James Draper


 

 

 James Draper, ca. 1853 (History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts )

 

James Draper1

 

James Draper was born in Melbourne, England on September 13, 1813 to James and Martha Draper where he became engaged in the knitting industry and was married twice before arriving at Canton in April, 1851. Once in town with his brother Thomas, who had purchased the Dr. Stone Estate, he established the knitting industry in Canton. In 1861 James established a partnership with George Sumner (Thomas Draper having died in 1856) and in 1865 bought machine shops in South Canton and in 1870 the business was bought the Canton Woolen Mills that after James Draper’s death on May 23, 1873 was run by his children continued the business under the name Draper Bros., while George Sumner continued in the woolen industry in the Everett Mills.  

 

 

Resources1

 

The Drapers in America, 1620-1892 by Thomas Draper, 244-246.

 

History of the Town of Canton, Daniel T.V. Huntoon, 542.

 

History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts by D.H. Hurd, 967-968.