East Taunton. It was built by a joint-stock company in 1723-24, under a unique agreement, abridged as follows :

"Know all men by these presents, that it is agreed upon by John King, merchant, Ebenezer Robinson, yeoman, of Taunton, county of Bristol, in New England, Benjamin Hodges, carpenter, Elkanah Leonard (grandson of James'), bloomer, of Middleboro', Samuel Tubbs, of Pembroke, founder, and William Tubbs, of Plympton, founder, all of the county of Plymouth, to build a furnace upon a stream commonly called Littleworth Brook, in the township of Taunton." Together, also, " to build a good and suflScient dam across said stream, convenient for said furnace;" and further agreed " to build a coal-house thirty feet square upon the site of said brook, as convenient as it may be to set wliere the said furnace is built." Also agreed that "said Robinson, Hodges, Leonard, and Tubbs each to be owners of jjth part, and said King owner of all the remaining part of said dam, furnace, and appurtenances ;" and the said owners "bind themselves each to the other to build and complete y' said furnace, dam, and all accoutrements thereunto belonging with all convenient speed, each to bear his proportional part," according to the terms of ownership. It is also " concluded by the owners, that when the premises are built and fully completed, that each of said owners, and their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to have the income and profit of said fWnace proportionally to his and their interest and part thereof, the charge of stock, workmen's wages, repairing of said furnace or any of the accoutrements being first paid." Also "agreed that ye said John King, being y"* owner of the land and y* said stream, doth for himself, heirs, executors, and administrators covenant, promise, and engage with y" rest of y" owners, their heirs, etc., that said furnace shall stand and remain for y° full term of twenty years, unless by mutual asreement to let it fall before." The contract and covenant is signed and sealed by the above-named parties, "Feb. 25th, 1723, alias 24."

When the furnace and appurtenances were completed they commenced making hollowware from the size of a " jobie kettle to a ten pail cauldron or more." The ore for the use w^s dug in the vicinity of the furnace at " Mine brook," and along the bogs of Taunton River. It required several hundred bushels of charcoal and about two weeks' time to heat up the furnace and stack before melting the iron ; and when once started could not be conveniently stopped until the blast of five or six months was through, and during this time "the men knew no regular days, nights, or Sundays," all bunked alternately in a room in the furnace, the table was set and standing in the " cook house" day and night, and the cooks constantly on duty to serve the molders and meu. The hollowware was sold in stores, peddled by teams throughout Bris- 'tol, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties, and sent to Newport, Providence, and New York by sloops.

In later years the furnace was run by Capt. Josiah King (grandfather of Col. Nathan King, of Middleborough, from whom we have the original contract), and Ebenezer Caswell, grand father of the late Samuel, Alexis, Alvaris, and Benjamin Caswell. In 1816 the furnace was rebuilt by Washburn & King (Gen. Cromwell Washburn, one of the prominent citizens of Taunton half a century and more ago, and Col. Nathan King, of Middleborough, father of our informant), who employed a force of molders, etc., about thirty men, doing a large business. Their ware was mostly consigned to Caswell & James, merchants of New York, the sloops at Weir village taking charge thence and returning with cargoes of the New Jersey ore. While a portion of the ore for many later years was dug in the vicinity of East Taunton, in Freetown, along the meadows of Two-Mile River, and near the old anchor forge in Kaynham, these combined, it is said, made the best metal ; James Leonard' sold and carted hundreds of loads of the "moine" from his farm, as did his ancestor, James', in 16G0-70, for the old forge from the same vicinity. Col. King died in 1828, and Gen. Washburn in 1839. The furnace descended to the heirs of the former, in whose interest the furnace was continued many years. It was retained in the King family over a hundred years, and the grist-mill and saw-mill about the same length of time ; the latter was burned a dozen years ago. It ceased to be a blast furnace some sixty years ago on account of the large consumption and increased price of charcoal, and was altered to a cupola. It was last conducted as an iron-works by Col. Nathan King several years. The furnace was afterwards closed and purchased by Eleazer and Benjamin Richmond, who converted it into a circular sawing, box-board, and stave-mill, and run by them until 18.51, when Nathan S. Williams became half proprietor until 1864. He then purchased the remainder of the mill and property and has continued the business, employing from twenty to thirty hands, to the present time in manufacturing the above articles.

Taunton Manufacturing Company. - The Taunton Manufacturing Company was one of the large enterprises on Mill River sixty years ago. It was organized in January, 1823, with a capital -of two hundred thousand dollars in real, and four hundred thousand dollars in personal estate, and the incorporators were Samuel Crocker, Charles Richmond, Israel Thorudike, Edmund Dwight, John McLean, Harrison Gray Otis, William H. Eliot, William H. Prescott, Israel Thorndike, Jr., Samuel Henshaw, Harrison Gray Otis, Jr., with such other persons as may have associated, or may associate hereafter with them, " for the purpose of rolling copper and iron, and for the manutacturing of cotton and wool, in Taunton." James K. Mills and Ezekiel B. Leonard were afterwards stockholders. The stock was divided into six hundred shares. Samuel Crocker, Charles Richmond, and James W. Otis were chosen agents, and H. J. Otis, Jr., clerk, with a board of directors. Samuel Crocker was elected president and treasurer, and continued by re-election for ten years. William F. Otis, George West, Gilbert Walker, and H. B. Dearth served from time to time as clerks of the corporation and board of directors.

The real and personal estate of the Taunton Manufacturing Company comprised the Whittenton cottonmills, nail-works, dwelling-houses, privilege, and appurtenances, the Hopewell Mills property, dwellings, etc., the Brick Mill property, machine-shops, and dwellings, also the extensive Calico Printing Works, with all the land and appurtenances, covering a large area of land. During several years this company

In 1826 the directors voted to " make a fair experiment of tlie machines for manufacture of pins and wood-screws," and that it is expedient to discontinue the manufacture of nails, dispose of the tools, and lease the mills. In 1827 it was voted to remunerate Charles Richmond one thousand dollars for his valuable services in England in behalf of the printing company ; also that the business be conducted under the firm-name of Croclcer, Richmond & Co. ; also to procure a practical superintendent of the print-works in England ; to cancel the order for the " pin-machines as impracticable;" also to fill the rooms at Hopewell Mills (made vacant by the removal of the nail-machines to Whittenton and East Taunton) with cotton spindles and machinery.

The Calico Printing Works were started in 1823, by Crocker and Richmond, under the auspices of this company, by an importation of several hundred skilled and other workmen, chiefly from the printing establishments of England and Scotland, - men of all nations. The buildings were chiefly of brick, and structui'es were added irom time to time as the increasing business demanded during the ten years' progress, until an area of about three acres was covered on Court and Weir Streets, employing a large number of persons in the process of block and machine-printing. Several of the buildings of Court Street were afterwards occupied by the Bay State Screw-Works, and are now owned by Anthony & Cushman, in their nail and tack business.

Although an auspicious commencement, this calicoprinting department proved a dissatisfactory investment. In 1833 the Taunton Manufacturing Company voted that it is expedient to bring the calico-printing business to a close as soon as practicable, and the directors were authorized to sell the water privilege, buildings, machinery, and land of the printing company.

In 1834, Charles Richmond retired from the Taunton Manufacturing Company, taking as his share the Brick Mill property, machine-shops, dwellings, land, and appurtenances. In 1835, James K. Mills & Co., who had been associated in the company about ten years, retired, purchasing the entire Whittenton Mills estate as their share.

