Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-01-04
Facts stranger than Fiction.


Facts Stranger than Fiction.
Rise Of an fnvalid bog from penu,y to Me
position Of proprietor of one Of the most
ertensire business Institutions Of tie na-
tion. Biographical sketeh from the life
Of a. j. Fuziam.
II was in the fall Of 1865 that was told by
my father (rasher stern specimen of the old
Puritan stock made somewhat eonceited, per-
haps flom 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 task to seek for
myself than | anticipated That he hoped
would now see how much harder it would be TO
support myself than ii had been under the guild
ance and protection of parental care.
Unable 10 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-
CT WIFI NY It'AGT varying Ihlb as 10 Tt6DbfldDG
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 | would sooner or later develop the prin-
cipe and make set of tools for the manufac-
ture Of my own work Accordingly 10 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
& 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-
facture, felt coniiden, new era in my life
was already commenced. After filling my pock-
cts handsomely with the proceeds of my tools
informed ay 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 10 the Springs and
finally induced me to return with her to SPRING
field, VT, the home Of my friends. ca my az
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
stencil tool manutaetory was founded, for could
not elbow my way through the streets. Actual
ly besieged and tormened without cessation on
all hands | finally opened my works and com
menced building machinery for the manufacture
Of stencil tools. But father was bound should
90 on trip South, and to crafty him | went.
We had not left our own New England borders
before tie yellow deposits in handsome amounts
Of increase, found its way day by day into the
safes of the different hotels from town to town
where we stepped.
| Our landlords took the fever; The walters got
hold of it, every railroad conductor knew it,
and the few sets Of tools took with me were
cathauled long before we reached New York.
where we deposited our funds, took quiet rooms
al good hotel, and if ever two mortals partiei-
/ pated IN any real Comfort we were those two
during the winter Of 56-57 that father and my
sell leisurely spent in New York The coming
foarth Of March and adjacent weeks found US
busy with our stencil tools at Washington Re-
ceiying exhorbtant inducements in The way Of
orders for tools, father returned to his farm and
myself TO the further development of stencil tool
machinery at my works at Springfield, VT.
furtherlng my inventions aud filing a 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 iiom time 10 time such practical hints
and instruction as enabled me TO enjoy a song a,
the piano when | wished for real diversion.
Dressing with care and attention, and as flat
ter myself, maintaining the demeanor of an in
dependent business traveller of unexceptionable
habits, readily commanded the kindest and
most W ileome fayors Of the best society in each
place eansassed.
How many! All! How many!i were Me
saeial blessings which fell to my loi during the
summer Of 1857.
returning to Springfield, Vt, in Oct, 81,
lound It entirely out Of the question longer ia
neglect the fe.doi invention before me and cnu.
sequenily fixed the resolution permanently tina,
though tie golden field spread mt so vast before
me in cutting steuch work was the most vel
certain 10 secure me al thar heart could wish
! confess | wanted to become a great mann
tietgrer prominent man, a leading iinancier
Where leognied my huadresls wanted 10 coun
thousands, and however ans may Judge me,
have never condemned myself for founding III,
institution Of which ! am proud to be the soil
and exclusive proprietor.
Il seems young fuliam has au.s,fip5ed every
: hing in tie way Of human perseverance. i,
the list place be seems 10 have gained hand
some competence hom the use Of a mere sci o
stencil toos such As he now furnishes for SO.
b secarins patents on his original methods a
i producing these ,oals he seems IL have iassallc
: inHseit Al the early aye OF 25, tie prince a
e Ainfrtcan nianasaeiarefs, noi uaiy owning ISL
r tsaslnstlag eae It de largest fsaast,afufir
eFaeesns q tiis eenBtrF Dat an.nalie s4staiufu
q nfeHss awn tapil fFst eaass oflises rafis.lI
IS g thaxsfy choifest lagsiieas III al our cre5
:. esiies iiese aas mol mere commission eantefa
I. sees fixsassz laa everything efss balm
e nz assS Wohfr'F q ~ Fal.am, thaza u