In 1820 he was commissioned as captain of the military company here.

In 1825, the business of his machine shop had so increased, he purchased of Captain J. Colgrove the old grist mill and water privilege and erected a building on the site now owned and occupied by M. D. & A. W. Hodge as a grist mill.

In 1829 he erected for his own residence a building on the east corner of Main and Bank streets, which in later years was known as the “Kimbell homestead,” and is at present the site of the Adams National Bank.

In the fall of 1832, Mr. Tinker’s health began to fail from close application to his business and from the effects of a severe cold contracted by exposure in water while making repairs. He showed marked symptoms of consumption. By the advice of physicians and friends he concluded to winter at St. Augustine, Fla., hoping for improvement, if not restoration, in that genial climate. He left home in good spirits, and was accompanied from Troy by a gentleman going out for the same purpose. Upon the passage he either took cold or the salt air was too bracing for him, as he complained of feeling more unwell upon his arrival, which was Christmas day. His death was as sudden is it was afflicting to his family and friends. While leaning back in his chair on the 1st of January, 1833, his friend, being absent from the room a moment, heard a heavy fall upon the floor. On entering he found that Mr. Tinker had fallen over backwards. Being asked if he was hurt, be replied: “Not much.” He never spoke again. He died the same day, in the 52nd year of his age.

Mrs. Tinker did not survive the sudden shock of her husband’s death but a short time. She died February 27, 1833.

Deacon Artemas Crittenden was born in Conway, this state, and at a proper age learned the clothier’s trade. In 1810 he removed to this village and worked at his trade for Captain Colgrove. In 1813 he erected the first factory at Blackinton. It was a wooden structure 25 by 60 feet, three stories high. It was intended for the manufacture of satinets and all-wool cloth, in part by machinery, and is supposed to have been the first mill of the kind erected in this county. Wool carding and cloth dressing was also carried on in this mill. About 1817 Mr. Crittenden sold all his interests to John Willey, who sold the property to Aaron Foot in 1821. Mr. Crittenden removed to Pownal, Vt. and engaged in the same business on a limited scale.

About 1819 he returned to this village and rented the clothing works of Captain Colgrove, doing quite a large business. In 1822, he formed a partnership with Evenel Estes, and manufactured satinet in the clothing, works of David Estes. In 1824 they dissolved partnership, and Deacon Crittenden run the mill alone until 1825, when Salmon Burlingame became a partner, this arrangement continuing for three years. In 1826 Messrs. Crittenden & Burlingame purchased of Giles Tinker a water power in what was then termed the “Gory lot,” and built a small factory on the site of that in later years owned and run by Ingalls, Tyler & Co. In 1828 Mr. Burlingame sold his interest, to his partner and retired from the firm. In 1829 Edmond Burke purchased an interest in the establishment. In the same year Mr. Crittenden sold his interest to William E. Brayton, who had aided him in building, and Mr. Crittenden removed to Turin, N. Y., where he died about 1839.

The Congregational society of this village is largely indebted to Mr. Crittenden, one of its first deacons, who was a most active and efficient working-man in the organization of the church, and aided to build their house of worship.

Rufus Wells, the senior partner in the “boys‘ factory,” was born in Cheshire in 1799, and labored on a farm until 16 years old. He then became an apprentice to Deacon Crittenden and learned the clothier’s trade. It was while fellow apprentices that the three young men, Messrs. Wells, Blackinton and White, formed that intimacy which resulted in their flourishing partnership. In 1823 Mr. Wells was married to Miss Sylvia Blackinton, daughter of Deacon Otis and to Sanford Blackinton, who died in a few years. He then married Harriet B. Richards of Attleboro. In 1844, while Mr. Wells was overseeing some carpenter work, he was standing near one of the workmen, who was hewing logs with a broad-ax. The ax slipped from the hands of the workman, struck Mr. Wells on the head and inflicted a terrible wound. He never recovered from the effects of this. In 1845 he contracted typhoid fever and died in about ten days, the wound oil his head making him a raving maniac during his last sickness. His funeral attracted large crowds from all this section, people coming from as far away as Providence in wagons to attend the ceremony, which had to be held in the open air because of the crowd. Mr. Wells, was a plain, unostentatious man, of great industry and perseverance, a careful calculator, and his excellent business talents were