Charles Fredrick Orvis 1831 – 1915

Manchester village – 1801 Thomas Jefferson is sworn in

The whipping-post stood on the west side of the street, nearly in front of the north side of the (future) Equinox House, while the pillory was located on the east side: of the street, a little south of the present court-house.

1812 Levi. C. Orvis resided in Manchester village living for a time in the family of Ephraim Munson, and attending Hill's School. Shortly afterward he married Electa Sophia Purdy as above stated. He then engaged in the mercantile and marble business at Manchester (Dquinox house), and continued in such up to the time of, his death in 1849.

1824 – Franklin Henry Orvis was born in Manchester Vermont on the 12th day of July, 1824, and of the seven children born to Levi Church and Elects Sophia (Purdy) Orvis he was the oldest. His father, Levi Church Orvis, and grandfather, Waitstill Orvis, were likewise natives of Vermont, though born "over east of the mountains." Electa Sophia Qrvis, the mother of our subject, was descended from Reuben Purdy, who will be remembered as the head of one of the oldest and ,most highly respected pioneer families of the town of Manchester.

1831 - Charles F Orvis was born in Manchester Vermont.

1842 - George H Swift Birth: 08/22/1842, Manchester, VT

1850 - Manchester Depot / Station Western Vermont Railroad / Bennington and Rutland Railway had connections to Connecticut, Mass and NY

http://manchesterhistoricalsocietyvt.org/depot/

1853 – Equinox House (Franklin Orvis) Manchester village approx 1 mi north of RR Manchester Depot

1855 - approx built stone building next to Equinox House to build rods.

1856 – Formed the C. F. Orvis Company CF Orvis 24-25 years old

1860 Census has C F Orvis listed as a dentist. 28 years old wife Laura daughter Mary E Orvis 4 and son Frederic W Orvis male 1

1861 – Orvis Hotel Charles Orvis

1861 – April Civil war breaks out

1861 ?- Swift George H. Union

MILITARY SERVICE

Age: 21, credited to Manchester, VT
Unit(s): 4th VT INF, 17th VT INF
Service: enl 9/3/61, m/i 9/21/61, MSCN, 4th VT INF Band, m/o 8/9/62; enl 10/31/63, m/i 3/3/64, Pvt, Co. F, 17th VT INF, pr SGT 11/27/64, m/o 7/14/65

1865 – May Civil war ends

1868 – January 28 Manchester Journal page 2

Swift & Eggleston, as will be seen by reference to their card in another column, have commenced the manufacture of fishing rods in this place. They are both excellent mechanics, and with their past experience in the business, and aided by the best machinery adapted to their work, we have no dougt they will turn out rods that it will do the disiples of Sir Izaak good to handle

1868 – January 28 Manchester Journal page 3

Fishing Rods.

Swift & Eggleston manufacturers of superior Fishing Rods.

Split Bamboo, Lance Wood, Hardhack, Cedar, and other Fly and Bait Rods on hand and made to order. Repairing done in the best manner

Manchester, Vermont

1868 – January 28 Manchester Journal page 2 – Levi C. Orvis general & drug store

1868 – Hiram Eggleston m. THYRZA L. COMSTOCK, July 08, 1868

1868 – Routes to Manchester 8 am Hudson River railroad NY arrives 9 1/2 pm

am from Springfield Mass connects at Rutland 5 1/2 pm

6am Athens or Albany NY Bennington/Rutland rr 5 1/2 pm

1868 – An extraordinary invention A Steam Man. Mr Zadock Deddrick a Newark machinist has invented a man; one that moved by steam, will perform some of the most important functions of humanity; that will stand upright, walk or run, as he is bid, in any direction and at almost any rate of speed, ... he weighs 500 hundred pounds, Steam is generated in the body or turnk, which is nothing but a three-horse engine, like those used in our steam fire engine.

