The Newtown bee., 1898-07-22

TO it's removal, used as place of wor-
ship by the Methodist society. Comb
making was, said Mr. Stevens. the only
business for which cash was paid to the
workmen for their labor, and for this
reason many preferred comb making to
that of hating. The portrait of Mr. Ste
vens given with this sketch is faithful
one, bat from it you would never guess
that at the age Of 81 he is as merry as q
boy of Is. In reference to the state
ment that comb making was the cash
money business. Uncle John Mcdowell
informs us that the hattera sold their
goods on credit, while the comb makers
sold for cash.
In 1887 comb making went to the wall.
and Mr. Stevens says that Charles and
Horace Couch we're the last to give up
the business, and weca then located on
the schOolhouse grounds, near Henry B.
Hodges mill in Plumtrees.
About 25 years ago George A. Shep,
ard and the late james D. Baldwin com,
menced the making of combs in the old
| IlA4A ALI 4 4AGnbICCGS JUL tAiS UuEIDCES Whb
discontinued after years trial.
Mr. Stevens several years later went to
Danbury and learned the hat making
trade, and worked at 1t until his health
and age pecessitaled his retirement.
In 1880 Giles NJ. Hoyt and his brother,
Starr HoYt, had factory In Grassy Plain
and continued business until 1874, when
he removed to Danbury. Soon after
this John M. Signor purchased the shop
and manufactured hats until the main
building was destroyed by fire; then in
a short time the remaining buildings
were set oa fire and completely destroy
ed.
The introduction Of silk hat making
between the years of 1910 and 1880 gave
3 new impetus to business. Among
those engaged Ia silly hat making were
George A. HickGk al d Andrew G. BIC
kok, under the firm name of A. G. &
G. A. Hickok; after the retirement OF
Andrew c. Hickok, William C. HickCA
became a partner With his uncle, George
A. Clark B. and Sherman Ferry Oc
up4Cd AAS 4d(HCAf "uGIS WIG - uQA q
Dunning Hat Company are located
Horace E. Hickok and Matthew W. STAR
were associated together under the firm
name OF Hickok & Starr. All of these
firms did a successful business until the
panic Of 1857, when there were many
failures. The Improvement in business
had hardly commenced when the Wal
of the Rebellion opened, bringing dis
aster and ruin to the matters of Bethel
to whom Southern dealers were irdebt
ed.
Some of the older hat makers recall
very wildly the years from 1857 to th(
time Of their enlieting to hunt the John
MES down South. The long-eetaolshec
custom II paying for labor in"Rad Dog
was better than nothing. The Journey
men could work and earn good wages
but snch a thing as a weekly or semi
: weekly p&y day was out Of the question
, and the payment OF money ditectIy Il
] the Coilcrs was rare event. The work
. men when they wanted anything, eecur
! ed from their employers an order o.
t some individual Or firm selling genera
t merchandise. These orders were calle
4 ''Red Dog" When the panic of 185
t came not even RED Dog" could be ha
: very often, and many .expedlents had t
= be adopted by these who had families t
e support in order to obtain food. Tn
4 pay was generally in meat (pork) or pc
I potatoes. Fresh meat, while not yer
expensive, few could afford. 1t is inter
( esripg to hear these old timers tell OF tn
= setting of traps in the woods for rabbits
= and what jay it gave them to find nice
3 plump rabbit caught in their traps, TO
r it meant a feast for the family. The wa
1 gave oppoI tunity for many to enlist sn
t at the conclusion OF hGsCilities many II
t turned with honorable wounds and goo
records,