| Notes |
- The following notes from Ancestry.com: The Wright Family Project. Compiled by Thomas Wright.
Was educated in the district schools of his native town, working on the homestead farm as soon as he was old enough, during vacation periods. At the age of eighteen years he began an apprenticeship to the trade of machinist in the shops of Ebenezer and Joseph Metcalf, of Cumberland. In 1840 he went to Woonsocket, where he continued at the same trade, and a year later to Fall River, where he continued as a journeyman until 1845. He then went to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he formed a partnership with Nathaniel S. Collyer in conducting a machine shop. In 1850 he became a member of the firm of Pinkham, Haskell & Company, manufacturers of bolts and screws, and seven years later became the sole owner of the plant. From 1861 to 1868 Robert Sherman had an interest in the business, by purchase from Mr. Haskell, which the latter repurchased. The business was incorporated in 1881, with Mr. Haskell as president, under the title of the William H. Haskell Company, and in 1898 the concern absorbed the Pawtucket Nut Company, whose business was removed to the Haskell plant, on Main street. At this time the style of the corporation was changed to William H. Haskell Manufacturing Company. Mr. Haskell continued as president until his death, which occurred at his home in Pawtucket, April 19, 1900. His body was deposited in Oak Grove Cemetery, at that place. For many years he was president of the board of trustees of the Park Place Universalist Church. At one time he was vice-president of the Pacific National Bank, and at the time of his death he was a director of the Pawtucket branch of the Industrial Trust Company.
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History of Providence county, Vol I & II
Ed. by Richard M. Bayles; W.W. Preston &, New York. 1891
p. 117-118:
WILLIAM HENRY HASKELL, president of the William H. Haskell Company, was born in the town of Cumberland September 1st, 1821. His grandparents, Samuel and Mary Haskell, were among the pioneer settlers of this town, locating near Diamond Hill Plains. He died at the age of 95 years, in September, 1849. She died in September, 1849, at the age of 91 years. Turner Haskell, their son and father of William H., lived and died in this town. Turner Haskell was a very prominent man; served many years as a member of the town council, was a member of the general assembly for a number of years, and when he died was regarded as a very rich man. His wife was Patience Smith Haskell. She died in 1883, aged 89 years. He died in 1863, at the age of 73. They raised a family of eight children, five of whom were girls.
William H. Haskell received his education at a country district school, which he attended when a youth about three months each year. During the other nine months of the year he worked on the farm. When eighteen years of age, being moved by the inclinations of an inventive mind, he decided upon becoming a machinist. During the first two years he closely applied himself to learning his trade in the shop of Ebenezer and Joseph Metcalf, who then operated a machine shop at Arnold's Mills in the town of Cumberland. In 1840 he went to Woonsocket and in 1841 to Fall River. In 1845 he came to Pawtucket and began business on his own account. He entered first into partnership with Nathaniel S. Collyer, to do repair work, and remained in that capacity in a little shop on Mill Street for four years, at first employing eight or ten hands, but subsequently this number was increased to 20, then to 30. In 1850 he purchased an interest in the business carried on by Colonel Stephen Jenks, and removed there and remained till 1861. In 1860 he purchased grounds for the mammoth structures erected subsequently on his own lands, moved into his first building January 1st, 1861, and began business in his own name with twenty hands. The first building was 100 by 40 feet, two stories high, and was supposed to be commodious enough for all future demands, but business increased, and in 1873 it was enlarged to 350 by 50 feet, while the force has been increased to 125 and to 150 hands, as occasion requires. At the present time he does a business of $200,000 a year.
Politically, Mr. Haskell is a republican, though he never allowed himself to become entangled with official restraints to any great extent. On matters of public moment he has cast his lot where public spirit demanded. He was town councilman three or four terms in the old town of North Providence, and after the division of this town he served three years as councilman in Pawtucket. He was also one of the commissioners appointed to build the water works, in which capacity he served two years. In 1888 he was elected to the state senate and served one term in that body.
Mr. Haskell married twice. His first wife was Hannah, daughter of Columbia and Lydia (Shaw) Tingley. This marriage occurred about 1845. She died in November, 1868. Two children were the issue of this marriage, a son, now dead, and a daughter, Eunice Ednah, now the wife of Thomas Moies. His second marriage took place in December, 1869, to Ann Elizabeth, daughter of Hiram and Sylvia Carter, of Pawtucket. One daughter, Elizabeth D., was born of this union.
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1821 - 1900 (78 years)
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