USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume I > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
372
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
and Enoch Moore, Jr., the father, resumed control and is actively pushing the same.
THE JACKSON & SHARP COMPANY.
This company whichi developed into one of the largest and most important of Wilmington's industries, was the outgrowth of a partnership established in 1863 by Job H. Jackson and Jacob F. Sharp. The firm established its plant at the foot of East Eighth street, and began business by building peach or fruit cars, and the industry was afterward developed until the most elaborate of palace cars were constructed by the firm. The works located on about twenty acres of land afforded every facility for the building of cars and in addition a boat-building plant was established and has continued dur- ing all the years of the company's existence. The firm of Jackson & Sharp continued until 1870 when Mr. Sharp with- drew, and the Jackson & Sharp Company was incorporated with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars. Job H. Jackson became president on the organization of the company and continued uninterruptedly in that position until his death. Under the direction of the new company the works rapidly developed and the cars built by the company were sent not only throughout the United States but to many foreign countries. Many of the most elaborate of the sleeping cars of recent years have been constructed by this company, and in several instances ruling sovereigns of foreign countries have ordered special cars finished in a palatial way from this company. In 1901 the controlling interest in the company was purchased by the American Car & Foundry Company, whose main office and business is in St. Louis, Mo. The plant was continued as it existed at that time, and has since been known as the Jackson & Sharp plant of the American Car and Foundry Company, and the business developed under the direction of Job H. Jackson has been continued and still continues one of the largest and most important of the indus- tries in Wilmington.
-
373
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
THE PULLMAN PALACE CAR COMPANY.
In 1871 Thomas W. Bowers and Henry F. Dure entered into a co-partnership under the firm name of Bowers and Dure and established a car-building works on the easterly side of the Brandywine at its intersection with the Philadel- phia, Baltimore and Washington railroad. The firm manu- factured all kinds of railway and street cars and at one time employed three hundred and fifty men. After several years Thomas W. Bowers retired from the partnership and Mr. Dure became sole proprietor, and in 1886 he sold the plant and the real estate to the Pullman Palace Car Company, who established on the site a branch of the car works operated by the company at Pullman, rear Chicago, Illinois, and it has since been known as the eastern branch of the Pullman com- pany. The shops in recent years have been rebuilt, and a large industry in repairing and rebuilding is carried on, necessitating a large force of workmen and an equipment of the best of machinery.
THE LOBDELL CAR WHEEL COMPANY.
In 1836 Jonathan Bonney and Charles Bush formed a part- nership under the firm name of Bonney & Bush for the man- ufacture of car wheels. The business was started in a small way ; railroads at that time were in their infancy, there being at that time but one other car-wheel manufactory in this country. Mr. Bonney died in 1838 and his nephew, George G. Lobdell became a partner with Mr. Bush, the firm name changing to Bush & Lobdell. Under the new firm the busi- ness grew rapidly, a new foundry being built in 1844, giving greater capacity for the business. This foundry was burned down in 1853 but was immediately rebuilt. The death of Mr. Bush in 1855 threw the management of the business upon Mr. Lobdell, who became the sole proprietor in 1859 and continued it under his sole control until 1867 when the Lob- dell Car Wheel Company was organized, with George G. Lob- dell, president, William W. Lobdell, secretary, and Peter N.
1
374
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
Brennan, treasurer. The business rapidly increased, addi- tional land and buildings being found necessary. The stag- nation of business during the panic of 1873 effected somewhat the output of the company, but in 1881 the company found it necessary to materially enlarge its plant, and for that pur- pose bought a large traet of land in South Wilmington, near the mouth of the Christiana. To this site the works of the company were removed ja 1882 with an equipment of machine-shop, foundry, smith-shop and all necessary appli- ances that were unexcelled for the purpose in the country, and in addition to car wheels the company prepared to manu- facture on a large scale chilled rolls for paper-machines, flour mills, etc. The capacity of the company's plant is about two hundred tons of wheels, rolls and castings per day. In con- nection with its Wilmington plant the company owns about three hundred and fifty acres of land on the south side of the Christiana creek. In Wythe and Smyth counties, Virginia, the company owns two charcoal blast furnaces and about ten thousand acres of ore, wood and farming land; and in North Carolina about five thousand acres of timber and farming land.
