History of Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA

LINCOLN.

This town is of but a recent separate formation, having formerly belonged to the town of Smithfield, which was then one of the largest towns in the State, comprising a population of some fourteen thousand. The early history of the town would seem, therefore, to more properly belong to that of its parent town, Smithfield. And yet, the territory embraced within the limits of the present town of Lincoln has been the scene of many historic achievements. It was here that King Philip's war was commenced and finished, and many hard-fought battles attest the courage and self-sacrificing devotion of its early pioneers. Although the town, as has been remarked, is of but recent birth, still it is fast progressing in the development of all its manufacturing and business interests, and the future of Lincoln is a destiny of undoubted progress and success.

A large section of the old town of Smithfield was devoted almost exclusively to agriculture. That portion now embraced within ...

Albion. Oziel Wilkinson had a forge here long before the dam was built, situated upon Muzzy Brook, and near its junction with the Blackstone. This fact, no doubt, influenced Abraham and Isaac Wilkinson to build here, in 1822, having previously purchased the land (some thirty acres) of Daniel Hill, and fifteen acres more of Jonathan Carpenter, on the Cumberland side. In the above year they built the fine stone mill, a four-story structure, 108 x 40 feet. They operated 75 looms, and leased to Harris & Co. one third of the power, who operated 35 looms on sheetings. In 1829, the property passed into the hands of George Wilkinson, a son of Abraham, who immediately built a new mill, 40 x 60 feet, in which he operated 50 looms in the manufacture of sheetings. He also built another mill, near where the Providence and Worcester Railroad station now stands. This mill was 35 x 60 feet.

In 1834, the estate was purchased by Waldo & Co. of New York, from whom it was purchased by the...

Lonsdale. The history of this important manufacturing village is very interesting. In 1828, the privilege was purchased by Messrs. Brown & Ives, who formed themselves into a firm under the name of the Lonsdale Company, and obtained a charter from the General Assembly in January, 1834. In 1831, they erected their first mill at this place, and in 1838 erected another mill, and about the same time commenced a bleachery. As years rolled on, the business of the firm required the erection of another mill, which was put up about 1850. A dye-house had been erected a few years previous. In 1856, the company added a gas-works, lighting the works and the village. The gas has been carried in pipes to the new village, and up the river to Berkley and Ashton.

Another great improvement, was the building of a branch railroad from the main track of the Providence and Worcester Railroad, to the yard of the company, and crossing the Blackstone River on a fine iron bridge; this work was...

Wednesday night, at Albion, R. I., Geo. Gordon, a brakeman on the Worcester freight train, fell and four cars passed over his body. He leaves a wife and two children.

Lincoln, a township of Providence co., R.I. Pop. 11,565.

The directors of the Valley Falls company at Albion, R. I., and the Albion company at Valley Falls, the two remaining companies in the Blackstone valley which had not announced a reduction in wages, decided yesterday to post notices to that effect. The state executive committee of the mule spinners' association of Rhode Island met at Pawtucket last night. It was stated that the delegates reported that the feeling in the state against a reduction of wages runs high. The wages received at the present time by these operatives are much too small properly to support their families. The average pay of the mule spinners in the Pawtucket valley is $8 a week, and in the Blackstone valley $9.50. In the Blackstone valley the mills manufacture much the same class of goods as are made in New Bedford.

Reports were received last night from the mills in Arctic, Riverpoint, Quidaick, Pontiac, Natick and other Pawtuxet and Blackstone valley villages and without exception they favored resisting the...

Lincoln, a township (town) of Providence co., R.I. Pop. in 1900, 8937.

A hundred years ago a wealthy bachelor, named Paige, who lived near Albion, R. I., gave a party; one of the young ladies left a glove. Mr. Paige returned it with the following note: "If from your glove you take the letter G, that glove is love and that I have for thee." The young lady replied: "If from your name you take the letter P, that Paige is age and that won't do for me." The story is vouched for by a friend of the Outlook, whose grandmother had it at first hand. -The Outlook.