USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume II > Part 2
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tinued there until 1851, when it was removed to the rooms of the " Athenaeum Company " over the market house at Fourth and Market streetz.
In 1834 several young men of Wilmington formed the Young Men's Library and Debating Society, but later changed the name to the Franklin Lyceum. It flourished for ten or twelve years and accumulated many books and some valuable philosophical apparatus, but in 1846 it disbanded, and its be- longings were handed over to the Library Company. In 1855 a library organization was formed and called "The Young Men's Association for Mutual Improvement." It occu- pied rooms on Third street, a few doors west of Market, but after a brief existence was merged with the Library Company and in 1859 there grew out of the union the Wilmington Institute.
Steps were soon taken to erect a suitable hall for library purposes, and on July 24, 1860, the cornerstone of the Wilmington Institute, at the northwest corner of Eighth and Market streets, was laid, and on January 31, 1861, the build- ing was dedicated. At first the entire Market street front was occupied by stores and the rear of the ground floor, extending along the entire Shipley street front, was occupied by the library and by a scientific lecture-room. There were entrances both on Market and Eighth streets, and the large room on the second floor, now occupied by the Wilmington Free Library, was for ten years or more the main public auditorium in the city, with a seating capacity of twelve hundred and with good facilities for fairs and lectures, but not adapted for theatrical performances.
It was the popular hall of the city until the erection of the Masonic Temple in 1871. In 1860 the circulation of the library was 18,000 volumes, and it occupied an important place and did a good work during the years that it was main- tained as a subscription library, but its usefulness was greatly increased when in 1893, by the co-operation of several of the most public-spirited residents of the city, it became a free lib-
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rary. The auditorium was discontinued and the room re- modeled for library purposes, and it has since been conducted on modern library methods and fills an important place in the educational life of Wilmington.
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTORIES.
Match-making was started in Wilmington by Edward Tat- nall about 1853. Eight years later the firm of Swift & Court- ney, composed of William H. Swift and Henry B. Courtney, was founded, and a large manufactory of matches established which was successfully conducted until 1882 when by a com- bination of the largest match manufactories in the country the Diamond Match Company was incorporated and the interests of the old firm were combined in the new company. In the year 1900 the plant of the company in Wilmington was discon- tinued and the general business moved to Oswego, New York.
Jacob Pusey as early as 1814 established a mill for the manufacture of hosiery yarns. In course of time it came under the control of his sons, Joseph M. and Edward, and later the J. M. Pusey Company was incorporated, and con- tinued the business in an enlarged way for many years. Lea Pusey, a third son of Jacob, established a wadding manufac- tory in 1854 in conjunction with his brothers Joseph M. and Edward; afterwards Lea Pusey became sole proprietor, and in 1887 the Lea Pusey Company was incorporated and con- tinued the business. The latter company was the pioneer in Wilmington in the manufacture of artificial ice, Lea Pusey being largely instrumental in starting it. From this grew the Diamond Ice Company, which for several years has furnished an unexcelled quality of artificial ice to the Wil- mington public. The industry has grown into one of much importance.
The Arlington Cotton Mills, on Vandever Avenue east of Market strect, were founded by Daniel Lammot, Jr., in 1830. After many changes in ownership and varying degrees of success a stock company with the above name was organized,
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in 1880, with William H. Baldwin as president and John Greer as manager. In 1886 Melville Gambrill became man- ager and under his direction the business, for a period of nearly twenty years, was greatly extended and came to be a handsomely paying concern.
In 1868 two cracker manufactories began operations in Wilmington, one an incorporated company, the J. Barkley & Brother Company, located at the southwest corner of Fourth and French streets, and the other, the firm of W. & J. Lang, located at the northeast corner of Fifth and French streets. The Barkley company was successfully conducted for twenty- two years. The business started by W. & J. Lang still con- tinues ; the original partners are both dead, and Andrew J. Lang has for the twenty years last past been the sole proprietor.
William Davidson, now located on French street near Four- teenth, is the oldest marble and granite worker in Wilmington. About 1860 Brown & Davidson started a marble and granite yard at the southwest corner of Fifth and King streets, but previous to that time there had been the firm of Callahan & Davidson in the same business. Later came Davidson Brothers, being William and Thomas Davidson, but in 1883 the brothers dissolved partnership, Thomas Davidson continu- ing alone in the old Trinity Church property at the northeast corner of Fifth and King streets, and William Davidson open- ing a new yard at Ninth and King streets. Thomas Davidson died about 1890, and William Davidson then took the stand at Fifth and King streets, remaining there until 1904, when he sold the premises to McMahon Brothers and moved the business to his present location on French street near Four- teenth. Charles Smith conducted a marble and granite busi- ness on the lot now occupied by the Smith Building at No. 610 and 612 Market street, and at his death was succeeded by his son, Charles E. Smith, who moved the business to the corner of Delaware avenue and Tatnall street.