George G. Lobdell, the founder of the industry, was born October 1, 1817. He served an apprenticeship with his uncle, Jonathan Bonney, and became a partner with Charles Bush, just as he attained his majority in 1838. From that time until his death, March 1, 1894, a period of fifty-six years, he gave close and faithful attention to business, and made an honored name in the industrial world. A man of the simplest tastes and rare modesty, his whole life was devoted to the management of the car-wheel and chilled-roll industry, to which his name added much of value, and the success of which is largely due to his close application and untiring industry.
He found time for stock-raising and took great delight in farming and rural affairs, being one of the most progressive farmers in the county. In connection with his home at
1.
900 9 Lobau
375
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
Minquadale, in New Castle Hundred, he conducted one of the model farms of the state. For twenty years he was a director of the Farmers' Bank at Wilmington, and he was president of the Masonic Hall Company from its organization to the time of his death. In financial circles he stood for the highest in- tegrity and his word was at all times as good as his bond. Unassuming in manner, he won and held the highest regard of the Wilmington community, and the provision contained in his will for the maintenance of his country residence as a home for aged people was but an evidence of the kind and philanthropic nature of the man, whose charities were always dispensed quietly and without attempt at show. No man has won a more enviable business record than George G. Lobdell.
Since George G. Lobdell's death in 1894 the management of the company has devolved upon his two sons, William W. Lobdell and George G. Lobdell, Jr. The former has served as president, the latter as vice-president. The high standards of work have been maintained, the business has increased, its financial standing has not been in the least impaired, and the company gives evidence of many more decades of successful business life.
MACHINE COMPANIES.
THE J. MORTON POOLE COMPANY.
In 1839 J. Morton Poole opened a small machine-shop in the basement of one of the first buildings used by the Ban- crofts on the Brandywine. From this humble beginning sprang the J. Morton Poole Company, manufacturers of chilled rolls used in the grinding of flour, the making of paper, sheet rubber, cloth and otlier commodities, the perfection of whose products has given the company a worldwide fame, and resulted in the building-up of a business whose success was attained entirely because of the high merit of the work pro- duced. In 1848 Mr. Poole bought a small building on the present plant of the company at the foot of Orange street on the Christiana, and began operations there. In 1853 William
376
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
T. Porter, who had been an apprentice under Mr. Poole, became a partner, and the business moved forward, the main product in the early days being milling machinery. In 1867 the firm began the manufacture of chilled rolls. Mr. Poole was a born mechanic, a man who was most conscientious with his work, and ambitious that his work should excel. It is related that it required a full year to grind the first pair of rolls after the firm started upon their manufacture, but the time and care given at the beginning showed the high standard that would be required, and went a long way towards establishing the reputation of the firm for exact and thorough work. The firm continued until the death of Mr. Poole in 1879, when the J. Morton Poole Company was incorporated, and William T. Porter was made president of the new company, with two sons of Mr. Poole, Alfred D. Poole and J. Morton Poole, Jr., as co-workers in the new com- pany. Mr. Porter continued as president until his death in 1901. No more capable successor could have been found to J. Morton Poole than William T. Porter. A man of unusual scientific knowledge, with a natural aptness for me- chanics, he became through his long touch with Mr. Poole thor- oughly versed in all that went with the making of perfect ma- chinery, so that the high standard of the company's work was maintained under Mr. Porter's management, which continued until the latter's death in 1901.
The high record made by this company, both in excellence of work and in business integrity, continues under the present management, with J. Morton Poole, son of the founder of the business, as president, and Alfred D. Poole, another son, as secretary and treasurer.
BETTS MACHINE COMPANY.
The firm of E. & A. Betts, composed of Edward and Alfred Betts, began business at the present location of the company in 1860. Both partners had been identified with other im- portant Wilmington industries prior to the formation of this
377
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
firm. In 1879 the Betts Machine Company was incorporated and succeeded to the business of the firm. Edward and Alfred Betts both retired, and William and Edward T. Betts, sons of Edward Betts, became the controlling factors in the company. The company conducts a large and well-equipped plant on Maryland avenue near Beech street, and its products consist of machine tools and appliances of all kinds, including lathes, planes, drills, slotting-machines, turning and boring- machines, car-wheel borers, cutting-off machines, standard gauges, etc. The present officers of the company are William Betts, president, and Edward T. Betts, vice-president and treasurer. The company turns out excellent work and its financial standing is of the best.
