194 DYER DYER. Soon after arriving in Fall River he went to work as an operative in the old Troy Mill. He worked in various cotton mills until fourteen. From fourteen until eight- een, he worked at nail-making, learning the trade. From eighteen to twenty were his last two years of school attendance. He then was employed by the American Linen Company as book-keeper from Janu- ary i, 1853, until 1865, with the exception of the time spent in the service of his country. His present vocation is that of civil and mechanical engineer, making mill engineering a specialty. Mr. Dyer was married in Fall River, November 23, 1858, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Job Borden and Abby (Allan) French. Of this union were three children: Susan Chace, William Allan and George French Dyer. Mr. Dyer was the first volunteer from Fall River at the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in company A, 7th Massachu- setts volunteers, of which he was com- missioned captain by Governor John A. Andrew, and was mustered into service June 15, 1861. He assisted in the organi- DAVID H. OYER. zation of the 3d regiment, Massachusetts volunteers ; was also captain of the 5th and 2 1 st unattached companies, Massa- chusetts volunteers, raised for short terms in 1864. He received well-deserved com- pliments from General Couch and Gover- nor Andrew for meritorious conduct dur- ing the war. He is now quartermaster of Post 46, G. A. R. He has been treasurer of Mechanics Mills, Weetamoe Mills, Saga- more Mills and Quequecham Mills, and manager of Wilmington Cotton Mills; director at various times of Mechanics, Weetamoe, Sagamore, Osborne and Flint Mills ; is now director of Sagamore Manu- facturing Company and clerk of the cor- poration, and has been a member of the New England Cotton Manufacturing Asso- ciation about twenty years. He is also president of the Glen Mills. He is promi- nently identified with the Baptist church, and has always been active in Sunday- school work. Mr. Dyer learned the science of engineer- ing and manufacturing by personal appli- cation and study, without the aid of schools or teachers. In the winter of 1885 he visited most of the states in Mexico to inves- tigate the condition of manufacturing in that country, and spent two months at Monclova and Paras, State of Coahuila, Mexico, winter of 1S88, making plans for alterations in mills. Mr. Dyer has been at the head and front in organizing mill companies in Fall River, and as a mechanical engineer has earned laurels in the plans and construction of nearly twenty of the great cotton mills that have raised Fall River to the first rank of cotton manufacturing cities in New England. He has shown financial ability in his entire business career, notably in saving the Sagamore Mill corporation from ruin, and placing it on a sound financial basis, during the panic of 1873. He has also planned and constructed mills in the South, and represented southern houses in the cotton interest. Since 1886 he has given his attention to mechanical engineer- ing as applied to cotton mill work. DYER, SAMUEL, son of Thomas and Ruth (Collins) Dyer, was born in Truro, Barnstable county, August 22, 1S19. His earl}- education was limited to the common schools. He entered business life for himself in the town of Truro, in 1848, in dry goods and groceries. He subsequently changed his business to that of dealer in wood, coal, lumber and grain. Mr. Dyer was married in Truro, Febru- ary, 1849, to Betsey Hopkins, daughter of Solomon and Betsey Paine. Of this union are two children : Samuel Dyer, Jr., and Mrs. Amelia F. Ryder.