Robert and Thomas Smith were among the earliest stone- cutters in Wilmington. They came from England, and for
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inany years conducted a marble and granite yard on the site of the present Masonic Hall. In later years they did business at Delaware avenue and Tatnall street. John L. Malone was for fifteen years in the same business on Delaware avenue between Jefferson and Madison streets, and Leslie W. Megowan plied the same craft on Lancaster avenue near Woodlawn avenue for nearly thirty years, being succeeded by John J. Donovan, the present proprietor.
The Walton & Whann Company, incorporated in 1885, was the outgrowth of a partnership called Walton, Whann & Co. The latter firm, in 1861, began the manufacture of fertilizers, and proving highly renumerative, the business was extended and large works erected on the Christiana river. The pro- ducts of the company found ready market throughout the South and West, and branch offices were established in several places. Ephraim T. Walton was the leading voice in the company, serving for years as president, and Francis N. Buck acting as secretary and treasurer. After an unusally success- ful career the company met with financial disaster, and ceased to do business in 1894. The old plant of the company has since been operated by the Liebig Manufacturing Company.
Another enterprise which started under happy auspices and which for several years made handsome dividends for its stockholders, was the Wilmington Dental Manufacturing Company. The object of the company was the manufacture of artificial teeth and dental supplies. The business was originally started by Dr. Ezekiel Shelp, a dentist, in 1866, and a few years later Joseph R. Tantum, M. D., started the busi- ness on a larger scale. The latter was joined in 1879 by Jacob F. Frantz, M. D., and later, Henry C. Robinson and Stansbury J. Willey became interested financially and the Wilmington Dental Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1882 with a capital of $200,000. For fifteen years the company prospered and made money. A manufactory of large proportions was erected on King street, in the rear of the county courthouse, and later an additional factory at
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Riverview, but with a turn in the tide the concern got into financial difficulties and the company went into the hands of a receiver, and both creditors and stockholders got but little. The buildings were afterwards bought by Gideon Sibley, by whom the same line of business has been continued since.
In 1870 James Morrow began, at Fourth and Spruce streets, the manufacture of twine, rug-yarn, carpet-filling and rope from jute imported from India. In 1882 the Wilmington Mills Manufacturing Company was incorporated, and James Morrow and his two sons, James C. and Lewis B., were the stockholders in the company, and the plant was located at Railroad avenue and Sixteenth street, the general manage- ment of the concern falling to James C. Morrow, and under his direction, for a period of nearly twenty years, it developed and prospered. In 1901 the company ceased to do business and the plant passed to the control of the Planet Manufactur- ing Company, by whom the business has since been conducted.
SMITH & PAINTER.
Linton Smith and Edward C. Painter, trading as Smith & Painter, conducted a drug store at the northwest corner of Seventh and Market streets from 1866 to 1885. In connec- tion with the drug business they began the manufacture of fruit juices and flavors. The business grew in these lines so rapidly, and the syrups manufactured by them proved so popular, that they relinquished the drug business in 1885, and devoted their entire time to fruit syrups. In 1878 they established a plant at the southeast corner of Sixth and Tatnall streets, on the site of the furniture establishment of Megary & Son, but having outgrown the plant at that place, they bought a plot of ground at Eleventh and Church streets in 1887, where extensive buildings were erected, and since that time a flourishing and constantly increasing business has been conducted by them at that point. Their products are shipped to all parts of the United States, and fifty or more persons are constantly employed.
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WILMINGTON COOPERS.
There was a time when there were many coopers in Wil- mington, and when the trade of cooperage was an important one. Barrels were in demand by the flouring mills on the Brandywine, and the powder works of the Du Ponts used many casks and kegs. James Smith for forty years made barrels for Joseph Tatnall, the leading Brandywine miller. He relinquished the business in 1824, and John Hayes and William Stewart conducted the same trade for several years.
In 1832 Philip McDowell began to make barrels and kegs on French street between Twelfth and Thirteenth, but four years later sought larger quarters near the Kennett turnpike, about where Eleventh and Du Pont streets now intersect. The business grew to such proportions that quite a village grew up around the cooper shops, known locally as Mc- Dowellsville. The shops faced on Vestry lane, and Mr. Mc- Dowell erected a handsome residence on the turnpike, still standing just west of Clayton street. A large general store was also conducted by Mr. McDowell; the building is still standing. On the death of Mr. McDowell in 1876 the busi- ness declined, but he left a comfortable fortune, the outgrowth of his thrift and industry.
For many years John Danby had cooper shops on the east side of Orange street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. At one time he controlled nearly the whole block. He lived first in the small stone house near Tenth street, which now forms part of the saloon property known as No. 108 West Tenth street. His trade was largely the making of powder kegs and saltpetre barrels for the Du Ponts. He accumulated a modest fortune. Some of his grandchildren are still living in Wil- mington.
Asa Poinsett was an early Wilmington cooper. He first made, on French street, casks and barrels used in the whaling trade, but later moved towards the Brandywine and made barrels for the flouring trade. George Magee began in 1824 the making of powder kegs, and later supplied the Lea mills with flour barrels.