THE REMINGTON MACHINE COMPANY.
George W. Remington, a practical machinist, began busi- ness in a limited way, but in 1872 the company bearing his name was incorporated and he has since acted as its president with Henry M. Taylor and John J. Satterthwaite as co-workers and officers in the company. The company manufactures engines, boilers, steam-pumps, also brass castings and finish- ings. The plant of the company has always been located on East Front street near Poplar street ; its equipment is com- plete, and the work produced by its force of a hundred work- men is of the best in its line.
THE DIAMOND STATE CAR SPRING COMPANY.
This company grew out of a small business established in 1844 by Edwin J. Horner. In 1872 James P. Hayes and James C. Pickels, trading as James P. Hayes & Co., succeeded to the business, and in 1883 the Diamond State Car Spring Company was incorporated. The company manufactures all kinds of first-class springs used in the construction of loco- motives or cars, and several patent springs for special uscs. The company has in its employ about fifty men and docs a
-
378
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
substantial business. Nathan H. Davis is the present presi- dent and manager of the company.
THE TRUMP BROTHERS MACHINE COMPANY.
This company was the outgrowth of a business established in 1873 by C. Newbold Trump and Samuel N. Trump, who came to Wilmington from Rochester, New York. They first began the manufacture of the " Fleetwood Scroll Saws," which they turned out in large quantities, and for which they found a large and profitable sale. In 1879 the company was organ- ized, and since that time a large business has been built up in small machinery, largely hosiery machinery, coupled with the manufacture of bolts and nuts. The plant is located at the corner of Beech and Anchorage streets, and the equipment is up to date. The company employs fifty men and the pres- ent officers are C. Newbold Trump, president, Samuel N. Trump, vice-president, and George R. Hoffecker, secretary and treasurer.
WALKER & ELLIOTT.
For twenty-five years the above firm has conducted business at Second and Lombard streets. It is composed of Vincent C. Walker and Robert T. Elliott, both practical machinists, who by dint of industry and thoroughly good workmanship have built up a large and prosperous business, largely in the manufacture of fertilizing machinery. The business was started in 1880 and with the progress of years has reached large proportions, with financial standing of the best.
IRON AND STEEL COMPANIES. THE DIAMOND STATE STEEL COMPANY.
In 1853 Joshua P. Edge and Robert S. Harris associated themselves together in a small ship-smithing business. They located on the present site of the Diamond State Steel Com- pany's plant at the northerly end of the present Third street bridge. Mr. Harris dropped out in 1855, and Delaplaine
379
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
McDaniel and William S. Craige joined with Mr. Edge and the firm became McDaniel, Craige & Co. Mr. Edge retired in 1857 and the remaining partners bought his interest. In 1859 John H. Adams entered the firm and the name was changed to McDaniel, Adams & Co. The next year Mr. Craige sold his interest to Henry Mendinhall, but the firm name con- tinued the same.
In 1865 the Diamond State Iron Company was incorporated, and it is claimed that it was the first industrial corporation organized in Delaware. John H. Adams was elected presi- dent, and Henry Mendinhall secretary and treasurer. The next year Mr. Adams parted with his interest and retired, Clement B. Smyth buying his holdings and being elected treasurer, the office of president going to Mr. Mendinhall who remained in that office for over twenty years until his deatlı, April 28, 1887. In 1866 George W. Todd entered the com- pany and was made secretary two years later, and in 1884, succeeded Mr. Smyth as treasurer. John T. Davis, an ex- perienced iron-master, became superintendent of the company and continued as such until his death. Mr. Smyth was made president on the death of Mr. Mendinhall in 1887 and served but a few years, when George W. Todd became president. The latter occupied that position until the formation of the Diamond State Steel Company in 1899.
Up to 1865 the business of the company was conducted in small quarters and on a limited scale. In the latter year larger buildings were erected, and in 1870 a tract of adjoin- ing land was purchased and a large machine shop and also a spike, bolt and nut shop were erected. In 1876 the old ferry mill on the south side of the Christiana was purchased, and in 1883 ten acres of land adjoining the latter were purchased. Since 1877 the manufacture of horse and mule shoes has been one of the main industries of the company.
