1. Pratt was sued in
1866 when it was claimed that a faulty repair to a dam on one of his investment
properties was the cause of a road washout. Pratt was held not liable.
"Greenfield Items." Gazette and Courier.
Greenfield, Mass., Jan. 14, 1867.
His status as a lumber dealer: "Millers Falls is Name Famous in World
of Industry." Montague 200th Anniversary Edition
: Greenfield Recorder-Gazette. Greenfield, Mass., June 4, 1954.
p. D-13.
2. Although Gunn is sometimes considered to have been the first president, Pratt's position is listed in the notice of incorporation published in the Gazette and Courier.
3. "A Destructive Fire in Greenfield." Gazette and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., Jan. 4, 1869.
4. The brace Rose patented
in 1867 was awarded United States Letters Patent no. 63,944; the sweep
handle was issued no. 82,251.
The information on the Rose Bit Brace fire: "Sunderland." Gazette
and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., April 15, 1867.
5. The Dictionary
of American Tools suggests that Gunn and Amidon may have owned the
Bit Stock Company. I have been unable to verify the information. Dictionary
of American Tools. [S.l.]: Early American Industries Association,
1999. p. 89.
The lawsuit receives the brief mention in: "Greenfield items."
Gazette and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., April 26, 1869.
Lester's role in the patent transfers is mentioned in: "Greenfield
items." Gazette and Courier. Greenfield,
Mass., June 28, 1869, and in: "Greenfield items."
Gazette and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., August 16, 1869.
6. Information on the baby carriage factory and the lawsuit: Gazette and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., Nov. 27, 1871, and Dec. 4 1871. Transcribed by Barbara Stewart, it is available on the Web at the Franklin County Publication Archive Index.
For more on Amidon's Buffalo activities see: Kosmerl, Frank. "Buffalo bit brace makers." Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, v. 45 no. 4., p. 101.
7. Goodell's brace was awarded United States Letters Patent no. 79,825.
On the first Goodell factory: Biographical Review: Sketches of the Leading Citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1895. p. 325-326.
"Buckland - Manufacturing Interests." History of the Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia : L.H. Everts, Press of J.B. Lippincott & Company, 1879. vol. 2. Available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.holyokemass.com/genealogy/franklin/buckland/everts/04.html
8. On Sawyer's career: Biographical Review: Sketches of the Leading Citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1895. p. 86-87.
Sawyer's head attachment was awarded United States Letters Patent no. 118,058.
McCoy's sweep handle was awarded United States Letters Patent no. 118,039.
9. Dolan's ratchet was awarded United States Letters Patent no. 110,960. Most early Millers Falls ratchet braces are stamped on the shell with the date of Dolan's patent. His patent is also referenced in the 1878 company catalog.
Lynam's ratchet was awarded United States Letters Patent no. 113,680.
10. With regard to the canal: An 1871 map of Millers Falls shows that in addition to the baby carriage factory, two other businesses bearing the name 'Amidon' were located downstream from the Millers Falls factory on the mill canal. The firm of Amidon & Newton did at least some manufacturing but also contracted for carpentry and construction work. Solomon Amidon, one of the principals, was Charles Amidon's older brother. (Another brother, William also lived in the village at this time.) The third Amidon firm, Amidon & Cobb, made hand plane irons. The 'Amidon' involved with this firm has not been identified.
Beers, F.W. and Sanford, G.P. Atlas of Franklin Co., Massachusetts : from Actual Surveys. New York : F.W. Beers & Co., 1871.
The statistics and the new wing: Gazette and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., 1870-Sept. 1873. Transcribed by Barbara Stewart, it is available on the Web at the Franklin County Publication Archive Index. The information was taken from small snippets scattered throughout widely divergent issues.
11. Thanks to Kendall H. Bassett for providing information on the officers of the Backus Vise Company via the firm's letterhead. Letter, Fred C. Hubbard to Messrs. Norris H. Bragg & Sons, May 27, 1871.
Mr. Bassett also provided information on the acquisition of the Union Vise Company patents.
Other information about the Backus Vise Company, in its Millers Falls location, was located in the Gazette and Courier. Greenfield, Mass., 1870-Sept. 1873. Transcribed by Barbara Stewart, it is available on the Web at the Franklin County Publication Archive Index. The information was taken from small snippets scattered throughout widely divergent issues.