Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-12-21
Facts Stranger linn Fiction.

Facts Stranger than Fiction.
Rise Of an iapolid boy from peauy to tie
position Of proprietor Of one Of the most
ertensive business Institutions Of the ma
ton. Biographical sketch from tie life
Of 4. j. Iuiiom.
], was in the fall of 1856 that was told by
my father (rather 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 was welcome to the re-
naming year Of my minority, adding that
would soon find it more of a task to seek for
myself than anticipated That he hoped
would now see how much harder il would be to
support myself than il had been under the guild
ancc and protection Of parental care 81
Unable to toll manually or 10 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 70 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-
er with my never varying rule as to respectable
boarding places and my restless experimenting
for the purpose of becoming the possessor of
tools for cutting my own plates. The man who
furnished my plates finally became suspicious
that l 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 be would no
longer furnish my work. i 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
& Hodgman and lsbored 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-
facture, felt confident new era in my life
was already commenced. After filling my pock-
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
, finally induced me TO return with her 10 Spring
= Held, VT, the home Of my friends On my ar
q rival home the news spread like wild FIRE that
}, had made Fortune a. cutting stencil plates.
= Father took the fevet hard and at once pro
Is posed tip with me South fot the followin,
winter. But could not leave town until
a stencil tool mandatory was founded, fot cotl
,e not elbow my way through the streets. Actua
: IN beseged and tormented~ without cessation o
N all hands finally opened my works and con
ID menced building machinery for the lnanufac,ur
" of stencil tools. But father was bound Shout
at 90 on a trip South, and TO CRAFTY him / wen
3, We had not left our own New England borde
~ before the yellow deposits in handsome amour
Z of increase, found its way day by day into Il
y, safes of the different hotels from town to tow
II where we stopped.
B. Our landlords took the fever; the walters g
d, hold of it; every railroad conductor knew
" and the few sets of tools took with me wei
= cathauled long before we reached New Yor
10 where we deposited our funds took quiet room
- at good hotel, and if ever two mortals partc
pated in any real comfort we were those tw
during the winter Of 56-57 that father and m,
self leisurely spent in New York. The comm
fourth of March and adjacent weeks found u
busy with our stencil tools at Washington. RI
eeivihg exhorbitant inducements In the way
orders fot tools, father Returned to his farm an
myself 10 the further development of stencil tot
machinery at my works at Springfield, Vt.
Futthefing my inventions and filling few q
the mos, important demands for tools began Il
think more Of some true source of pleasure
Being very fond of music l resolved to take
trip alone and as | met with competent teacher
| received from time to time such practical hint
ard instruction as enabled me to enjoy a song a
the piano when i wished for real diversion
Dressing with care and attention. and, as fiat
tor myself maintaining the demeanor nj an ~
dependent business traveller of unexceptionabls
habits, / readily commanded the kindest AMI
most welcome favurs Of the best society in each
place canvassed.
How many! All! How many! were III,
sacial blessings which fell to my lot during tn
summer Of 1857.
Returning to Springfield, vt, in Oct, '57
found it entirely out of the question longer t
neglect the field Of invention before me and con
sequenty fixed the resolution permanently tina
! A. 81. 6ald hafc
me in cutting stencil work was the most ye
certain to secure me all that heart could wish
, | confess | wanted to become a great manu-
$ tacturer, prominent man, leading fiuanciel
Where counted my hundreds wanted to cour
, thousands, and however any may judge me,
9 have never condemned myself for founding III
r institution of which / am proud to be the sol
and exclusive proprietor.
1t seems young Fullam has outstripped every
I thing in the way of human perseverance. l
: the first place be seems to have gained hant
some competence from the use of mere set {
" stencil tools such as he now furnishes for $40.
Securing patents on his original methods @
producing these tools he seems to have installe
himself at the early age Of 25, the prince {
American manufacturers, not only owning an
conducting one of the largest manufaciurin
concerns in the country but actually sustalnln
upon his own capital first class offices nvarabl
= in the very choicest locations in all our grea
cities These are not mere commission concern
the stock, fixtures and everything else bein
the exclusive property of Mr.. Fullam, those VIII
II conduct the business in each Office receiving
q stipulated salary from Mr.. Fulam.
% 1t may be remarked here that during his earl
y struggles previous TO having completed that fir
/. set of tools that the bitter Of his frenc
drove him from their reproach and fired hi
with the energy which so long ago paid off Il
!. membranes on the old parental home and r
d built and renovated the place rendering q
ID abundant peaceful ond pleneous home for tho
a who once told him they were ashamed to ha
~ inquiries made after him,
Young men, these SEINE stencil tools whit
raised young Follam of the fret of .
age are within your reach. His circular wi
samples, prices, &C., will be sent you from b
offices, the princios Office being pig Broadwa
/, ~. Y. Eastern office, Is Merchants Exchang
Boston. Also at St, Louis, and Springfield, '
L. ,,.olt f,x ytSstA