In 1899 the Diamond State Steel Company was incorporated and the business theretofore conducted by the iron company was turned over to the steel company. The new company at
..
380
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
once erected large and admirably equipped buildings and be- gan the manufacture of steel in various shapes. Splice bars ; track bolts; railroad spikes; boat, wharf and counter-sunk spikes ; machine bolts ; merchant bar-iron; rivet rods ; horse shoe iron ; horse and mule shoes of iron and steel; car and other forgings, were among the varied and manifold products of the company.
The increased facilities of the steel company put it at once in the forefront of kindred enterprises in this country and led to the anticipation that it might become the largest and most successful business in the city. Howard T. Wallace, who had for years been the efficient secretary of the Diamond State Iron Company, was made president of the new steel plant. Notwithstanding the energy and enthusiasm infused into the - new management and its bright promise of success, the new company soon encountered difficulties and the stockholders representing the largest interests in the concern applied in December, 1904, to the United States court for appointment of receivers, and the application being granted, Howard T. Wal- lace and James P. Winchester were accordingly appointed receivers and have since that time been in control of the affairs of the company.
THE MCCULLOUGH IRON COMPANY.
In 1847 Delaplaine McDaniel, Jethro J. Mccullough and Edmund A. Harvey formed a copartnership under the name of Mccullough & Company, and began the manufacture of sheet iron. Their first venture was in a small mill at North- east, Maryland. Within a few years they acquired two other mill properties in Cecil county, and in 1865 the parties above mentioned were incorporated under the name of the McCul- lough Iron Company. Ten years later the company acquired ten acres of land at the foot of East Seventh street in Wilming- ton and thereon they established the Minquas iron works which in course of time has become the main plant of the company. One of the special products of the company is what is known
381
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
as " Harvey's Patent Cleaned " iron, being a block sheet fin- ished by a patent process, the invention of Edmund A. Harvey, one of the originators of the company. By this invention the dust and dirt were removed from the surface of the sheets, and it greatly facilitated the handling of the sheets. To this com- pany is given the credit of making the first galvanized sheet-iron in the United States. Delaplaine McDaniel served as presi- dent of the company from its organization until his death in 1885. He was a resident of Wilmington until the last ten years of his life, when he lived in Philadelphia where the central office and ware-rooms of the company, together with the main galvanizing plant, had been established. He died in 1885, and Edmund A. Harvey became president of the company, serving until 1899. Mr. Harvey is the sole survivor of the three original partners, Jethro J. Mccullough having died in 1878.
The company was placed in the hands of receivers in Feb- ruary, 1895, but the business was continued by the receivers, and at the end of four years the receivers were discharged and the business was handed back to the stockholders, under whose direction it has since been operated with much success. Henry Whitely was elected president in March, 1899, and has since been the executive head of the concern, serving with great acceptability and success. Martin E. Walker is the present secretary and treasurer.
THE SEIDEL & HASTINGS COMPANY.
This company was the outgrowth of a small rolling-mill establishment in 1845 on the site occupied by the present company on Church street between Ninth and Tenth streets. Henry B. Seidel became the owner of the plant in 1864, and and in 1867 Washington Hastings became a partner with him. Ten years later Edward T. Canby was admitted as a third partner, and the firm name adopted of Seidel, Hastings and Company. In 1884 the Seidel & Hastings Co. was in- corporated. At first only small boiler plates were made, but
382
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
the company has developed and is now fully equipped for the manufacture of iron and steel plates of various dimensions for boilers and for ship and bridge work. The output has been greatly increased and a large and handsome business built up, necessitating the employment of more than a hundred men. The company maintains & warehouse in New York City, and its products are known throughout the United States. Much of the success of the company was due to the energy and busi- ness ability of Mr. Hastings, who for many years has been recognized as a leader in the business life of Wilmington, and has served as president of the company for several years. The company, owing to reverses, was forced to go into the hands of a receiver in 1906, and its affairs are now being liquidated.
HILLES & JONES COMPANY.
