Amos D. Lockwood

Amos DeForest Lockwood (1811–1884) was an American manufacturer and engineer based in Providence, Rhode Island. He was self-trained as a mechanical engineer, and gradually expanded his scope to all areas of textile mill construction. He was a cofounder, in 1882, of Lockwood, Greene & Company, which would become one of the largest engineering firms in the United States in the twentieth century.

Life and career Amos D. Lockwood was born October 30, 1811, in Pawtuxet, Rhode Island, to Captain Benoni Lockwood II and Phebe (Greene) Lockwood.

At the time of his birth, Lockwood's father was a sea captain, but when he was six the family moved to Providence where Benoni Lockwood took up surveying and civil engineering. After two years he began working as an operative in the Orleans mill, where he remained for another two years.

In 1832 he was appointed assistant superintendent of the mills of Almy, Brown & Slater, later S. & J. Slater, in Slatersville, becoming resident agent in 1835. In 1843 Lockwood, along with his brother Moses B. Lockwood (Moses Brown Lockwood was born August 25, 1815 in Pawtuxet.) He was educated at what is now the Moses Brown School, where he would later teach. He was principal of the school from 1835 to 1838. From 1838 to 1843 he worked in his father's civil engineering firm. When the original A. D. Lockwood & Company was formed, Moses B. managed the firm's business office in Providence. When the Quinebaug and Wauregan Mills were established, Moses B. was appointed treasurer of each. He continued in that role at Wauregan only until 1858, but was treasurer at Quinebaug until his death, which occurred May 13, 1872 in Providence. His new partner was his son-in-law, John W. Danielson. (John Weaver Danielson was born March 30, 1833, in Danielson, Connecticut.) He was employed as a clerk in Lockwood's Quinebaug Mills in neighboring Brooklyn. He married Sarah Deming Lockwood, his daughter, in 1858. He was appointed managing agent in 1860 when Lockwood moved to Lewiston. When Lockwood returned to Providence, Danielson followed to be his partner. After retiring from Lockwood, Greene & Company in 1889 he held several official positions in manufacturing companies. He died January 1, 1913 in Providence. In later life he was a member of the Central Congregational Church of Providence. The present Chapel Hall was given in memory of Amos DeForest Lockwood and his wife, Sarah Fuller Lockwood by their children and grandchildren in 1892. He was twice president of the Rhode Island Congregational Club.

Projects Wauregan Mills, Plainfield, Connecticut (1853) Continental Mill Housing, Lewiston, Maine (1866, NRHP 1979) Boston Manufacturing Company Mill No. 3, Waltham, Massachusetts (1873 and 1879–80) Lewiston Bleachery and Dye Works, Lewiston, Maine (1870) Charleston Cotton Mills, Charleston, South Carolina (1881–82, NRHP 1980) Newberry Cotton Mill, Newberry, South Carolina (1883–84)

Gallery of projects