Daniel Day (manufacturer)
Daniel Day entered the world in 1767 within the quiet town of Mendon, Massachusetts. His lineage traced back to Robert Taft Sr., who settled in western Mendon during 1679. This connection made Daniel a fourth-generation descendant of the original Taft family in America. He married Sylvia Wheelock and they raised four children together. Two sons and two daughters were born in Mendon before the year 1800 arrived. Vital records from that era confirm these births took place within the town limits.
At age 43, Daniel Day established one of the oldest woolen mills in the United States. He constructed a dam along the West River in Massachusetts to power his operations. Near this new dam, he built a wool carding mill that would become known as Scott's Mill. Pliny Earle I had developed similar carding machines at Leicester, Massachusetts, as early as the 1780s. Day's facility was only the second mill established in the historic Blackstone River Valley. It served as a major contributor to the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. Today the site is generally known as Elmdale near Wheelockville.
A loom joined the carding machine works by 1811 to expand production capabilities. His son Joseph, born in 1790, joined the business alongside Jerry Wheelock. They later greatly enlarged the mill by 1825 to meet growing demands. This system of mills, dams and villages became known as the Rhode Island System. John and Samuel Slater originally developed this model for textile manufacturing. There was only one other mill, a cotton mill, that was established in Uxbridge that same year. The Clapp Mill on the Mumford River stood as its sole competitor in town during that period.
One of Daniel Day's children married Luke Taft who started another famous Mill in Uxbridge. That facility later became known as the Waucantuck Mill. Luke Taft was a descendant of the famous American Taft family with roots in Mendon and Uxbridge. Daniel Day also remained an ancestor of a branch of the Wheelock family. They established an early factory that continues in business into the 21st Century. Berroco Inc now operates from nearby North Smithfield, Rhode Island. These descendants kept the industrial legacy alive through multiple generations of work.
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Common questions
When was Daniel Day born and where did he live?
Daniel Day entered the world in 1767 within the quiet town of Mendon, Massachusetts. He lived there his entire life while establishing his textile manufacturing business.
What year did Daniel Day establish his woolen mill in Massachusetts?
At age 43 which is the year 1810, Daniel Day established one of the oldest woolen mills in the United States. He constructed a dam along the West River to power operations near what became known as Scott's Mill.
How many children did Daniel Day have with Sylvia Wheelock?
Daniel Day married Sylvia Wheelock and they raised four children together. Two sons and two daughters were born in Mendon before the year 1800 arrived according to vital records from that era.
Which system of mills did Daniel Day help develop for textile manufacturing?
This system of mills dams and villages became known as the Rhode Island System. John and Samuel Slater originally developed this model for textile manufacturing but Daniel Day expanded it significantly by 1825.
Where does Berroco Inc operate today and how is it connected to Daniel Day?
Berroco Inc now operates from nearby North Smithfield Rhode Island. They are descendants who kept the industrial legacy alive through multiple generations of work starting from an early factory established by Daniel Day's family branch.