Meanwhile, a new company had been organized in 1833, under the name of the " Bristol Print Works," comprising Samuel Crocker, Harrison Gray Otis, Charles Richmond, Edmund Dwight, James K. Mills, Gorham Brooks, Samuel Eliot, Horatio Leonard, William A. Crocker, George A. Crocker, and Benjamin W. Chace as stockholders, which purchased the entire print works property of the Taunton Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manufacturing delaines and calicoes. Samuel Crocker was elected president ; H. B. Dearth, clerk ; and subsequently Gilbert Walker was clerk. Charles Porter was clerk and treasurer several years. The superintendents were John H. Grimshaw, Caleb Duxbury, James and Matthew Monarch. The business did not prove prosperous under the competition of the low tarifl' with foreign manufacturers, and the business was brought to a close in 1845.

The panic and financial crash of 1837, which prevailed in nearly all the manufacturing communities, brought disaster to the manufacturers of Taunton, and a large portion suspended, which was followed by a suspension for a while of the banks.

In 1840 the entire property of the Taunton Manufacturing Company had been reduced, by exchanges and sales, to the franchise of the Houewell Mills and appurtenances, and were owned by Harrison Gray Otis and others, of Boston, and were run a year or two in their interest. They disposed of the property to W. A. F. Sproat, wlio was elected clerk and treasurer, and assumed the duties of agent and control of the mills for about a year, but under the pressure cf the prevailing panic and protracted disaster, he was compelled to surrender the property. In 1844. Cyrus Lothrop held a claim upon the mills and property, and at a meeting in the office of Samuel Breck, Amyntas Shaw and Parmenio C. Shaw, of Raynham, having become chief stockholders, the former was elected president and director, and the latter a director, and Samuel Breck clerk, when this last remiuint of the " Taunton Manufacturing Company was legally transferred to Cyrus Lothrop, of Easton."

Mason Machine Works. - In the year 1845, William Mason, whose biography is published in this work, erected the first buildings upon the present site of these works. He had for ten years previously been engaged in building machinery in various localities in this town, - in the machine-shop on School Street, and the Brick Mill machine-shop. There were no shops to be had large enough tb supply the demand for his machinery ; he had acquired a reputation, and obtained valuable patents upon his self-acting cotton mule, which he thought would bring him a large busi- ' ness ; therefore he determined to prepare for it. He enlisted capital from friends who were engaged in manufivcturing cotton goods, planned and built what was then the largest works for the manufacture of machinery exclusively in this country, and was soon doing a large and profitable business, under the firmname of William Mason &^Co.

This original plant was a most complete establishment for those times, and of such great size as to excite both wonder and doubt. It did not seem probable to many men that there would be sufficient demand for machinery to insure success in so great an enterprise. The buildings consisted of a foundry one hundred feet long, fifty feet wide, a smithy one hundred feet long, thirty feet wide, and a machine-shop three hundred and fifteen feet long, forty-five feet wide, three stories high. These buildings were all of brick.

with slate roofs, substantial and liandsome. They were equipped with the best tools, many of whicli were built from Mr. Mason's own designs in his shops.

From 1845 there was not much change in the establishment, except an additional machine-shop, one hundred feet long and fifty-si.x feet wide, until 1852, when preparations were made for building locomotives in addition to cotton machinery. Then the foundry and smithy were enlarged to about double their original size, and extensive new buildings were erected, consisting of boiler-shop, machine-shops, locomotive-erecting shop, patfern-house, etc., all of brick, with a new stationary engine to furnish the power built on the premises.

The iirst locomotive was turned out in 1853, of entirely novel design, attracting much notice, and marking an era in the history of the American locomotive. For some years Mr. Mason's new ideas and improvements were looked for with great interest and adopted by many builders. The result was that these works acquired as high a reputation for the excellence of their locomotives as they already had for their cotton machinery.

All went well until the financial crisis of 1857, when, through the failure of the Boston partners, Mr. Mason was so much involved and embarrassed as to be compelled to suspend business for a few months and see his large fortune taken from liim. In the early part of 1858 a settlement was made by which Mr. Mason was released and enabled to start the business again in his own name.

In 1861, after the breaking out of the war, it was thought that all regular business would be dull ; therefore, to keep the works running, Mr. Mason accepted a contract to furnish one hundred thousand Springfield rifled muskets for the United States Government. This was an enormous undertaking, involving great labor and large outlays of money for tools and machines especially adapted to the work. The larger portion of these were designed and built by Mr. Mason, some of which were great improvements upon the machines in use at the United States armories, notably his rifling machines, of entirely new design.

After making these costly preparations, a change in the head of the War Department brought about a new order of things. Government contracts were canceled or cut down indiscriminately all over the country, and, among others, Mr. Mason's was reduced irom one hundred thousand to thirty thousand guns. This action was unjust and disastrous. No redress or relief could be obtained from the government. But the preparations to fufiU the original contract had gone so far and the outlays of money were so great that there was no alternative but to submit to the reduction and make the thirty thousand muskets. This was done amid much perplexity, with great wear and tear of mind and body, and involving large pecuniary losses.

After the gun contract was disposed of the works were restored to their legitimate business of building cotton machinery and locomotives, for which a great demand had sprung up. During the years succeeding the war the facilities of these shops and tools were tested to their utmost capacity, and found unequal to the demand. Consequently a radical change and great improvement was undertaken, the first step of which was the erection of a larger foundry. To do this, more land was purchased, one street closed up and a new one cut through, giving a lot of about ten and a half acres of land, standing by itself.

The new foundry was begun early in 1873; probably it would not have been attempted at that time could the approaching panic liave been foreseen. The changes inaugurated then were too costly to be carried out during the years of depression which followed the crisis of 1873, and there did not seem to be any prospect of business enough to require them. But with the revival of 1879 and 1880 they were resumed, and are now nearly completed.

In 1873 the business was incorporated under the name of Mason Machine Works. The first officers were William Mason, president; William H. Bent, treasurer; and Frederick Mason, agent, all of whom have continued in ofiice until the present time.

lu 1879 a new branch of manufacture was added, viz., that of the Campbell printing-press. These presses had been built by the owners of the patents at their works in Brooklyn, N. Y., and had acquired a good name by their novel devices and superior qualities. But the facilities and reputation which the Mason Machine Works had for building machinery offered such advantages that the owners of that press were induced to al)andon the manulacturingof their presses themselves and to contract with the Mason Machine Works for the manufacture of them here. The business has increased rapidly, until now it is about double what it was at the time the contract was made. Over one thousand of these presses have been sent out from the works to all quarters of the world.

Mason Machine Works has grown so gradually that there ai'e but few persons not connected with it who are aware of its size. Their plant consists of ten and a half acres of land and a great number of buildings, comprising nine acres of floors. They can employ over a thousand hands; at present they have nearly nine hundred. Cotton-machinery is their largest business. They can turn out three hundred looms per month, with carding and spinning machinery to supply them. With their increased facilities they can build about one hundred locomotives per year. In printing presses they are at present building thirty-two per month, and expect to increase to thirty-six per month before another year.

There is probably no other establishment in the country engaged in such a variety of machine manufacturing on so large a scale. Yet every department

From its gates pour forth from day to day and year a procession of those mighty elements of civilization, - the locomotive, the loom, and the printing-press, the products of active brains and brawny arms, the persistent pioneers of civil and social improvement, carrying wealth, comfort, and knowledge to the millions of our great people.

The Britannia Manufactory of Eldridge & Co. was established in 1848 by Eli Eldridge, who commenced business in a small building on Britannia Street. An increase of his business soon after caused an addition to his building to be erected.

A few years later his son, Eli H. Eldridge, having bought out the coffiu-trimming business of Strange & Francis, moved the same into his father's building.

They continued until the death of Eli Eldridge, in September, 1875, when John H. Eldridge, son of E. H. Eldridge, became a member of the firm, continuing the business in the same building until June, 1882, when they removed to a new and spacious building which they had built on Eldridge Street.