186x –

Swift, Hiram Eggleston building wood rods in Manchester VT A papered label "Manchester Fishing Rod Manufactured By - Swift and Eggleston Manchester Vermont"came up for auction at Olivers in 1987

The Swift and Eggleston Manchester Fishing Rod (p.12 and 13 of Campbell's book) is almost identical to the early Orvis pictured on p. 13 but has a paper label as described by Campbell. It is 3 pc.,10.5' long with a mid 6" shorter than the other 2 sections (the mid does not appear to have been broken). The butt is ash with a mid and tip of lancewood.

" Swift & Eggleston rod. It is 10'6" and appears to have an ash butt with lancewood mid and tip. It has serial # 516 just below a gold and black paper label reads 1st line "Manchester Fishing Rod", (2nd line) manufactured by obscured, 3rd line partially obscured G. Swift, bottom line Manchester, Vt.

Campbell puts Swifts earliest rods in the late 1850's or early 60's. Campbell also speculates that that the Swift and Eggleston partnership made rods from about 1855 to after the Civil War. But, he offers no citations. (Swift would have been only 13 and Eggleston close and Swift enlisted as a 21 year old in 1961)

186x – Wood rod in display ????

1868 - Swift and Eggleston announced their partnership in the "Manchester Journal" on January 28

1869 - From the Mark Skinner Library in Manchester In 1869 Eggleston went to work for Orvis

1869 – Swift & Eggleston not advertising in the the Manchester Journal

1870 - Geo H Swift living with his Mom Christina Census lists him as a manufacturer of fishing rods.

1870 – L.C. Orvis was advertising Fishing tackle at his Drug Store CF Orvis?

1870 - Census has Charles listed as Hotel Keeper

Laura wife b1832-33 keeping house

Mary E Orvis b1850-51 19 years old at Home

Robert J Orvis b1861 9 years old

Albert Orvis b 1863-64 5-6 years hold

1870 - The Fishing Rods manufactured by G.H. Swift of this place, are fast gaining a world-wide reputation. A few days since he received quite a large order for rods from California. Unquestionably the goods manufactured by Mr. Swift are superior to anything of the kind made elsewhere in the United States, and we are glad to chronicle this evidence of their appreciation and sale in the distant States. Manchester Journal 06/07/70 page 3

1870 - From the Mark Skinner Library in Manchester George H Swift sold the business to C. F. Orvis.

1871 - The Manchester Journal was sold to Orvis & Co. And sold to Simonds after 9 months

1871 - Jan 31 1871 -C.F. Orvis is making some very fine Trout Rods this winter; he has the reputation of producing the very best rod made. See his advertisement in this Journal.

Manchester Journal page 3 Charles F Orvis Manufacturer of all kinds of Fishing Rods. Repair done in the best manner at a short notice. Manchester Vt. Jan 25 1871

Manchester Journal 08/31/71 page 3

1871 – The Elm House Charles F Orvis Proprietor. Open from May to November adv in the Manchester Journal

1871 – Charles F Orvis Manufacturer of all kinds of Fishing Rods. Repair done in the best manner at a short notice. Manchester Vt. Jan 25 1871

Manchester Journal 08/31/71 page 3

1873 – Franklin Orvis is advertising Jacksonville Florida resort

1873 sergeant-major, George H. SWIFT Skinner Post No. 24, G.A.R ;

http://manchesterhistoricalsocietyvt.org

1873 Manchester Journal successors to L.C. Orvis "We have to sell on or before June 1^st 1873 a large assortment of Fishing Tackle! Constantly on Hand, flies, hooks, reels, fish lines" C.J. Wait J.N. Hard

1874 -Dentist Geo H Swift moving to LaCrosse, Wis he and his bride May 7 Manchester Journal

1874 Charles F Orvis reports the fishing rod business better than ever before. He makes a first class rod at a reasonable price, consequently he sells all he can make without any difficulty.

