GEORGE W. CHADWICK, SR.
Hon. George W. Chadwick was born in Sauquoit, Oneida county, June 16, 1825, and died at Chadwick's, in the same county, December 4, 1885. He was of English parentage. John Chadwick was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England, January 5, 1783, came to America early in this century, and first settled in Providence, R. I, , where he married Betsey Snow. They soon removed to Toddsville, Otsego county,
N. Y., where Mr. Chadwick entered the employ of the Union cotton factory. He was a practical manufacturer of great skill and gave his whole time and attention to the details of the business. In the summer of 1813 John Chadwick, Abner Brownell, and Ira Todd came from Toddsville to what is now Chadwick's, Oneida county, bought both of John Greenleaf's "powers," removed the old saw mill to the upper end of the present village and converted it into a dwelling, and founded the Eagle, Cotton factory. They purchased of Benjamin Merrill and Matthew Yale a strip of land along the creek to give sufficient power and built a frame cotton mill on the site of the present stone structure. A little farther east they erected a machine shop. This plant they called the Eagle Mills, a name it still bears. Some years afterward the firm dissolved; Mr. Todd returned to Otsego county and in 1825 Mr. Brownell removed to Sauquoit and founded the Franklin factory. Mr. Chadwick remained sole owner of the Eagle mills and from time to time put in new and improved machinery, this materially increasing the business capacity. In 1843-44 extensive additions were made and filled with costly machinery, and at night on June 24, 1844; when the builders were putting on the finishing touches, the plant was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The labors and accumulations of years were lost, there being not one dollar of insurance. The present substantial stone mill was soon built on the site and equipped throughout with the latest machinery and appliances. John Chadwick was a man of great executive ability and integrity, prompt in business, and one of the foremost pioneer manufacturers of the Sauquoit valley. Early in his career he visited England and brought back a quantity of large
wooden engraved blocks, which were used in printing calicoes. Later he purchased
the pioneer Coe farm, where Hon. G. W. Chadwick was born. He was kind hearted and charitable and freely aided English immigrants to procure employment. He died at Chadwicks, a place named in honor of the family, March 12, 1858; the death of his wife occurred there April 1, 1867. Their children were Sally (Mrs. Alanson A. Butler), who died in 1893; Betsey, who died unmarried; Mary (Mrs: George Fisk and afterward wife of Hon. Eli Avery), who died February 22, 1878; John, deceased, who married Jane Tarpenny; Abigail (Mrs. William Harrison Boyd), deceased; Thomas, who died unmarried; Jane, who also died unmarried; and George W.
George W. Chadwick attended Sauquoit Academy and was graduated from Cazenovia Seminary, and during his active life was connected with mills founded by his father. He first became a partner in 1843-54, when extensive alterations were inaugurated, and after the old plant was burned down he supervised the erection of the present stone factory, to which he succeeded as owner upon his father's death in 1858, and which he successfully managed from 1844 until his own death in 1885. He brought to the management of the factory a thorough practical knowledge of every detail, and by his great business ability and native enterprise kept its product up with the times and instituted many important improvements. Energetic, progressive and far-sighted, he won not only success as a manufacturer, but the confidence and respect of all who knew him. Like his father, he was a man of strict integrity, prompt, sagacious, and public spirited. In 1882 the establishment was incorporated under the name of the Chadwick Mills Cotton Company, with a capital of $250,000, and with Mr. Chadwick, president; C. A. Butler, vice-president; W. H. Kershaw, secretary; and Benjamin Groff, treasurer. Upon Mr. Chadwick's death in December, 1885, Mr. Groff was elected president and treasurer, and on July 1, 1892, he was succeeded by George W. Chadwick, jr., who still serves in these positions, Mr. Kershaw still retains the office of secretary. (See biographical sketch of George W. Chadwick, jr.)
Mr. Chadwick was interested in various other enterprises, and always took the part of a prominent and loyal citizen. He was one of the founders of the Utica Willowvale Bleaching Company and served as its president and general manager until his death. The establishment and success of this corporation was largely due to his energy and able guidance. He was its chief promoter and was instrumental in placing it upon a sound business basis. He was one of the originators and continuously a member of the board of directors of the Oneida National Bank of Utica, one of the promotors and first directors of the Utica, Chenango, and Susquehanna Railroad, and one of the incorporators of the Sauquoit Valley Cemetery Association, which he served as president until his decease. In beautifying and improving this cemetery he always took a deep interest, and contributed materially to its welfare. In politics he was a staunch Republican. He served as supervisor for several years, and represented his district in the Assembly in 1871 and 1874. On one occasion he was the nominee on the Stalwart wing of the Republican ticket for member of Congress, but was defeated with his associates. During the war of the Rebellion he was a member and treasurer of the local war committee and actively assisted in raising men for the front. In religion he was an Episcopalian, and for several years served as vestryman and warden of St. Stephen's church, New Hartford. He was especially the friend and an active promoter of education. He was a member of Oriental Lodge F. & A. M., and Fort Schuyler Club, Utica, and an honorary member of the Utica Citizens Corps.
Mr. Chadwick was married on November 5, 1855, to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Absalom and Lucy (Scofield) Wrigley, of Oldham, Lancashire, England. She came to America with her mother in 1848, and settled in what is now Chadwicks, where she has since resided, the house she now occupies being erected by her husband in 1881. In 1890 she built and donated to the parish St. George's Memorial church, Chadwicks, at a cost of upwards of $11,000. This was given by her as a memorial to her husband. They had two children: George W., jr., and Lucy V.
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