The Williams Manufacturing Company is one of the more recent enterprises which has a promising future. H. A. Williams commenced business here in 1877, with a limited capital of a few thousand dollars, but with a fertile invention and a persevering energy. He manufactures a great variety of small steel tools, twist drills, etc., by a process of his own invention, and the business has proved successful. After a few changes of associate proprietors within a few years, a spacious building was erected in 1880, near the Weir junction, Old Colony Railroad; the machinery is moved by steam-power. In February last a new company was organized under the above title, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, to prosecute the increasing business. The officers are Edmund Grinnell, president; Samuel Ivers, clerk and treasurer; Leander Plummer, Charles W. Clifford, and Jireh Swift, of New Bedford, and H. A. Williams, of Taunton, directors. Mr. Williams is the managing agent. The company are enlarging their manufactory to three hundred and fifty feet in length to facilitate their increasing business.

Oakland Mills. - Capt. Silas Shepard purchased a privilege in 1827 on Rumford River, about three miles from the Centre, built a dam, and erected a stone factory one hundred and sixteen feet in length, completing it in 1828, and for several years made cotton yarn. In 1831 he put in about sixty looms for making cloth. He pursued the business several years, and finall}' changed his style of manufacture to cotton or canton flannels, which was the first mill that made this kind of goods in this vicinity. He associated his son-in-law, Lewis R. Chesbrough, with him, and they enlarged the mill under their management. Capt. Shepard died in December, 1S64, and the mill was continued a few years by Mr. Chesbrough. In 1869, Amos F. Howard & Son purchased the Oakland Mills of Mr. Chesbrough and heirs of Capt. Shepard, and afterwards made extensive improvements, adding new machinery and a new water-wheel, and in 1880 erected a new building one hundred and thirty-eight feet by sixty-eight feet, and another, forty-six feet by thirty-five feet, with new engine and machinery, doubling the capacity for manufacturing fabrics. Mr. Chesbrough died in April, 1878, in New Jersey.. Mr. Howard died May 7, 1881, and his son and copartner, Bion B. Howard, who resided in Millbury, died in December of the same year. The Oakland Mills have since been conducted by Joseph S. Tidd,' son-in-law of the former (who is a large owner), in the interest of the heirs of Mr. Howard. The mill contains one hundred and twenty-four looms, and manufactures denims and tickings, about two million five hundred thousand yards a year. Oakland is a neat village. The company owns a dozen or more of the dwelling-houses for residences of their workmen.

Taunton Ancient Iron-Works. - The first ironworks established in the old colony was commenced in Taunton in 1656. A bloomery was established in Lynn in 1644, it is said, and another in Braintree in 1648, but iron ore being found deficient in both places to meet with the demand for consumption of the ironworks, the enterprises in each place were relinquished after a large expenditure. At each of these places James and Henry Leonard, who were skilled and experienced iron workers from Pontypool, Wales, had been employed to inaugurate the business. Large quantities of ore having been discovered in numerous places in Taunton, and hearing favorably of those iron men, the citizens assembled in town-meeting Oct. 21, 1652 (according to " Baylies' Old Colony History"), and -

" It was agreed and granted that James Leonard, Henry Leonard, and Ralph Russell, have full consent to come here from Braintree and put up a bloomery on Two Mile River." They accordingly accepted the invitation, and a company was organized, and a forge or bloomery was built on Two-Mile River, now Raynham. It required a long time to prepare for the manufacture of iron. We have a confirmatory record in an old ledger kept by Capt. Thomas Leonard, son of James', who was clerk and manager in 1683 of the same works. The following is in his own hand :

"An accompt of who hath been elarke of Taunton Iron-Works ever since George Hall was first elarke, with some others joyned with him for a time, which began Anno 1656 : Also, what produce the works hath made from year to year."

The old iron-works were not commenced until 1656. George Hall was clerk and financial manager, with a year's exception (1663, James Walker), until the time of his death in October, 1669, and his eldest son, "John Hall, y° end of y* year;" the record adds, "John Turner, working y" forge," or foreman. The stockholders included the early settlers of Taunton, many wealthy men in Boston and other places, as follows: Deacon Richard Williams, John Deane, Henry Andrews, James Walker, Deacon Waiter Dean, Thomas Burt, William Pole, Elizabeth Pole, Shadrach Wilbore, Nicholas White, Richard Stephens, John Pole, Joseph Tisdale, John Turner, Hezekiah Hoar, Bartholomew Tipping, James Phillips,- Joseph Staples, Town of Taunton, Deacon Henry Hodges, John Hall, Samuel Blake, Peter Walker, and others, a share each or more, among whom will be recognized the ancestors of many descendants in Taunton ; also Richard Thayer, of Boston, four shares; Richard Church, of Hingham, Gen. Leverett, of Boston, two shares; Peter Noyes, of Sudbury, Nathaniel Paine, and John Saffin, of Bristol, afterwards judges of probate, Stephen Paine and John Gary, of Bristol, registers of probate; John Baker, merchant of Dorchester, Samuel Topliff, the Dorchester Church, Benedict Arnold, merchant of Newport, son of the Governor of Rhode Island, and many others were shareholders.

Numerous pages of an ancient ledger, two hundred years old, show the transactions of bar-iron barter of those interested in the iron-works, and orders " for iron as money" were attached as vouchers to the accounts. Ministers' salaries, town, school, highway, and other rates were discounted by orders on the iron-works, as all these pages show. Capt. Leonard was a methodical man in his transactions, hence the careful preservation of the orders. The following are a few of the orders, the first from Deacon Richard Williams, a fewyears previous to his death, with his own autograph :

"Capt. Thomas Leonard: Sir: these lines may inform yon that the Selectmen of Dorchester would desire you to deliver all that iron to Philip \Vithington, which is due from the iron works to the ministry of Dorchester.

" 1 would pray you to pay to Elizabeth Gilbert (my late servant inayd) thirty shillings in iron at 18 shillings pr C, to her or her order and place it to my account.

Nathaniel Smith bought an ox of Thomas Williams, son of Richard, so he draws an order on Smith to pay his mother, widow of Richard, a portion of the amount, thus :

" Nathaniel Smith this is to desire you to pay my Mother Williams 300 hundred of iron ; which is part of y« price of ye ox you bought of me.

Another order from Rev. Samuel Danforth, "to credit William Briggs the sum of 2 shillings and -id. in iron, for his rate to the Weir bridge."

We might fill a page, did space permit, with these unique orders drawn about two hundred years ago, in which bar-iron was the chief fiictor in the transaction of business in Taunton. Nicholas White was delegated year after year, from 1683 to 1693, to carry the iron due from the works to the Dorchester Society, to Madame Leverett, Madame Tyng, of Boston, and others, over thirty miles, then through the wilderness.

The record says "in 1675 the (Indian) war began; many coals destroyed in the woods." " 1676, the works garrisoned, great rates." The Indians, however, did not molest the forge. The clerks who succeeded John Hall were Henry Andrews and Israel Dean. In 1683, Thomas Leonard became manager, continuing until his death, in 1713. He was suc- I ceeded by Deacon Samuel Leonard, who managed the works until he died in 1745. In his will he gave Hasadiah Wales, his daughter, and wife of the first minister of Raynham, Rev. John Wales, £100 of bar- iron and twenty acres of land, and his three other daugliters similar amounts. Before his death he added a codicil, stating that they should " have £100 in money, old tenor, as good as merchantable bariron at £3 per C, or beef at 8'/. per lb., or Indian corn at 9.s. per bushel." He was the father of Deacon Elijah Leonard,' who built tlie house next east of the forge (purchased by Mr. Spinney a few years ago), where the old ledgers were found, which was destroyed by fire in 188L It was for more than half a century the residence of Capt. Edward Leonard, of Raynham. The iron-works were conducted by the son of Deacon Samuel Leonard for many years.