1874 Wait and Hard advertising Fishing Tackle Superior Englis Trout Files in the Manchester Journal

1874 – patented reel

The reel was debuted in the Trout model for $2.50 with a black walnut case. This first model did not have a click. Orvis sent an introductory model to Charles Hallock, editor of Forest and Stream. Hallock loved and praised it:

“C.F. Orvis, the celebrated rod maker of Manchester, Vermont, has sent us a beautiful German silver, perforated trout reel, which he is now manufacturing, the most unique we have seen, and we might say, equal to any other reel in its various features. In some respects it is unlike other reels, and the improvements which the patent cover are quite marked. It is a narrow reel; its diameter is larger in proportion to its width than is usual, so that it winds more rapidly and lays the line more evenly than if the spool or cylinder were wider. Its perforations make it quite light – yet heavy enough to balance the line comfortably, and also serves to dry the line rapidly by admitting circulation of air. For our own preferences we should wish a click but others would think differently. It is a pretty toy, as well as a useful implement and can be carried in a very small space by unshipping the crank. Price is $5.00 in case, We should think a salmon reel after this patent may be even more desirable, as metal salmon reels are always ponderous.”

By the following summer of 1875, Hallock’s preference for a click was honored, though, surprisingly, a salmon model never appeared.

Model Number Two was a bass reel with a wider spool which had a line capacity of seventy to eighty yards, compared to the trout model’s forty to fifty. Both the trout and bass models had detachable handles. Both models remained standard items for about forty years. Around 1900 the reel was also offered in aluminum for $1.00 more.

1879 – Telegraph lines were being established from Manchester to various towns.

During the 1880s many of the problems pertaining to bamboo rods were solved. Primitive ferrules, that ruined rod action and allowed rot, were replaced by efficient ones. Milling techniques were improved to split bamboo into narrow strips. With its light weight and elasticity, bamboo could be made into eight to ten foot rods, much more manageable lengths than the fourteen foot rods of the previous generation. By the end of the 19th century, the bamboo rod was considered superior to rods crafted from other woods, though these other rods continued to be made, and made well, to allow anglers a choice between traditional and cutting edge materials. Charles Orvis, realizing the importance of providing choice in a competitive market, experimented extensively with various rod-building materials. He handled and evaluated rods of various properties, likely that of U.S. shadblow, ironwood and cedar, as well as Mahoe, Pingo and Dagame from Cuba, and beefwood of Australia.

None of his experiments in rod-building were revolutionary, but Ned Buntline, a then prominent outdoor writer, reported in a fishing journal that, in the Orvis rod, “I think I have the best bamboo rod of its weight – six ounces – in America; yes, in the world. Put that down, not as a puff, but as a truth that I’ll stand by and fish by as long as I and that rod last.”

18 – Henshall promotion

18 - Hallock promotion

1880 – population of Manchester VT 1929

from gazetterbusines1880chil https://archive.org/details/gazetteerbusines1880chil

Gazetteer and business directory of Bennington County, VT for 1880-1881

Eggleston Truman C. (Manchester Depot,) Foreman

Orvis Charles F manuf of fishing rods, tackle, flies, etc and prop'r Elm House for summer boarders on Main St.

Orvis Edward c connected with the Equinox House

Orvis Franklin H proprietor Equionx House and cottages, Main; and of Putnam House, Palarka; and Windso Hotel, Jacksonville, Fla.