In 1870 William S. Hillee and Henry C. Jones became partners under the firm name of Hilles & Jones and began the machine and tool business at Ninth and Church streets, the location of the present company. They succeeded the firm of Robert H. Barr & Co., who in turn were successors of Crossley & Barr, and Crossley & Allen. John S. Crossley had started a small manufactory of machinists' tools on the same site as early as 1854. In the earlier days engines and boilers were built, and at least one schooner was built, but vessel- building was early abandoned and the whole attention of the firm given to machine and boiler building. William S. Hilles died in 1876, but the firm continued without change until 1885, when T. Allen Hilles, a son of William S. Hilles, be- came an active partner. The products of the firm have gradu- ally changed from all kinds of machinery to a special line of tools for locomotive builders, railroad shops, boilermakers and bridge builders, and in these lines signal success has been made. In 1889 the Hilles & Jones Co. was incorporated and succeeded the old partnership in the same lines of manufac- ture. Henry C. Jones and T. Allen Hilles have of late years retired from the active management, the company at present
383
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
being officered as follows: Alfred R. Jones, president; Robert W. Smith, vice-president ; Lawrence T. Jefferies, treasurer.
A. L. HENDERER'S SONS.
A. L. Henderer established, in 1873, a tool industry at Maryland avenue and Beech street. After the death of the father in 1897 the business was assumed by his three sons, Harmon J., Howard E. and Myron C. Henderer, and has since been conducted under the name of A. L. Henderer's Sons, at the old stand. They manufacture hydraulic jacks and boiler-maker's specialties, various styles of roller tube ex- panders, screw punches, punches and dies, etc., every article of which is of the highest grade, both in material and work- manship. The name Henderer is a guarantee of good work and the business of the firm extends from year to year.
MOROCCO AND LEATHER INDUSTRIES.
Wilmington for many years was noted for its leather pro- ducts. From 1860 to 1890 very many establishments were engaged in the manufacture of leather, and it proved one of the most prosperous industries of the city. Of late years the number of manufactories has decreased, but possibly the capital invested is as large now as at any previous time, but the tendency of leather manufacturing of later years has been towards New England.
William Robinson as early as 1829 had a small leather plant on Market street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, and about 1835 Lewis C. England started a small morocco works on Fifth street near Orange, which continued until 1847. Among the apprentices of England was James Scott who in 1845 joined with Israel Pusey and William Marr, and formed a partnership known as Pusey, Marr and Scott. The business was started at Third and Tatnall streets and re- mained there until 1866. William Marr left the firm in 1849, the remaining members of the firm continuing. In 1866 a new plant was established at Third and Madison
-
384
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
streets, and three years later John M. Scott and William Y. Warner became inembers of the firm, and the name changed to Pusey, Scott and Company. This continued until 1883, when the Pusey and Scott Company was incorporated with James Scott as president, J. Winfield Scott, treasurer, and William L. G. Thomas, secretary. For twenty-five years this company did a large and profitable business, but about 1890 the company relinquished business, and the concern was merged with the American Leather Company which now occu- pies the old site.
AMERICAN LEATHER COMPANY.
This company, now the leading and most important in the leather trade in Wilmington, grew out of a partnership founded in 1850 by Thomas H. Baynard and John Farsons, who began in a small way in a stone building on Second street, between Orange and Tatnall streets, known for years as Sheward's brewery. The interest of John Farsons was bought by Stephen Postles in 1853, and the firm became Baynard & Postles, and continued until 1858, when Postles became sole proprietor. In the meantime the firm had built a new factory on Fourth street between Orange and Tatnall streets, now occupied by the Wilmington and Brandywine Leather Com- pany. In 1866, J. Parke Postles and William Postles, sons of Stephen, were admitted to the firm, but William remained for two years only, and in 1875 Stephen Postles retired from the business and turned it over to his son J. Parke Postles, who for ten years was the sole proprietor. In 1885 James S. Dobb became a partner and the firm name changed to J. Parke Postles & Company. This partnership continued until 1891, when the Ainerican Leather Company was organized, and the business of the old firm was transferred to it, and the concern secured the plant at the southwest corner of Third and Madi- son streets, formerly occupied by the Pusey & Scott Company, where the business has since been conducted on a large scale and with great success. The present officers of the company
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.