In 1771 the iron-works came into the possession of Hon. Josiah Dean, who converted them into a rolling and nail works, where copper bolts for ship-building were rolled and made. Mr. Dean died in 1818, when his son, Eliab B. Dean, succeeded to the business. In 1825 Mr. Dean changed the works into an anchor forge, which were continued in that line of business by him and his successor and son, Theodore Dean, about forty years, when the works were abandoned. The privilege, which is a valuable one, alone remains of the ancient iron-works of Taunton of two hundred years ago, the oldest successful bar-iron manufactory in the country.

In addition to the manufacturing establishments of Taunton and its industries, which have been noticed at length, should be named the Taunton Stone Lining Company, corner of Somerset Avenue and Highland Street, in charge of the Messrs. Parker; the Taunton Crucible Company, Capt. Wm. H. Phillips its president; the Taunton Iron-Works Company, with John R. Williams, Wm. H. Phillips, John H. Eddy, J. F. Montgomery, Lewis Williams, directors ; Taunton Tack Company, treasurer and agent, Thomas J. Lothrop ; Sparta Tack Company, rear of the Brick Mill, Washington Street, L. A. Rounds, proprietor; the new stove-works at the Weir, run by Charles F. Baker, George E. Wilbur, William E. Walker, and Albert H. Hathaway, who have just erected a large foundry two hundred feet long, and employ .sixty hands; the Williams Brick Company, on Williams Court, off Somerset Avenue, in charge of Alexander H. and George F. Williams ; the Taunton Brick Company, on Winter Street, with a capital of $75,000 and Judge Bennett its president; other brick manufacturers are Abiel B. Staples, who employs a capital of S5000 and fifteen hands ; John W. Hart & Co., capital S8000, employs fifteen hands; Isaac H. Howland, has a capital of $1500, employs twelve hands; Horatio Godfrey, capital $1200, employs twelve hands. While there are manifold new business enterprises in the hands of new and enterprising young men, some large and flourishing branches of business still exist which had their beginning many years ago, as

1 His SOD, Rev. Elijah, was the minister of Mavshfield about thirty years, and his son, Rev. George, was successor of his father thirty years, and died in 1882.

has been noticed by Rev. Mr. Emery in his " Historical Sketches of the City," published a few years since, as Edgar H. Reed, in 183-i, in crockery, to which have been added carpets ; S. 0. Dunbar, about the same time, in drugs and medicines, ink and fluid magnesia; Salmon Washburn, in furniture and hardware; Chas. F. Davenport and Nathaniel S. Mason, in the express business, to the former of whom William R. Davenport succeeded, followed by J. S. Bassett and William L. Walker ; William Hutchinson, in the stove and tin business; H. AV. and Le Baron B. Church, in wholesale flour and grain trade. All these have been in business more than forty years, and the following not far from thirty years: A. Briggs & Co., Paul & Co., in flour and grain ; Staples & Phillips, in coal, iron, andageneral shipping business ; N. H. Skinner & Co., the successors of Jabez Rounds, in dry goods, carpets, etc; Foster & Barnard, in the business of tailors; Colby & Co., successors of Samuel Colby, in ready-made clothing; E. D. Tisdale & Son, in watches and jewelry ; H. C. Perry & Son, in hats, caps, and shoes ; N. S. Hoard & Co., ill furniture and crockery; Philander Williams, in groceries; A. J. Barker, in drugs, medicines, books, etc. ; I. B. Briggs, in stoves and tinware ; White Brothers, in meats, vegetables, etc. ; William and John D. Reed, in groceries; B. R. Holt & Son, in ready-made clothing; W. H. Gilmore, in curtains, pictures, etc. ; J. T. French, in paints and paperhangings. Robert Dean, John W. Seabury, Charles Godfrey, James W. Grossman, Charles R. Atwood, Calvin Woodward, Abiathar Williams, Allen Presbrey, F. S. Monroe, Lovett Morse, and John, William, and Hodges Reed were well-known business men in the earlier half of the present century.

The Phoenix Manufacturing Company commenced business on School Street over forty years ago. The proprietors of what was then called the Crucible Company were Charles R. Vickery, Charles R. Atwood, and Joseph Dixon. To enlarge their business they removed to Weir village, and in 1851 were incorporated under the above name. Capital, $30,000. Charles R. Vickery was president, Charles R. Atwood agent and treasurer, and were annually chosen, though many changes were made in the directors. In 1877, Henry D. Atwood was chosen agent, and after the death of his father, C. R. Atwood, in December, 1877, he was elected clerk and treasurer, which oflices he holds at the present time. Mr. Vickery died Jan. 16, 1883. The directors are Arthur Pickering, Le Baron B. Church, H. D. Atwood, F. B. Dean.

The Cohannet Mills are situated on the bank of Mill River, above the Brick Mills; were incorporated in 1847; capital, $100,000. A mill for spinning cotton yarn was erected the following season, three hundred and thirty-three long by fifty, two stories. The officers were John E. Sanford, president; E. B. Maltby, clerk ; C. L. Lovering, treasurer, who re- signed in 1878, when E. B. Maltby was elected. In 1881 the capital was increased to i!200,000, and a new mill (No. 2) was erected parallel with No. 1, three hundred and sixty-five feet long by seventy-two in width, three stories, also for spinning cotton yarn. The present directors are John E. Sanford, Saul Eddy, C. L. Lovering, E. B. Maltby, George M. Woodward. These mills do the largest business in that line in the county.

Sproat's Mill, Weir Village. - The shingle and grist-mill of James Sproat was built in 18.37. A boxboard machine was added, and soon afterwards a machine for making nail-keg staves. The grist-mill was superseded by machinery for box-making and cutting nail-keg heads. James H. Sproat succeeded his father at the time of his death in September, 1857, and has conducted a large business in this line. There are in his employ several men whose positions are worthy of mention, viz. : Calvin C. Presbrey, forty-six years ; Frederick Hathaway, forty-four years ; P. B. Campbell and Levi P. Talbot, thirtyseven years ; Abraham Simmons, George Taber, and John McEnroe, thirty-six years, and several others about thirty years. Mr. Sproat continues the same busine.ss he has followed forty-six consecutive years, employing about thirty hands.

Old Colony Iron Company. - In 1813, Stephen King obtained a grant to build a dam across Taunton Eiver, on his farm, a short distance above the present Old Colony Iron-Works, and laid the foundation. Horatio Leonard & Co. (Crocker & Kichraond) purchased Mr. King's right and removed the dam to its present location, and built a forge for making charcoal iron (in 182-) of scraps and pig-iron. Finally, coal being too expensive, a few years later (1827) they obtained the services of experienced workmen. James Mitchell and his brother. Englishmen, commenced making iron with bituminous coal. Increase and Charles Robinson, having some experience, came from Bridgewater in 1828 and engaged in the iron business with the company. Their facilities for the manufacture of iron for nail-plates and shovels were enlarged. Enoch Robinson, who had also served at the various departments for producing iron, succeeded his brother Increase in 1829, who returned to Bridgewater and became superintendent of the iron-works. Samuel Caswell had charge of the machinery. The reverses of 1837-42 caused a suspension of the works for over a year.

A new company was organized under the name of the Old Colony Iron Company in 1844, with a capital of two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Samuel L. Crocker, president, Charles Robinson, treasurer, and they remained in office until the death of each, - the latter Feb. 8, 1882, the former Feb. 10, 1883. The works cover several acres for the manufacture of shovels and nails and nail-plates, making their own iron. The officers are Charles T. Robinson, clerk ; Oliver A. Washburn, agent and treasurer ; Enoch

The Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing- Company, located near the central depot of the Old Colony Railroad, commenced business in 1846, and was incorporated in 1847 by Wm. A. Crocker, Willard W. Fairbanks, Wm. Raymond Lee, and their associates, for manufactui-ing steam-engines, railroad cars, and machinery ; capital, fifty thousand dollars.

