Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-11-30
Facts stranger than Fiction.

Rise Of an invalid boy from pen,uy to tie
position Of proprietor of one Of the most
ertensire business institutions Of the nd-
ton. Biographical sketch from he Gte
Of 4. j. FaLidm.
1t was in the fall Of 1855 that was told by
my father (raiher a stern specimen of the old
Puritan stock made somewhat conceited, per-
haps from having held the exalted position of
Vermont magistrate in connection with the du-
ties of the plow) that I was welcome to the re-
naming year OF my minority, adding that |
would soon find it more of task to seek for
myself than anticipated. That he hoped
would now see how much harder it would be to
support myself than it had been under the guild
ance and protection of parental care.
Unable to toll manually or TO endure longer
the duties Of teacher, undertook the sale Of
books This failed. Next | sold medicines
and Yankee notions. This also failed Then
sold stencil plates sending to market to have
them cut. Sales were ready and the business
suited me, but had to pay enormously for
plates, travel the country twice over, pay heavy
express bills, lose some plates from delay and
others by mistake. All these difficulties togeth-
4 ct with my never varying rule as to respectable
boarding places and my restless experimenting
for the purpose OF becoming the possessor of
q
furnished my plates finally became suspicious
that would sooner or later develop the prin-
ciple and make set Of tools for the manufac-
ture Of my own work Accordingly to thwart
me in my plans he notified me that he would no
! longer furnish my work / was then far from
| home among strangers in the city of Montreal
| Returning TO Saratoga Springs in the summer
of 1856 entered the blacksmith shop of Briggs
| g. Hodgman and labored necessarily for six long
weeks, at the end of which time found myself
the producer of the first set Of stencil tools
ever saw. Having originated not only these
tools but also the entire process of their manu-
/ facure, felt confident new era in my life
was already commenced. After filling my peck
cts handsomely with the proceeds of my tools
informed my friends OF my whereabouts and that
| wore good cloth and would like to have mother
see how big dash could cut without splitting
She accepted my invitation to the Springs and
J finally induced me TO return with her TO Spring
field, VT, the home Of my friends. On my ar
rival home the news spread like wild fire that
| had made fortune at cutting stencil plates.
! Father took the fever hard and at once pro-
posed trip with me South for the following
winter But could not leave town until a
stencil tool manufactory was founded, for could
not elbow my way through the streets. Actual
| ly besieged and tormened without cessation on
all hands ] finally opened nv works and COM
menced building machinery for the manufacture
Of stencil tools. Blu, father was bound should
go on a trip South, and to crafty him went
We had not left our own New England borders
before the yellow deposits in handsome amounts
of increase, found It's way day by day into the
safes of the different hotels from town to town
where we stopped.
Our Landlords took the fever; the walters pot
hold of ii; every railroad conductor knew it,
and the few sets of tools took with me were
caihauled long before we reached New York
where we deposited our funds took quiet rooms
at good hotel, and il ever two mortals partici-
pated in any real comfort we were those two
during the winter of 56-57 that father and N.Y.
self leisurely spent in New York The coming
fourth of March and adjacent weeks found US
busy with our stencil tools at Washington. Re
ceiving exhorbi,ant inducements in the way o.
orders for tools, father returned to his farm and
myself to the further development of stencil tool
) machinery at nv works at Springfield, VT
Furthering my inventions and filing few Of
the most important demands for tools began to
think more of some true source of pleasure
Being very fond Of music | resolved to take a
trip alone and as met with competent teachers
received from time to time such practical hint:
and instruction as enabled me to enjoy scng a
the piano when | wished for real diversion
Dressing with care and attention, and, as fat.
ter myself, maintaining the demeanor of an in
; dependent business traveller Of unexcep,ionabl,
habits, readily commanded the kindest anC
most welcome favors of the best society in each
place | canvassed.
How many All! How manyl! were tn,
sacial blessings which fell to my lot during tn,
summer of 1857
Returning TO Springfield, Vt, in Oct, 81
found it entirely out of the question longer Il
neglect The ieldof invention before me and con
sequeniiy fixed the resolution permanently tina
though the golden field spread out so vast befor,
me in cutting stencil work was the most We
y certain to secure me all that heart could wish
| confess | wanted to become great manu-
facturer, prominent man, leading fnancier
Where lcounied my hundreds wanted to coun
thousands, and however any may Judge me,
have never condemned myself for founding IN,
institution Of which | am proud to be the sol
and exclusive proprietor.
Il seems young Fullam has outstripped every
thing in the way of human perseverance, II
the first place he seems 10 have gained hand
some competence from the use of mere set o
stencil tools such as he now furnishes for $40
Securing patents on his original methods o
producing these tools he seems to have instale,
himself at the early age of 25, the prince 0
American manufacturers, not only owning an,
conducting one of the largest manufacturing
concerns in the country but actually sustainin,
upon his own capital first class offices invariab
in the very choicest locations in all our grea
cities. These are not mere commission concern.
L the stock, fixtures and everything else benJ
n the exclusive property of Mr.. Fullam, those VIII
conduct the business in each Office receiving
r. stipulated salary from MIR. Fullam.
u may be remarked here that during his earl
J.; struggles previous TO paving competed mrs
set OF tools, that the bitter censure of his friend
o drove him from their reproach and fred hrr
with the energy which so long ago paid off tn
It membranes on the old parental home, and re
built and renovated the place rendering al
6 abundant, peaceful ond pleneous home for thos
. who once told him they were ashamed to hav
;, inquiries made after him.
Young men, these seme stencil tools which
= raised young Fullam 10 one of the first of hi
3 age are within your reach His circular witt
samples, prices, &C., will be sent you from hi
c offices, the principal office being gle Broadway
N. Y Eastern office, Is Merchants Exchange
: Boston, Also at ST, Louis, and Springfield, VI
: 1t will well repay any young man to visit Nj
Stencil too. works at Springfield, VT. Eve
were it for no other purpose than TO learn les
son of perseverance as you seat yourself in Ut
doubtedly the most inviting place of business II
the Union, neatly and richly furnished good ]
brary piles of newspapers from every State II
, the Union, the sweet tones of the piano, and tn
kindest and most courteous of attention. 0S