Orvis Paul W. Connected with Equinox House

Swift George H dentist, Union

Swift, George Hawkins - Musician. (b. Manchester, Vt. 1841, son of Edward Bulkeley & Christina (Hawkins) Swift). George was eight years old in 1850, attending district school and working on his father's farm. His grandfather and grandmother Serenus Swift (age 75), and Rachel (Bulkeley) Swift (age 67), lived on the farm with them. Serenus Swift was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1791, was a lawyer, and had a law office at the Elms House Place in Manchester. He argued an important debt case before the Vermont Supreme Court in 1810. Serenus lived to see the hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town of Manchester. He died in 1865 (age 90). George and his brother Theodore helped take care of the farm and stock of animals. It was a hard work growing up. When George was 21 years old, he enlisted from his hometown, 3 Sept, 1861 for service as a band member. He was mustered in at Brattleboro, Vt., 21 Sept., 1861. He mustered out with the band, 9 Aug., 1862. He enlisted for a second time 31 Oct., 1863, as a private in Co. "F", 17th Vt. He was promoted sergeant, 27 Nov., 1864. He served until 14 July, 1865 when he was mustered out. He served for two years, seven months and thirteen days in total. When the 1870 census was taken Sergeant Swift was living with his widowed mother Christina (age 60) in Manchester. He was employed as a manufacturer of fishing rods. He m. - Ella A. B. _____ (b. Vt. 1850). When the 1880 census was taken, they were living in Manchester and George was a self-employed dentist. George applied for an Invalid's Pension in Manchester, 5 March, 1890 (App #773256; Cert. #872748). In 1890 he was listed on the Veterans' schedule. He was suffering from spinal afflictions contracted while in service. He died in Manchester, June, 1899. Ella applied for a Widow's Pension, 20 Sept., 1899 (App #705609; Cert. #667413). (Children: Marion B., b. 1877, died before 1910).

1880 – Manchester village "two churches, one seminary, one bank, two summer hotels, one printing office, one general store, one drug, one book and boot and shoe, two jewelry and one hardware and furniture store, one tinshop and stove store, and one manufactory of fishing rods, reels etc. The village is not supplied with water power. For a long distance on the street the fences have been removed thereby giving a park like appearnce, which is heightened by the elegant sidewalks of sawed marble, of which there is three and a half miles laid in the village.

The Equinox House is now in it's twenty-eighth year of successful administration under Mr. F H Orvis who has won a national reputation as a popular caterer for the comfort of his guests. The house is capapable of accommodating 300 guests in a sumptuous manner. Broad piazzas, and rich carpets throughout the house, even including the large dining rooms and office, add to the comforts of the guests, who come from all parts of the civilized world.

Mr. Orvis some years ago constructed Equinox Pond, which is fed by the waters of three mountain brooks. The pond covers about ten acres, and abounds in trout. He has also constructed a wagon road to the top of Mt. Equinox."

"Mt Equinox – The famous "Rocking Stone" is also in this vicinity, and is remarkable curiosity. It is seventeen feet long, eight feet wide and five feet thick, and weighs thirty-five tons, yet is so nicely poised that it can be moved by the hand."

"About twenty-one or twenty-two years ago, Charles F. Orvis, a gentlemen fond of fishing, and withall of a mechanical turn of mind, made a fly rod for his own use. One day a friend from the city borrowed it for a day's sport. Taking a fancy to the rod, he asked Mr. Orvis to make one lite it for him. To please the gentleman Mr. Orvis complied. By and by an order came from New York for another rod for a friend of that customer. An army officer secured on, and soon the orders came in so rapidly that to supply the demand , Mr. Orvis was obliged to establish a manufactory, which he did about twenty years ago. He makes elegant and high priced rods, from the best woods for the purpose known, and has made several improvements. He has add the manufacture of reels, flies and other fishing material. His goods are in demand and are sent to every State and Territory in the Union (except three,) Alaska, the Dominion of Canada and Japan. A large portion of his customers are army officers, and all of his goods are securely packed and sent by mail. He has never lost a package."

1880 Census

Charles Orvis 48 Fishing rod Manufacturer

Laura 46 wife keeping house

Robbie 18 son at home

Bertie 6 son at school

Marbury Mary E 24 daughter At home

John Marbury 3 son of mary

1880's – Milling machines for bamboo

A. Nelson Cheney, a fisheries authority, claimed: “ every rod passes through his hands so that when delivered to the purchaser the seal of the master hand is upon it. His rod makers are not only of ingenious mechanical skill, but anglers of repute.”

1882 - patented Eggleston reel seat US 258902 A

1883 – Dodecagonal Rod was announced - This ad was in Vol III of the American Angler in 1883.

The ad suggests that Charles would continue to produce the Hex and round bamboo rods until the 12 strip is better known!