Wm. A. Crocker was chosen president; W. W. Fairbanks, agent and treasurer ; Charles R. Olney, clerk. In 1847, Harrison Tweed succeeded Mr. Olney as clerk. In 1854, W. W. Fairbanks succeeded Mr. Crocker as president. Robert S. Dean succeeded Mr. Fairbanks as treasurer in August, 1858, and resigned ' in December. Harrison Tweed was his successor as treasurer on Sept. 25, 1861, and became agent in place of Mr. Fairbanks, resigned, who also resigned as president Aug. 28, 1862, and Samuel L. Crocker was elected, serving tw'enty-one years, until his death, Feb. 10, 1883.

The capital had been increased from time to time until 1864, when it was established at two hundred and eighteen thousand five hundred dollars.

P. I. Perrin, who had been superintendent and designer of the company ft-om its commencement, in 1846, to July, 1847, was elected agent and treasurer to succeed Mr. Tweed, and now fills the position, and E. D. Godfrey was elected clerk of the corporation.

At the annua! meeting May 23, 1883, Nahum Stetson was elected president in place of Mr. Crocker deceased ; Everett D. Godfrey, clerk ; directors, Enoch Robinson, Harrison Tweed, P. I. Perrin, Nahum Stetson ; also Robert I. Gamewell, of Providence, in place of Mr. Crocker.

This was among the first companies established specially for manufacturing locomotives in the United States, and the first one was built in May, 1847. The company soon attained a high reputation for their locomotives, and the first one that found its way upon the great thoroughfares of the West was sent from this establishment in May, 1852; shipped from Boston for New Orleans, thence to St. Louis in charge of Edward Peirs, engineer, who is still in the employ of the company. Their locomotives are now a propelling power from Maine to California, in Canada, South America, and ^Mexico.

The Taunton Tack Company was organized in 1850 by a few practical tack-makers, and others that joined them, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars; shares at five hundred dollars. They located their works on Union Street, purchasing the buildings from Stephen Rhodes & Sons. They chose directors : Daniel Reed, Jr., Joseph Dunbar, Robert Grossman (2d), Gideon Perkins, Jr.; and Charles Foster was chosen president, Robert Grossman (2d) secretary, and Gideon Perkins, Jr., agent and treasurer. In 1855 the company became incorporated.

and Gideon Perkins, Daniel Keed, Philander W. Dean, James C. Brown, and Albert Hunter were directors; Robert Crossuian, clerk; Daniel Reed, Jr., treasurer; and James Brown, president. From that time there was a change in the officers nearly every year, except agent and treasurer, which L. F. Dudley held several years, and George W. White, superintendent, wlio remained some ten years. The company were doing a fair business, and paid a dividend until 1857 of four and a half per cent.

In 1866, Lorenzo Lincoln was elected president, and has held the office seventeen years. Thomas J. Lothrop was elected director in 1867 and agent and treasurer in 1868, and still remains treasurer and manager. In 1869 the company voted to erect a new manufactory on the land purchased of A. E. Swasey.

In 1870 the company increased their capital to sixty thousand dollars, removed to their new manufactory on Weir Street, and authorized the sale of their property on Union Street. The company then began to add to its machinery not only tack-nail machines but for the manufacture of rivets and bolts. In 1873 the cajiital stock w-as increased to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. In 1874, George W. White resigned as superintendent. In July, 1878, the fire destroyed a large portion of the factory, including the machinery for stove-bolts, and that business was not resumed. The factory was soon rebuilt and new machines added, and now includes one hundred and seven tack- and shoe-nail machines and various other valuable machines required in the establishment ; also wire-drawing apparatus and machinery for the rivet department. The establishment consumes about seven and a half tons of iron per day, and furnishes employment to one hundred and ten hands in the various departments. The company manufactures its own machines, and is adding wire nails to its specialties in business. It has a branch store in Chicago for Western trade.

The officers are Lorenzo Lincoln, president ; Thomas J. Lothrop, treasurer and agent; Joseph Philbrick, clerk; H. B. Wheelwright, Thomas J. Lothrop, Lorenzo Lincoln, Joseph Philbrick, Francis H. Wilbur, directors.

Anthony & Cushman, manufacturers of all kinds of tacks, brads, and shoe-nails, commenced business, in 1864, in their works below Weir village with twentysix machines. Their business increased largely, and in 1882 removed into their spacious manufactory. Court Street, formerly Bay State Screw Works, where they have nearly ninety machines running, employing about one hundred hands, cutting four tons of metal per day of various kinds. Capital, sixty thousand dollars.

H. L. Cushman & Co. commenced the manufacture of tufting and shoe buttons in April, 1882. Capital, twenty-five thousand dollars. They employ twentyfive hands, and make nearly a million of buttons per

Strange's Cylinder Saw and Machine Company, on Tremont Street. The senior partner, Elias Strange, is the oldest mechanic in this vicinity, having been at the business about sixty years as foreman and manager in several establishments. Several years since he directed his attention to the manul'acture of machines for making staves, boxes, barrels, amateur steam-engines, etc., of which company Elias Strange is president, Emerson C. is secretary, and Elias W. Strange is treasurer. They employ about twenty hands.

Taunton Copper Manufacturings Company. - In 1826, William A., Samuel L., and George A. Crocker associated together as Crocker Brothers, and commenced the manufacture of copper upon the Wading River, in Norton, a privilege which their father, William Allen Crocker, formerly owned, a small establishment previously occupied by Crocker & Richmond a few years for the same purpose. In 1831 the above-named William A., Samuel L., and George A. Crocker, with Daniel Brewer, Nathaniel Crandell, and such others as they may associate with them, were incorporated as the Taunton Copper Manufacturing Company, under the firm-name of Crocker Brothers & Co., with a capital of $200,000. The works were enlarged double their former size in Norton, and practical skilled workmen were obtained from England to produce the less costly article called yellow metal, and by chemical arrangements in the manufacture of copper and yellow metal they utilized the oxide of zinc for various mechanical purposes ; they also contracted for the manufacture of planchets for copper cents, which machines were worked by William Allen West many years, furnishing the LTnited States government with fifty tliousand dollars annually. In 1849 the company erected a large establishment at Weir village for the manufacture and rolling of copper, yellow metal, and zinc, removing a portion of the machinery from Norton. The company conducted a large and profitable business for many years, increasing their capital to $600,000, and again to $900,000, and paying large dividends. William A. Crocker retired from the firm in 1854, and George A. Crocker died in February, 1864. Few other changes have taken place by deaths and resignations. A few years since, in consequence of business reverses and losses on stock, and the inability to pay dividends, the capital was decreased to 8450,000. During, however, all the panics and reverses of 1837, 1857, and 1873, the company continued its large and costly business operations, regularly paying, without intermission, their employes, many of whom have been upon the rolls in their service thirty, forty, and fifty years. Within the past year (1882) Charles Robinson and Ward M. Parker, two of the oldest directors, died ; in January last Charles R. Vickery, another of the board, and president of company many years, and in February last, Samuel L. Crocker, the last surviving brother, director, treasurer, and manager of the company from its organization, over half a century, died. Now a reorganization is taking place in this old-established and wealthy corporation. E. H. Bennett, who was elected president to succeed Mr. Vickery, has resigned, and some new officers will be elected to fill the places of the former board. Timothy Gordon has been connected with the copper works over forty-five years as book-keeper, clerk, agent, and treasurer; also K. Henry Hall over thirty years, as superintendent and agent, which offices they now fill as members of the company.

