BIOGRAPHY: James Chadwick; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
***********************************************************************

Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

JAMES CHADWICK, a very liberal and enterprising business man of Newburgh, is
President of the extensive bleachery here, of which his brother Joseph is
Treasurer. This is one of the largest and best equipped establishments of the
kind in the country, and the benefit which this industry has conferred upon
the city it would be impossible to estimate. Mr. Chadwick is a member of the
Board of Trade of both Newburgh and New York City.

Our subject was born January 22, 1830, in Heywood, Lancashire, England, where
his ancestors had resided since 1558. His grandfather, John Chadwick, was a
farmer and stock-dealer, and also was the owner of coal lands, which reverted
to his son Thomas, father of our subject.

The latter, who died in 1885, at the age of eighty-one years, was a devoted
member of the Church of England, and possessed the esteem of all who had
dealings with him. His marriage united him with Elizabeth B., daughter of
Thomas Mills, who was an extensive dealer in cattle, and was a landed
proprietor in Rochdale, Lancashire. In politics he was a Conservative. Mrs.
Chadwick died in 1883, aged seventy-nine years. The old English home is
occupied by her daughter Elizabeth, now the wife of William Smith. James and
Joseph Chadwick are the only members of the family in America. Their brother
Thomas M., and brother-in-law, William Smith, are in partnership with James
and Joseph Chadwick in the Boarshaw Bleachery, Dye and Print Works at
Middleton, near Manchester, England.

The education of James Chadwick was completed in Townhead Academy, of
Rochdale, England. Choosing a manufacturing career, he learned cotton spinning
in the factory of a relative, and served for three years and a-half at the
trade. After further qualifying himself in a bleaching and dyeing
establishment, he came to America, in 1859, and soon secured a position in the
Boiling Spring Bleachery, near Rutherford, N. J. In 1867 he entered into
partnership with his brother Joseph and George Wylie, leasing the Boiling
Spring Works, but in a short time Mr. Wylie died, and it soon became evident
that greater facilities than Rutherford afforded would be necessary, and in
1871 the site of the present establishment was purchased. The building, which
was then used for a flouring-mill, was remodeled and enlarged, and at present
there are seven separate structures, with a total floor space of about one
hundred thousand square feet. Building No. 1 is three stories in height and
60x200 feet ; No. 2, 60x90, three stories, with additions; No. 3, 60x 150,
three stories; No. 4, one story, 60x200; and No. 5, a two-story building, is
50x80 feet. Muchattoes Lake is utilized and the outlets of Quassaick River,
while they have as a reserve power Orange Lake, six miles away. The outlet
farm, which controls the outlet of the water at Orange Lake, is owned by six
mill-owners on the creek, and Mr. Chadwick is a committee of one in charge of
the farm. Steam as well as water is used as motive power. The steam engines
furnish four hundred and fifty horse-power, and the water-wheels one hundred
and forty horse-power. The added advantages of railroad and water
communications are of great value to the concern. One million, two hundred and
fifty thousand gallons of pure spring water are daily used in the bleaching
process, and two hundred and forty hands are employed. The present capacity of
the works is over one hundred and sixty thousand yards daily, a specialty
being made of bleached canton flannel. The output of this class of goods here
is more than one-half of the whole production in this country. The firm has a
New York office at No. 115 Worth Street.

The marriage of James Chadwick united him with Mary Ellen Hughes, of
Philadelphia. They have a beautiful home at No. 182 Grand Street, where all of
the surroundings bespeak the refinement and culture of the residents. They
have two adopted children, Mamie A. Holt and Willie Pierson. Mr. Chadwick is a
Warden of St. George's Church. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally
belongs to Hudson River Lodge No. 607, F. & A. M. He is a Director in the
Newburgh National Bank, is a member of the City Club, and is also President of
Lawson Hose Company No. 5.