Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-04-26
AN HONORABLE CAREER.
c. W. OsgOOd in BuSineSS-Some
"reminiscences of LOcallIntereSt.

"reminiscences of Local Interest.
As stated in curl Saturdays issue, the
firm oil O,good &iBarker ceased to exist
at 6 o'clock Saturday evening. The sur
viving member OF the old frw, G. w. Os-
good, retires from sctive business life with
an enviable record and the esteem and
good wishes of the entire community.
Mr.. Osgood's career is in some respects
both interesting and unique. He says that
he never asked for work in his life, and
that since IA years of sge be has not
known day when he did not have plenty
to do. During his 28 years OF business
life in Bellows Falls he has suffered three
disastrous fires and yet has overcome
every obstacle and retires with compe-
tency. During these busy years he has
proved himself more than a successful bus
mess man, and has devoted much time and
effort to church and Sunday school work
and the lecture platform.
Mr.. Osgood was born in North Andover,
Mass, and when IA years of age left
school and entered the machine shop Of
Davis & Furber in bis native place, re-
naming there four and one-half years
learning his life work. After leaving North
Andover he went to Lawrence, Mass,
where he had charge OF machine shop
until he came to Bellows Falls March 10,
1871. He was accompanied by w. G..
Barker, young man from Exeter, N. H.,
who had worked under him IN Lawrence.
The two bought out Clark & Chapman,
who owned shop where the mill Of John
7. Moore & Son now stand, and the firm
of Osgood & Barker was organized. Later
the firm occupied shop built by the Fall
Mountain Paper Co. and now used for a
pulp mill and still later the lower story Of
what was known as the canal company's
building, the four upper stories being oc-
cupied by the Vermont Farm Machine
company. In 1885 this entire building wai
destroyed by fire. Mr.. Barker died in
1881 and Mr.. Osgood bought the entire
business. In April, 1891, he purchased the
Island House property and built the pres
ent large and commodious shop. 1t wa.
in 1887 that Mr.. Osgood's residence
burned and IN November, 1881, that the
foundry was burned.
The relations between employer and EN-
ploye in the Osgood & Barker shop have
always been OF the most pleasant nature
and two of the present employees have beer
with Mr.. Osgood practically ever since hi
began business in Bellows Falls. 1t wa
on the day Mr.. Osgood came to town
March 10, 1871, that he hired E P Kid
der, and G. L. Wheeler began working
for the firm during the following June. J
B. Cram has worked for the firm 10 years
Patrick Kane about 10 years, Wallace
White IS years and L. H. Stearns 1.
years. F. E. Paul, E. z. Gould and S. j
Coolidge learned their trade with the firm
for which they have worked ever sine
their apprenticeship was completed.
4 Col. E. G. Osgood has been associates
with bis father in the business since 1886
A question the people of Bellows Fall
are asking is, What will the Osgoods d
now? So far as learned neither Mr.. o.
good nor Col. Osgood has any new bus1
ness venture in immediate prospect an
both families will continue citizens o
Rockingham for the present. Mr.. Osgoo'
has been offered the presidency of larg
firm in Boston which has branch store il
New York, but says he has no idea that b
shall accept the position.