Leonard Co-operative Foundry. - In 184.5, Deacon Lemuel Leonard built a small foundry a short distance below Whittenton Mills for casting stoves and small ware. A few years later his son, Lemuel M. Leonard, was associated with him, and enlarged the furnace, continuing several years. The former died in 1868. The latter, to extend his business, built a large foundry on Wales Street and removed from Whittenton in 1865, and continued a large business until his death, in 1876. This was the origin of the Leonard Co-operative Foundry Company, organized in 1877 ; capital, twenty-five thousand dollars. The company has two foundries and a number of buildings, covering an area of two acres, and do a large business. The officers are L. B. West, president; W. H. Lindsey, treasurer; A. J. Holt, traveling agent; directors, Wm. N. Parker, Charles R. Mason, L. B. West, Wm. H. Lindsey, J. M. Pratt, A. W. Hewitt, Jr., 'J. B. Grigor, T. N. Goft; C. H. Briggs.

The Eagle Cotton-Mill Company was incorporated in I860; capital, sixty thousand dollars; President, Theodore Dean ; F. B. Dean, clerk, treasurer, and agent; Directors, Joseph Dean, A. K. Williams, George B. Williams, F. B. Dean, Theodore Dean. Wanton Bouse, one of the directors and superintendents, died recently.

The Taunton Oil-Cloth Company was incorporated in 1850, with a capital of $25,000 ; now has a capital of $55,000. The board of directors are John E. Sanford, Enoch Robinson, Thompson Newbury, Charles T. Robinson, J. J. Whitmarsh.

The presidents have been Charles Robinson, Baylies Sanford, William R. Davenport, John E. Sanford ; Clerks, B. Sanford, John E. Sanford, J. J. Whitmarsh. James W. Crossman was agent many years. The present officers are : President, John E. Sanford ; Clerk, J. J. Whitmarsh ; Treasurer, Thompson Newbury, who has been treasurer from the organization of the company. They manufacture enameled and pebbled oil cloths.

Presbrey Stove-Lining Company, established in 1826; incorporated in 1806, witli a capital of 828,000; manufacture fire-brick and stove-linings. The board of directors are Henry T. Root, B. C. Pierce, J. T.' Maher, William A. Miller, D. A. Trefethen. Henry T. Root, president ; B. C. Pierce, treasurer and agent.

Westville. - This pleasant village in the westerly section of Taunton was named for one of its enterprising manufacturers, John West, over seventy years ago. Its location on Three-Mile River, prominently identified with the Baylies Iron Works a hundred and forty years ago, was, half a century previously, the site of the "Andrews' grist-mill" and Lincoln's sawmill, the former owned by Capt. John Andrews, the latter by Rufus and Ichabod Lincoln; in later years by Joseph Andrews, son of the above, and Isaac Lincoln, grandfather of Deacon Lorenzo Lincoln, the respected veteran paper manufacturer, whose ancestors resided near there.

About 17.S8-39, Thomas Baylies, Jr., had a forge and iron-works on the south side of Three-Mile River, for making charcoal-iron from ore mined in the vicinity and from New Jersey. He died in July, 1756, at forty-one years of age, a few months after the death of his father.

An interesting history is connected with tlie owners of the Baylies Iron Works. Thomas and Esther Sargeant Baylies,' ancestors of all of that name in this vicinity, - Nicholas, Hodijah, Dr. William, Hon. Francis and William, Thomas Sargeant, Dr. Alfred. Baylies, and others (of whom Mr. Shove, in his " Dighton History," gives special account), - came from Colebrook Dale, Shropshire, England, in 1737, with his sons, Thomas and Nicholas, all " iron masters." ^ On their arrival in Boston, Thomas, Sr., proceeded to West Attleborough "Gore" (now Cumberland, R. I.), to superintend an iron-works for a firm of Boston merchants. He resided in that town some fifteen years, and was probably associated with Capt. Thomas Leonard, of Raynham, in the same business the last portion of the time.

Thomas, Jr., came to Taunton and NichoLas went to Uxbridge, both to superintend iron-works. Thomas, Sr., subsequently removed from Attleborough to Taunton, probably to assist his son at Baylies Iron- Works, where soon after, his wife Esther died. May 7, 1754, in her sixtv-fifth year, and he died March 5, 1756, nearly two years later, in his sixty-ninth year. They were buried, with sons, Thomas, Nicholas, and grandson, Thomas Sargeant, and others, in the " Baylies Cemetery," in Taunton, below Weir village.

After the death of Thomas Baylies, Jr., above mentioned, his brother Nicholas came from Uxbridge to administer upon the estate of Thomas, who was

1 They were Quakers, and on the day of their marriage, ia Warwicli- Bhire, England, 6th uiontli 5th, 170G, which was a silent ceremony, a locli of hair was clipped from the liead of the hride, Esther Sargeant, wliich has descended through lineal generations one hundred aud seventy-six years, to a namesake, daughter of the late Dr. Alfred Baylies, of this city. It was in the possession of the late William Baylies some twenty years ago, and left hy him with his former student, Ellis Ames, to be given as an heirloom to the namesake of Esther Sargeant, the maiden name of their ancestress.

single. He relinquished his business at Uxbridge, after residing tliere some twenty years, and removed here. He resided in Taunton near Dighton line, and conducted the forge and anchor isusiness extensively, making anchors and other heavy implements for vessels and farmers' use. He purchased the grist-mill of Capt. Joseph Andrews and the Lincoln saw-mill, and was for a while associated with Capt. Sylvester Richmond, of Dighton, for several years high sheriff. Nicholas Baylies was a prominent man. At the close of the last century he represented the town in the Legislature four years (1781-82, 1786-87), and, though by birth an Englishman, he was an able supporter of the American cause in the Revolution. He was the father of Dr. William, Thomas Sargeant, Maj. Hodijah Baylies, and other children, eight in all. He died July 6, 1807, in his eighty-ninth year.

His youngest -son, Hodijah, succeeded him in the iron-works, after closing an honorable career in the Revolution, having served as aid to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln (whose daughter he married), and for some time upon the staff of Washington. He enlarged the iron-works, and conducted a large business many years. During this time, among other large contracts, he made the anchor for the frigate "Constitution," which was considered a great event in manufacturing iron at the time. It required (as stated by his son, late Edmund Baylies) ten yoke of oxen to transport the anchor to tide-water, Dighton, thence to be taken on board "Old Ironsides," which became a terror to the English navy. During his connection with the iron-w'orks he was appointed collector of the port of Dighton, the first under the Constitution. He continued in the iron business until 1810, when he received the appointment of judge of probate, which office he held twenty-four years. He disposed of the privilege and old mills to John West in 1809, who built the paper-mill on the opposite side of the river. Mr. West, who had been a merchant in Boston, was the first paper manufacturer in the Old Colony.

In 1823-24, Mr. West, associated with Crocker & Richmond, built a cotton-mill on the site of the old iron-works, and the business was continued by Mr. West as agent of the cotton- and paper-mill until the time of his death, in December, 1827.

The cotton-mill was then managed by Crocker & Richmond until the time of their suspension in 1837. The paper-mill was conducted by Richard Park, by Park, Lincoln & Park (Caleb M. Lincoln and Edwin Park, associates), until the death of Richard Park, senior member, in 1833. Etheridge Clarke had an interest in the property for several years then called the Westville Manufacturing Company. George and Jonathan Bliss purchased the property soon after the failure of Crocker & Richmond, continuing the manufacture of cotton cloth for several years, and the paper-mill was conducted by Jonathan Bliss, Jr., & Co. They were succeeded by Alexander Hodges, who purchased the cotton- and paper-mill, when the latter was discontinued for lack of sufficient waterpower. The machinery was sold to C. M. and L. Lincoln for their paper-mill at North Dighton. The whole property passed into the possession of Lovering Brothers, who converted the mill into a spinningmill to supply the yarn for consumption at their Whittenton mills.

