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Millers Falls Company - Millers Falls and
Greenfield, MA
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In another publication, the Greenfield Gazette - Centennial
Edition (1892), short biography of Levi J. Gunn was published:
 "Levi J. Gunn is a representative of the solid business
men of the County. From a humble beginning he has attained a
position of influence, and has received a full share of
political honors. His success in life is due to habits of
thrift and industry, and the economical management of the
large affairs with which he has been connected.
Mr. Gunn was born in Conway, in 1830. His father, who was
also Levi Gunn, was a blacksmith. The son came to Greenfield
in 1852, and was connected with the Tool Works, which were
moved here from Conway. In 1861, he formed a partnership
with C. H. Amidon and engaged in the manufacture of
wringers. Their shops, located near the Connecticut River
railroad, and north of Silver Street, were burned in 1868.
The Millers Falls Company had been formed at this time and
construction commenced on the dam and shops at Millers
Falls. Work was started in this new location in 1869, the
company being composed of Levi J. Gunn, Chas. H. Amidon and
Henry L. Pratt. Mr. Amidon afterwards withdrew.
The plant has been greatly increased from time to time and
the industry has been a rare success from the start. Mr.
Gunn has been the treasurer and manager, and much has been
due to his quick perception and wise judgment.
Mr. Gunn was chosen a selectman of Greenfield in 1877-78. He
represented the Franklin senatorial district in the General
Court, in 1885 and 1886, and was a member of the Executive
Council in 1888 and 1889.
He has been an active Republican in politics. He was for
many years the chairman of the Republican County committee
and was also for several terms a member of the Republican
State committee.
Mr. Gunn is a director of the Franklin County National Bank,
a trustee of the Greenfield Savings Bank, and a director of
the Interstate Mortgage Trust Company.
He married Esther C. Graves, and they have one son, Levi
Walter Gunn."
On September 14, 1916 The Iron Age magazine published a short
obituary:
"Levi J. Gunn, one of the founders of the
Millers Falls Company, died Sept. 9 at his home in
Greenfield, Mass., aged 86 years. He was born
in Conway, Mass., learned the machinist trade, and in 1853
removed to Greenfield, where he worked in local shops until
1864, when, in company with Charles H. Amidon, he began the
manufacture of clothes wringers. In 1868 the
Millers Falls Company was started and he became treasurer
and manager, continuing in these capacities until 1901, when
he was elected president of the company. He held this
position until 1910, when he retired. He had been a member
of the State Senate and of the Governor's Council and active
in financial affairs."
Henry L. Pratt
 "Henry L. Pratt was born at Shutesbury,
Massachusetts, on the 14th of July, 1826. His advantages were
only such as were enjoyed by New England lads of the period
whose people were in only fair financial circumstances.
In fact,
it became necessary for him at an early age to put aside his
text-books and enter the field of business in order to provide
for his own support. He inherited, however, a strong intellect
and as the years advanced, he improved his opportunities for
expanding his knowledge. In early manhood he had qualified
himself for school teaching, which profession he followed for a
number of terms.
He was still but a young man when he went to
Cleveland, Ohio, to engage in the manufacture of chairs, being
thus identified with the industrial interests of that city for
seven years. On the expiration of that period he returned to his
native state, locating in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where he
was connected with the lumber trade.
Another seven years passed in that field of
labor and he afterward went to Detroit, Michigan, where he
became proprietor of a manufacturing enterprise conducted under
the name of the Detroit Chair Company."
The secretary of the Michigan Board of Trade, Ray Haddock
included the following description of the Michigan Chair Factory
in his report for the year 1867:
"The Detroit Chair Factory, established in
1864 has rapidly extended its business, its sales last year
amounting to $160,000, an increase of $30,000 compared with
1866. The chairs of this manufactory are sold in all the
Northwestern States, Illinois taking a larger amount than
any other State, although the sales in Michigan are probably
the largest in proportion to population. The timber consumed
is mostly walnut, maple and oak, the bulk of which is
derived from the line of the Detroit and Milwaukee Rail
Road.
The average number of skilled workmen is about 100, in
addition to which force, some twenty-five women and girls
are employed in seating. The great bulk of the seating,
however, is done in the Syracuse Penitentiary, the Lansing
Reform School, and the State Prison at Jackson. Cane-seat
chairs are the only description made, and they readily sell
at prices above those paid for Eastern cane-seat work,
because of their acknowledged superiority."
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