The Press., 1906-01-17

ers have nothing but the best of good
feeling for those engaged in the same
line of effort. He assured the new
men that the local manufacturers
we're glad to welcome them to the
town. Senator Charles L. Dean of
Maiden, the next speaker, talked
earnestly of the pleasure it was for
him to be present, and of the early
friendships he had formed in this vi
cinity, which he was satisfied would
last until the end. He referred to
conversation which he had had with
Mr.. Shaw of the Worcester and Hart
ford electric railroad, and was told to
state that the road would surely
come. Mr.. Dean had prepared some
statistics showing the activity of
former manufacturers in legislative
work in this state, showing the cali
Der of the men engaged in this line
of effort. These notes proved very
interesting. David Gordon of Haz-
ardville. the next man introduced,
spoke of the memories of earlier man
ufacturing conditions. He said that
the point that had impressed him
while sitting at the table was the
comparative youth of those present.
Years ago the manufacturers had
seemed like older men. He believed
that his point of view had changed.
Mr.. Gordon is shrewd, keen observ-
er, and the remarks from his point of
view proved enjoyable. At this point
the toastmaster announced that there
was an opportunity for the guests of
the evening to say word if they SO
desired. Mr.. Patten said that he had
been in more or less of a quandry as
to who to call on first, but had settled
it to his own satisfaction by deciding
to call on the one who bought out
first He then introduced VIM. Park,
VIII y in few earnest words, expressed
his epresiation of the magnificent
reception arranged. He assured those
prese nt of his intention to make a suo-
cess of his present undertaking, if
hard work would accomplish it. ALI
the j information he had been able to
gather about the manufacturers of
Stafford, previous to coming here, was
of a complimentary nature, and his
own impressions had led him to be-
lieve that it was deserved. He re-
ferred to the fact that he and Mr..
Patton had started out in their manu-.
featuring careers by working in the
same plant in Sherbrooke, Canada,
and had song "Toiling On" together.
He asked Mr.. Patton if he remem bered
the singing, and the latter nodded
assent. In closing, Mr.. Park an
nouDced his intention of heartily CO.
operating in all that made for the
best interests of the town. Mr.. Pa
ton was next called on. He also ex-
pressed his appreciation of the means
taken by the local manufacturers in
arranging the event. The speaker
said that he and Mr.. Park not only
sung "Toiling On" but they toiled
on long hours laying the foundation
Of the knowledge of their chosen busi-
ness. Mr.. Patton said he had left a
good position to come to Stafford to
take up the work here, but intended
to make every effort for success, real
izing that his interests and that of the
town were identical. A feature of
the program, outside of the speaking,
was the singing of W. A. Tucker.
He was called twice, was heartily en-
cored both times and cheerfully re-
sponded to both encores. His songs
we're admirably selected, and the
largo dining room gave the needed
acoustic quality for his rich and
powerful baritone voice. The banquet
from start to finish was a very sue
cessful social event, and the commit
tee of arrangements, W. FL. Cooley,
Christopher Allen and O. B. Pinney,
are to be congratulated on the smooth
ness with which every detail was
worked out. At this time it is not
out of order to give brief sketch of
the new manufacturers.
A. B. Patton was born at Tillicoul-
try, Scot, Dec. 81, 1859. He moved
to Sherbrooke, P. O., when he was seven
years old. He was educated in the
Montreal commercial school and Sher-
brooke academy. Mr.. Patton began
his manufacturing career with his
uncle, the late Andrew Patton, in the
Patton Mfg. 90. at Sherbrooke, P. O.,
in 1876. He served time sorting
wool and worked in different depart
ments of the mill until he reached the
head designers position. From there
he went to Peacedale, r. l., where
he accepted the position of chief de-
signer for the Peacedale Mfg. COM
pany, where he remained four years.
His next position was superintendent
of the John Chase & Sons mills at
Webster, Mass, where he introduced
the worsted business. He remained
there three years and then went. to
Chester, Pa, where he reorganized
the Phoenix mills He next went to
the Sawyer woolen mills at Dover, N.
H., where he also introduced the
worsted business. In 1890 he went
to Ware to take charge of the Gilbert
mills at Ware and Gilbertville for
the George H. Gilbert Manufacturing
company, where he remained until he