The Most Ancient Mills in Taunton were Deacon Robert Grossman's grist-mill, below the dam at the Cohannet Street crossing, and stood in the bend of the street for a century or more. It was built soon after the settlement of Taunton in 1638-39. In 1659, " Henry Andrews and John Macomber were permitted to erect a saw-mill," just above, on the opposite side of the street, " if it was not hurtful to the grist-mill." These humble mills have gone into history by Mr. Baylies' researches. A hundred years later, or more, a fulling-mill stood near the site of the saw-mill, which John Sturtevant occupied in 1812, and in which Deacon Roswell Ballard commenced the business before he converted Sproat's snuff-mill into a fulling-mill, near Street's bridge.

Elizabeth Pool Mills, situate on the bank of Mill River, below Hopewell Mills, organized in .lune, 1877, capital $75,000. The main mill is two hundred and eighteen by seventy feet, another one hundred by forty, each two stories. Two additional since built, one, one hundred and nineteen by seventy, another one hundred and fifty-five by forty-eight, one story each ; manufacture cotton flannels of fine quality as a specialty. The officers are Ira F. Lawry, president; Albert E. Swasey, treasurer ; Charles A. Lawry, clerk; Directors, William C. Lovering, I. F. Lawry, A. E. Swasey, H. M. Lovering, C. A. Lawry.

Another Ancient Iron-Works stood nearly two hundred years ago near the site of the Dighton Furnace Company upon Three-Mile River, which divided the towns of Dighton and Taunton, two miles below Westville. Richard Stephens, one of the early settlers of Taunton, with his son and others, in 1702, had a forge for making iron and a grist-mill there. His sons, Nicholas and Josiah Stephens, and Nicholas, Jr., afterwards owned the forge and iron-works. In 1739, Bollan and Laughton, Boston merchants, having purchased a portion of the privilege, they " leased the falls, dam, land," etc., of said Stephens in 17-10 to erect an iron-works and refinery thereon, Stephens reserving the right to run the grist-mill. In 1748, Bollan and Laughton conveyed the privilege and ironworks to Henry Laughton, Jr., nephew of the former, and the business was continued many years. Bollan and Laughton were wealthy merchants (Englishmen), and had purchased large tracts of land and farms in this vicinity. In 1776 they proved to be "loyalists," or Tories. The property they had not conveyed away was confiscated and sold by the State commissioners, Capt. Israel Washburn, of Raynham, Judge Tobey, of Berkley, and Capt. Henry Hodges, of Taunton, including several farms and the large tracts

This location, the last employed for manufacturing purposes on Three-Mile River, was owned by the sons and descendants of Richard Stephens, - the last one, Elijah H. Stephens (great-grandson of Richard), who formerly owned a portion of the forge, mills, and other adjacent property, but, as tradition says, was defrauded out of a large portion of it by Boston parties.

The Dighton Cotton Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1S06, and built a cotton-mill, and afterwards went into the foundry and cotton-machine business. The machine-shop was afterwards leased to T. S. Dunlap in 1843, who converted it into a woolen-mill, occupying it a few years. He then removed to a new mill, a short distance below, built by the Dighton Manufacturing Company for them as a woolen-mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1848. After Mr. Dunlap's removal from the old machineshop C. M. and L. Lincoln leased it for a paper-mill, -which they fitted for the purpose. After the death of the senior partner, Caleb M. Lincoln, in 1836, the firm was changed to L, Lincoln & Co., and has remained so for twenty-seven years. Their mills were destroyed by fire in 1881. They soon rebuilt a fine brick establishment, much enlarged, and with improved machinery, for the manufacture of various kinds of paper, and are doing a prosperous business.

William L. Hathaway, and others of the Dighton Furnace Company, who occupied the old furnace buildings in 1858, removed to the Taunton side of the river, built a large foundry and shop for the manufacture of iron tubing, called the Dighton Tube- Works, which were discontinued several years since. After the death of Mr. Hathaway, June 15, 1870, he was succeeded by George F. Gavitt as manager and treasurer many years. For the last twelve years James H. Codding, who succeeded Mr. Gavitt in the Dighton Furnace Company, has done a large business in the range and stove line of manufacture, the largest in the city, has extended the works, covering an area of about three acres, has a capital of $75,000, and employs over a hundred hands.

Commerce of Taunton. - The commercial interests of Taunton were comparatively small two hundred years ago, yet the coasting trade was inaugurated soon after the settlement of the enterprising pioneers, and their small shallops and sloops of ten to twenty tons were ])lying with cargoes of iron, brick, and other articles to and from Providence, New York, and Newport, where a large trade was established. Sloops were built on the banks of Taunton River as far up as Titticut by the Pratts and Holmeses, and at Richard Williams' landing by Capt. Joseph Hall and others. At the commencement of the present century there was a small fleet engaged in the articles of commerce of Taunton. Iron, hollow-ware, and brick were then the chief articles of export. Capt. Job Smith, a large dealer in West India and dry goods, had a large store at Neck of Land, where Capt. Job Godfrey and others landed their cargoes ; the wharf may now be seen. Schooner " Raynham," built at the Dean Street landing, by Capt. Joseph Hall, for Hon. Josiah Dean, who then conducted the iron-works ; the sloop " Industry," owned by Capt. Perez Hall and his father; sloop " Sally," Capt. Benjamin Cooper, Josiah Dean, and Col. George Williams owners; sloop "Ranger," Capt. William Presbrey, owned by Capt.Seth Presbrey, Samuel Leonard, and John Presbrey ; sloop " Peace and Plenty," Capt. Seth Presbrey ; sloop " Union," Capt. Sylvester Jones ; sloop " Sally," Capt. Jacob

Phillips; sloop "Hannah," Capt. David Vickery ; the owners of these were Sanuiel Leonard, Jonathan Ingell, James Hart, Capt. David Padelford, Col. Noah Hall, Capt. Abiathar Williams, Capt. Jonathan Ligell, and others, were employed in the coasting trade nearly a century ago. Sloop "Dove," owned by Eliphalet Williams, John West and others, for freighting grain from New York for their distillery at Weir village, was captured during the embargo of the war of 1812-14. A British seventy-four was lying off the Sound, under Commodore Harvey, to seize the Taunton sloops as they plied their trade, and the " Dove" with six or eight hundred bushels of corn attempted to run the gauntlet up the Sound, but was seized about ofl' New London, and the owners were required to pay a heavy ransom in specie to recover her. Many of the shallops were so small that they could slip into the inlets with twenty tons, and make their way by night unmolested.

chiefly by Taunton parties in several joint companies, of which Capt. Jacob B. Phillips represents one, Capt. Samuel Walker another, William B. Church another. The barges and steamers are mostly owned by Staples and Phillips, who also own largely in schooners. The investment in the above fleet is about one million dollars; the aggregate tonnage, thirtyfive thousand tons, showing a great contrast with the tonnage and investment of a century ago. Within ten years there have been added to the Taunton fleet over twenty vessels averaging one thousand tons capacity. Of these, three schooners, " Hattie S. Williams," " Eliot B. Church," and " William S. White," are four-masters ; the latter, a splendid craft, was run down and sunk some months ago, and the matter is in litigation. In addition, two more schooners of one thousand tons are now on the stocks. The larger schooners cannot be navigated up Taunton River, owing to the rocks and bars, and on their arrival at Somerset or Dighton their cargoes ace relieved by cars or lighters. The owners are anticipating further appropriations from Congress for improving the channel to admit of a portion of the Taunton fleet.

The large freighting business carried on by the above Taunton fleet, besides cargoes to and from all the large cities in New England and New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, may be stated by hundreds of thousands of tons. Some 000,000 bushels of grain, 40,000 barrels of flour, 200,000 tons of coal, 100,000 tons of iron and other metals, 20,000 'tons of sand, 10,000 tons of other merchandise, thousands of bales of cotton and feet of lumber besides are freighted here, while hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of manufactured copper, iron, ranges, stoves, and linings, nails, tacks, cotton fabrics, brick, locomotives, machinery, and other articles produced by Taunton industrial enterprises are conveyed away annually to the large markets.