Martin Keane apparently saw a Orvis Dodecagonal and wrote about it in "Classic Rods and Rodmakers" Page 74
It turns out despite the name it wasn't 12 strips

"One of the most intriguing rod designs to evolve in this country was an Orvis six-strip split-bamboo design called the "Dodecagonal Rod." Close observation of a few of these rods built about 1882 or 1883 showed their shafts to be built of six strips, yet three of the strips were clearly wider than the other three, giving a slightly oval expression to the traditional hexagon. Though the unequal dimensions suggest a less than perfect arrangement for absorption of strain through the center of the rod at any given point, when actually used each of these rods possess a perfect curve and an action that could rival a number of modern day high-grade instruments." 

1883 – Fishing with the fly

"More than half the intense enjoyment of fly-fishing is derived from the beautiful surroundings, the satisfaction felt from being in the open air, the new lease of life secured thereby, and the many, many pleasant recollections of all one has seen, heard and done."

-Charles F. Orvis

1883 - quote on wood, ferrules and splices.

"The stiffness of a split bamboo rod is one of its great merits. When I say stiffness, I mean the steel-like elasticity which cause it to re-act with such quickness.

For material for fly-rods, bamboo ranks first, lancewood next; after mentioning these, there is not much to say. Green-heart is too uncertain. Paddlewood is very fine, but as yet, extremely difficult to obtain in any quantity"

"The balance, or "hang" of a rod is of the greatest importance. Let it be never so well made otherwise, if not properly balanced it will be worthless.

The elasticity should be uniform, from tip to near the hand; a true taper will not give this, because the ferules (sp) interfere with the uniform spring of the rod. For this reason a little enlargement between the ferules (sp) should be made, to compensate for the non-elasticity of the metal. These enlargements cannot be located by measurements, as much depends on the material and the length of the joint."

Spliced rods can be made nearer a ture taper, for obvious reaons; although there is no doubt that a spliced rod is stronger and much more perfect in casting qualities, yet they require such care to presrve the delicate ends of the splice, and are so troublesome in many ways, that few will use them.

The details of rod-making having been so often told, I do not propose making any suggestions on that subject, but will say that, in order to make a good fly-rod, the maker ought to know how to handle it, when finished."

1886 Geo H Swift dentist Manchester Vermont

The Vermont State Dental Society held its tenth annual meeting at Bellows Falls , March 17, 18, and 19, 1886, Dr. G.H. Swift of Manchester, presiding

1892 – Favorite flies

1899 – George H Swift Death: 08/25/1899
Burial: Dellwood Cemetery, Manchester, VT Marker/Plot: 1

1900 – Franklin H Orvis Death

1904 – John M. Marbury (son of Mary) single died at 27 years 9 months ? birth year 1877 laborer born in manchester Father was Wm C. Marbury born NY NY ? Immigration 1866 Nova Scotia male 18 years old father a lawyer.

1907

1912 Manchester Business Journal

Hiram Eggleston is listed as a carpenter builder

CF Orvis is listed in Fishing Tackle

1912 July "I am getting old but only 81 but active and work every day. I have two sons with me who probably will continue the business which I have been in since 1856. "

1914 Mary Orvis Marbury dies 08 November

1915 CFO passes

1918 Hiram Eggleston Town Clerk of Manchester VT 1918

From the 1895 "The Orvis Family" by Francis Wayland Orvis 1895 pg 54

Chalres Frederick - Born June 19, 1831 at Manchester Vt. Died March 24, 1915 Married April 25, 1856 at Manchester, Vt.

In 1855 he married Laura E Walker and the same year was proprietor of the Equinox House Manchester, which was founded by Orvises and conducted by successive generations down to the year 1921. Charles F Orvis did not reamin in the hotel business but about 1870 began the manufacture of fishing tackle and anglers supplies a business whch grew to considerable proportions and is now conducted by his sons, Albert C. Orvis and Robert J Orvis, at Manchester.

Vermont Walton Registry 1871

Under Manufacturing CF Orvis Fishing Rods