The Huntsville "Southern Advocate" once described Lauderdale County as the "Lowell of the South" because of the extensive textile industry there. The "Advocate" noted that the county's five mills were capable of spinning 7000 bales of local cotton annually, half the cotton crop of the county. Martin, Weakley and COmpany did not do this alone. The other large textile conceer, Lauderdale Factory, accounted for much of the balance. Lauderdale Factory also relied on local white workers and, whenever possible, sought whole families for industrial employment. Children and young women, generally single, were the mainstay of the work force by 1860.
During the 1850's the Lauderdale Factory experienced several organizational shake-ups which disrupted productivity and reduced profits. When Turner S. Foster died in 1855, his share of the business, including 800 acres of land, several workers' tenements, machinery, stock and a forty year old Negro woman, was sold. About the same time, the company proposed to expand its machinery in order to supply the local demand for a "superior article of Osnaburg and Yarns," but the sale postponed the expansion. In 1856 the company reorganized as the Baugh, annual purchase of over 1000 bales of cotton and the employment of 150 local whites.
Also in Lauderdale County, the Cowpen Factory too geared its production to the plantation economy, and it was operated by friends of the planting interest. The mill manufactured blankets, heavy coarse goods for slaves and plain linseys. The Huntsville "Southern Advocate" praised the goods and added that the manufacturers "can't suply half the orders for their excellent blankets and negro clothing. First under the direction of Samuel Milner, who was also an agent for the Lauderdale Factory, the Cowpen Factory on Cowpen Creek near Florence was operated by the Milner, Wood and Company by 1858. This enterprise again illustrated the undeveloped state of Southern manufactures in its total dependence on the North for capital goods and engineers. The company purchased its steam engine from a New Jersey works, its looms and supporting machinery from Pennsylvania suppliers, a burring machine from a New York firm and its lard oil, necessary for treating the wool, from Cincinnati. Purchasing its wool in small lots from local herders and consigning its goods to local merchants, the company relied wholly on local markets. The mill employed 34 workers in 1860, probably all whites. le, sought whole families for industrial employment. Children and young women, generally single, were the mainstay of the work force by 1860.
During the 1850's the Lauderdale Factory experienced several organizational shake-ups which disrupted productivity and reduced profits. When Turner S. Foster died in 1855, his share of the business, including 800 acres of land, several workers' tenements, machinery, stock and a forty year old Negro woman, was sold. About the same time, the company proposed to expand its machinery in order to supply the local demand for a "superior article of Osnaburg and Yarns," but the sale postponed the expansion. In 1856 the company reorganized as the Baugh, (looks to be like part of this is missing) annual purchase of over 1000 bales of cotton and the employment of 150 local whites.
Also in Lauderdale County, the Cowpen Factory too geared its production to the plantation economy, and it was operated by friends of the planting interest. The mill manufactured blankets, heavy coarse goods for slaves and plain linseys. The Huntsville "Southern Advocate" praised the goods and added that the manufacturers "can't suply half the orders for their excellent blankets and negro clothing. First under the direction of Samuel Milner, who was also an agent for the Lauderdale Factory, the Cowpen Factory on Cowpen Creek near Florence was operated by the Milner, Wood and Company by 1858. This enterprise again illustrated the undeveloped state of Southern manufactures in its total dependence on the North for capital goods and engineers. The company purchased its steam engine from a New Jersey works, its looms and supporting machinery from Pennsylvania suppliers, a burring machine from a New York firm and its lard oil, necessary for treating the wool, from Cincinnati. Purchasing its wool