Chapter Lxviii

Taunton Street Railway Company was organized in 1871 ; capital, $40,000. The company has over four miles of track ; points of travel, Whittenton to Weir village; employs 15 men; has 13 cars and 45 horses ; runs, averaging 85,-500 miles, and carries 461,000 passengers a year; now pays a dividend of six per cent. It has proved a great accommodation for business men, for women, and for hundreds of persons employed in industrial pursuits. The officers are William C. Lovering, president ; H. M, Lovering, treasurer; Orville A. Barker, clerk; and George C. Morse, superintendent. Board of Directors, 1883 : Henry G. Reed, A. J. Barker, William C. Lovering, William H. Phillips, Henry M. Lovering, P.I.

Taunton Gas-Light Company. - Organized March 1, 1853. Capital, §45,000. Directors, Gardner Warren, Samuel L. Crocker, W. W. Fairbanks, Albert Field, H. B. Witherell, William Mason, Lovett Morse; Philip E. Hill, clerk. Dec. 1, 1853, capital increased to $60,000, and in 1872 to $80,000. Directors, 1855, Willard Lovering, Lovett Morse, William Mason, H. B. Witherell, W. W. Fairbanks, William Meade, Jr., Albert Field; Edwin Keith, clerk and treasurer. 1856, James H. Anthony, elected in place of Lovett Morse ; 1857, F. S. Monroe, in place of H. B. Witherell ; 1858, W. B. Crandell, in place of Willard Lovering; 1860, John E. Sanford, in place of William B. Crandell; 1862, Salmon Washburn, in place of W. W. Fairbanks ; 1869, George A. Field, in place of Albert Field; 1879, William E. Fuller, in place of F. S. Monroe ; 1882, Z. Sherman and Edward Mott. in place of William E. Fuller and George A. Field. '

W. W. Fairbanks, president from 1853 to 1855; Albert Field, from 1855 to 1869; John E. Sanford, from 1869 to the present time. William Meade, clerk from 1856 to 1869 ; Edwin Keith, from 1869 till death, 1882. Edwin Keith, agent and treasurer from 1855 till death, 1882; Henry B. Leach, agent, treasurer, and clerk, 1882. at present time.

The Taunton National Bank. - The Taunton Bank was incorporated June 23, 1812, with a capital of $100,000. There was a provision in the charter that " one-tenth part of the whole funds of said bank shall always be appropriated to loans to be made to citizens of this commonwealth, and wherein the directors shall wholly or exclusively regard the agricultural and manufacturing interest; which loans shall be made in sums not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and upon the personal bond of the borrower with collateral security by mortgage of real estate to the satisfaction of the directors, for a term not less than one year, and on condition of paying the interest annually on such loan, subject to such forfeitures and rights of redemption as by law provided in other cases."

The first board of directors and corporators were as follows : Simeon Tisdale, Samuel Fales, Joseph : Tisdale, Samuel Crocker, Eliphalet Williams, Job Godfrey, Jr., Marcus Morton, .John West,' James L. Hodges, Nicholas Tillinghast, John Presbrey, Jonathan Ingell. Samuel Fales was elected president, James L. Hodges, cashier.

The next board of directors we can trace was elected in October, 1820, viz.. Jonathan Ingell, Thomas Sargeant Baylies, Samuel Crocker, John West, Job Godfrey, Marcus Morton, Francis Baylies, Robert Dean, Silas Shepard, Galen Hicks. Jouathan Ingell, president, and James L. Hodges, cashier.

The same board of directors were elected in 1821. Silas Shepard declined. In 1822 the ioard was reelected except Robert Dean, who died May previous, and Laban Wheaton, of Norton, was elected to the vacancy. The records from 1822 to 1827 are missing. The banking capital has been increased several times from $100,000 to its present capital, §600,000. In 1865 the bank was reorganized as the Taunton National bank.

until present time; Harrison Tweed,' January, 1866, until jjresent time ; Calvin Kingman,' January, 1866, died 1867; John E. San ford,' January, 1866, until present time; Thompson Newbury,' January, 1866, until present time; George A. Field,' January, 1868, until 1879; C. J. H. Bassett,' January, 1869, until present time; Charles F.Johnson,' February, 1869, until present time; Frederic L. Ames' (of North Easton), January, 1875, until present time; Nathan H. Skinner,' January, 1882, until present time ; Marcus M. Rhodes,' January, 1882, until present time. All of Taunton except towns indicated.

The Machinists' Bank of Taunton was organized in 1847 with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars; increased iu 1863 to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and in 1854 to two hundred thousand dollars. On the 4th of March, 1865, it was organized as The Machinist' National Bank of Taunton. The officers have been as follow.s :

2 Indicates surviving officers, the senior, H. W. Church, having served tliirty-four years; Theodore Dean, thirty-two years, and thirty as president; James H. Autliony and S. N. Staples, eighteen years each; Charles Foster, sixteen years; others from nine years to one year.

The Cohannet Bank was incori)orated in 1829, and went into operation in May, 1831, with the following directors: John Mason Williams, Daniel Wilmarth, Jr., William Reed, Henry Washburn, William A. F. Sproat, William Hodges, James W. Crossman, Benjamin Ingell, iFrederick Crafts. John M. Williams was president, and Hiram M. Barney cashier. The bank continued in operation until after the failures of 1837 -42, and was compelled to close business. James W. Crossman and William A. F. Sproat were afterwards presidents, and the latter was cashier after Mr. Barney resigned.

Bristol County Savings-Bank was organized by an act of incorporation March 2, 1846. Presidents, Silas Shepard, Jlay 9, 1846, to January, 1865; Joseph Wilbar, Jan. 2, 1865, to January, 1882; Joseph E. Wilbar, January, 1882, to present time. Vice-Presidents, Charles R. Viekery, Jan. 1, 1877, to January, 1883; William H. Fox, March 26, 1883, to present time. Treasurers, George B. Atwood, May 16, 1846, to January, 1872; Charles H. Atwood, Jan. 1, 1872, to January, 1881 ; Alfred C. Place, Jan. 24, 1881, to present time. Trustees, first board and incorporators, Joseph Wilbar, Stephen Rhodes, Jr., Horatio Gilbert, Hezekiah W. Church,' Horatio Pratt, Lovett Morse, Sydney Williams, Allen Presbrey, Charles R. Viekery, Charles F. Davenport, Samuel L. Crocker, George A. Crocker, William A. Crocker, Nathaniel Morton. Present board (1883), James H. Anthony, Timothy Gordon, Charles Foster, Anson J. Barker, Joseph E. Wilbar, E. Maltby Reed, R. Henry Hall, Zaccheus Sherman, Hezekiah W. Church, William H. Fox, Philander Williams, Thomas J. Lothrop, Silas D. Presbrey, Ezra Davol.

Taunton Savings-Bank was organized in 1869, with the following members: Willard Lovering, Lovett Morse, Henry G. Reed, C. J. H. Bassett, A. K. Williams, Ezra Davol, R. S. Dean, F. B. Dean, H. C. Perry, N. S. Hoard, Edward Mott, Saul W. Eddy, P. I. Perrin.

Presidents, Willard Lovering, from 1869 until his death (1875) ; John E. Sanford, his successor and still president; Vice-President, Charles L. Lovering; Treasurer, Henry R. Wood, from its organization to present time; Trustees (1883), George W. Andros, William H. Bent, L. B. Church, William E. Fuller,

William H. Bartlett Post 3, G. A. R. - Post 3 was organized Jan. 2, 1867, with the following charter members: Robert Crossman (2d), Orville A. Barker, B. F. Cunningham, Lowell Maxim, L. O. Barnard,' Alfred B. Hodges, Henry D. White, Alfred ,^1. Williams, E. W. Crossman,' Z. Sherman.