Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-12-28
Encts s,rn,,uer ,hnn Fiction.

Is.
Facts stranger than Fiction.
Rise ef an iaoelid bog trom penwy to me
position IF proprietor Of one 81 ne m"a
erieaStqe business institutions Of the ma I
ton. Biographical sketch from tie ne
Of A. j. FHltam
! Ii was in the fall Of 1855 that was told by
my father (ralher n stern specimen OF NE Old
Puritan stock made somewhat concerted, per-
haps from having held the exalted position Of
! Vermont magistrate in connection with the da-
tics of the plow,l that ! was welcome to the re-
manning year of my minority, aiding that
would soon find il more of a task 10 seek for
myself than | anticipated That he hoped
would now see how much harder II would be to
support myself than it had been under the gnid-
ance aud protection of parental care.
Unable 10 toll manuay or to endure longer
the duties of teacher, undertook the sale of
hooks. 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-
or with my never varying rule as to Respectable
boarding places and my restless experimenting
for the purpose of becoming the posscssor OF
tools for cutting my own plates. The man who
furnished my plates finally became suspicious
that would sooner or later develop the prln-
cinle and make a set of tools for the manufac-
ture of nv own work Accordingly TO thwart
n n me in my plans he notified me that he would no
/ longer furnish my work. was then far from
q home among strangers in the city OF Montreal
p Returning to Saratoga Springs in the summer
., of 1856 | entered the blacksmith shop of Briggs
. s. Iodgman and labored necessarily for six long
weeks at the end of which time found myself
st the producer of the first set OF stencil inals
a. ever saw. Having originated not only these
tools but also the entire process nf their manu-
facture, felt confident new era in my life
was already commenced. After filling my pock-
i cts handsomely with the proceeds of my tools
n informed my friends Of my whereabouts and that
y | wore GOOD cloth and would like 10 have mother
T, see how bic dash could cut without splitting
u She accepted my invitation to the Springs and
X finally induced me TO return with her 10 Spring
on field Vt, the home Of my friends. On my ar
Es rival home the news spread like wild fire that
%. had made frtune at cutting stencil plates,
s Father took the fever hard and at once pro-
Z posed trip with me South for the following
winter. But could not leave town until a
10 20 stencil tool mandatory founded, for could
be not elbow my way through the streets. Actual
" hesieoed and tormented without cessation on
en- all hands finally opened my works and CON-
nd menced building machinery for the manufacture
70 TO of stencil TOOLS But father was bound should
tut go on trip South, and 10 crafty him ! went
'h, We had not left our own New England borders
cry before the yellow deposits in handsome amounts
sx- of increase found its way day by day into The
ey, safes of the different hotels from town to towr
all where we stopped.
nb- Our landlords took the fever the walters go
ed, hold of it, every railroad conductor knew it
IN, and the few sets of tools ! took with me wer
NJ caihauled long before reached New York
10 where we deposited our funds, took quiet room
- at a good hotel, and if ever two mortals partcl
- pated in any real comfort we were those tw
during the winter of 56-57 that father and my
self leisurely spent in New York. The comm
fourth of March and adjacent weeks found u
busy with our stencil tools az Washington. Re
ceivinp exhOrbaant inducements in the way {
orders for tools, father returned to his farm an
myself TO the further development of stencil too
machinery at my works at Springfield, VT
Furtherng nv inventions and filling few
the most important demands for tools began
think more Of some true source of peasur
Being very fond Of musc | resolved to take
trip alone and as | met with competent teache
received from time to time such practical hin
and instruction as enadied me to enjoy song
the piano when ! wished for real diveTsio
Dressing with care aud attention, and, as fla
- tor myself maintaining the demeanor of an
Nepen0ent business lTdfttST vi uHShCGpAioildD
l' habits, readily commanded the kindest al
=, most welcome favors of the best society in eac
- place | canvassed.
iof How many! All How manyli were i
the sacal blessings which fell to my lot during t
summer of 1857.
Returning to Springfield, VT, in Oct, 5
SO found it entirely out Of the question longer
nd neglect The field of invention before me and co
sequently fixed the resolution permanently tn
4 IL l-I.
La me in cutting stencil work was the most
certain to secure me all that heart could wis
Il | confess wanted to become great MAT
It's iacturer prominent man, leading financ
ne Where counted my hundreds wanted to cot
you thousands, and however any may Judge me-
igle have never condemned myself for founding /
air institution of which | ana proud to be the s.
T.. and exclusive proprietor
" 1t seems young Fullam has oustrpped eyel
Cg thing in the way of human perseverance.
I'll the first place he seems 10 have gained haI
some competence from the use of mere set
!" stencil tools such as he now furnishes for $40.
Y. Securing patents on his original methods
but producing these tools he seems to have install
=" himself at the early age of 25, the prince
1. American manufacturers, not only owning a
y conducting one Of the largest manufacture
!. concerns in the country but actually sustain
ney upon his own capital first class offices invarial
cities These are not mere commission concer
s the stock, fixtures and everything else bel
r the exclusive properly of Mr.. Fullam, those W
our conduct the business in each Office receiving
! ye n stipulated salary from Mr.. Fuam.
to 1t may be remarked here that during his ca
,,G Or struggles previous TO having completed that
ri Of tools that the bitter of his freI
drove him from their reproach and fired
IL with the energy which SO long ago paid off
;ncrp,,r,rnos he ola poroptol homo and
iI Tn built and renovated the place rendering
bad abundant, peaceful ond plenteous home for tn
inal who once told him they were ashamed to h;
I've inquiries made after him.
, Young men, these seme stencil tools VIII
. raisoI y,ou"s T..Iia.n Of tho 6rot of
age within your reach. His circular "
samples, prices, &C., will be sent you from
offices, the princ al office being 2i2 Broadw
/, NJ Y. Eastern office, 10 Merchants Exchan
Boston, Also at St, Louis, and Springfield,