The first turning-lathe in Canton was owned and operated by Deacon Nathan Jones. It was a spring-pole lathe, with the cord wound around the stick to be turned, in such a manner that the stick ran half the time one way and half the time the other. Upon this lathe the deacon turned his chair-stuff. This lathe was a
part of the outfit of the first chairmaker’s shop in Canton. It is related of the deacon, while engaged in this shop, that on one occasion he had carried a lot of chair-stuff into the kitchen to season by the kitchen fire. The deacon had neglected to provide Aunt Matilda –his wife –with wood, and this neglect had so excited the old lady’s ire that she seized and burnt an armful of chair- rungs. The deacon stood and contemplated the destruction of his chair-rungs in solemn silence for some moments. As the flames began to curl around tliem, the deacon’s lips parted, and his hand was raised, not in anger, but in sadness. He tipped his hat to one side with the uplifted hand, and exclaimed, “Matilda, I wish you were in Heaven!” And this, it is recorded, was the most nearly an oath the good old man had ever allowed to escape his lips.
The first power lathe, operated by horse-power, was put up by Daniel H. Dewey, and began operations in March, 1838, on the ground still occupied by Mr. Dewey, on the southeast corner of White and Jones streets. Mr. Dewey also put into operation the first circular saw in Canton, in 1841. It was eight inches in diameter, and was used in cutting blind-stuff–Mr. Dewey being at that time engaged in the manufacture of window-blinds.
About the same time that Mr. Dewey’s power lathe was put in operation, his brother Milton C. Dewey had a lathe operated by men turning a large crank, and Peter L. Snyder another operated in the same manner. The first kiln of brick ever made here was burnt in 1830, and was made by Deacon Jones. The deacon burnt several kilns during the five or six succeeding years, taking into partnership with him in the business his son-in-law Loving Ames. Jones & Ames furnished the brick for the first brick house that was erected
in Canton. This house was built for James Hood, was situated on lot 74, Jones’s Addition to the Town of Canton, between Jones and Walnut streets, fronting on Fourth street. The house is still standing. Jones & Ames also furnished the brick for the Canton College. These brick were not equal in quality to brick made here now, as the makers did not thoroughly understand the business or the material they were called upon to work.