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Thomas Hawkins, of Swedish descent, started as a cooper in Wilmington in 1803, and his trade embraced not only flour barrels, but barrels for the shipment of pork and beef, and casks for flaxseed used in the shipping trade from the West Indies. His son succeeded to the business in 1840, being located at Fifteenth and French streets, where he continued for twenty-five years to supply the Price mills on the Brandy- wine. Others engaged in the same trade at various times were James Montgomery, James H. T. Rice, William Rice James Carswell and William Morrow. The latest cooper in Wilmington is William McConnell, who makes barrels for the Lea Milling Company.
For fifty years, beginning in 1836, a coppersmith shop was maintained on Second street near French. It was first con- ducted by Heisler & Roberts, but soon came under the con- trol of Barzilla and Ruel Heisler, brothers, who were practical workers in copper, and who plied a successful trade. In later years Joseph McBride became a partner, the firm name changing to Heisler, McBride & Co. On the death of Joseph McBride in 1901, the business ceased, and the premises are now occupied by the Wilmington Oil Company. Ruel Heis- ler built and occupied for many years the large brick dwelling adjoining the copper shop at the northwest corner of Second and French streets, and his brother Barzilla built, and for many years resided in, the adjoining dwelling at No. 205 French street, now occupied by his youngest and only surviv- ing son, Francis W. Heisler.
The Christiana Window Glass Company grew out of a glass manufactory started by James Bradford. The company was incorporated in 1886, and Michael J. Byrne and his five sons came from Quinton, N. J., the same year, and began to ope- rate the works. Being practical glass manufacturers they suc- ceeded from the start, and soon established a well-paying business, which has since continued in spite of glass combines and trusts. The company finds a ready market for its product.
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VULCANIZED FIBRE COMPANY.
The Vulcanized Fibre Company manufacture a vulcanized fibre that has attained a world-wide reputation, and enters into almost every branch of mechanical industry, particularly in the manufacture of electrical appliances. Its composition is protected by patents, and its manufacture has proven highly profitable to its originators and promoters.
The original company was incorporated under the laws of New York, June 19, 1873, William Courtenay serving as first president and treasurer. On February 8, 1875, the Vulcan- ized Fibre Company was incorporated under the laws of Dela- ware, and organized with Willliam Courtenay as president and Clement B. Smyth as treasurer. This organization con- tinued until February 4, 1878, when Caesar A. Rodney be- came president, and Frank Taylor treasurer. W. W. Snow succeeded to the presidency in 1884 and served for one year, when William Courtenay was again elected president, and served until 1898. He was then succeeded by J. Fred Pier- son, who continued as president until December 1, 1901, when the above company was succeeded by the American Vulcan- ized Fibre Company, incorporated under the laws of Delaware. Of the latter company Frank Taylor was elected president and David W. Masters treasurer, and both officers still con- tinue.
The company occupies large quarters at the corner of Tenth and Walnut streets, and the business has increased until the buildings occupy half a block, and a force of skilled workmen, numbering over sixty, is constantly employed in turning out the popular products of this successful manufactory.
KARTAVERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The success attending the operation of the Vulcanized Fibre Company led to the organization of an independent company for the manufacture of hard fibre, called the Celluvert Manu- facturing Company, incorporated in 1887. The name was soon changed to the Kartavert Manufacturing Company, and
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the plant of the company was established at the corner of Maryland avenue and Beech street. The buildings have been enlarged until at the present time every convenience and facility is afforded for the manufacture of the peculiar product of the company. The fibre made by this company is of a high grade and the company ships to all parts of the civilized world.
The first president was Ephraim T. Walton, and Henry C. Robinson the first treasurer. Alexander J. Hart succeeded Mr. Walton as president, and continued as such until his death. On the consolidation of the hard fibre companies, in December 1901, the Kartavert Company was merged in the American Vulcanized Fibre Company, and its manufactory has since been continued as one of the branches of the general company, with Frank Taylor as president, and David W. Masters as treasurer. Both Mr. Taylor and Mr. Masters have been master minds in the development of the hard fibre in- dustry and they have well earned the success that has attended their efforts.
WILMINGTON BREWERIES.
The first brewery was established in Wilmington during the Civil War on Fifth street west of Adams street. The three Nebeker brothers, George, Samuel A. and Aquilla were at the head of the enterprise. They bought a disused quarry that existed at that point, and making further excavations for their vaults, erected a substantial plant on the site.
In 1872 the plant came into the possession of Joseph Stoeckle, who prior to that time had conducted a saloon in Wilmington. He greatly enlarged the brewery plant and soon quadrupled its former capacity. In 1881 the plant was seriously damaged by fire, but the buildings were at once re- built on a larger scale and from that date the business was greatly extended, being equipped with every modern appliance and ranking with the largest breweries in the country.
Joseph Stoeckle continued in charge until his death in 1893.
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He amassed a large fortune, and provided by his will for the business to be continued for the benefit of his estate under the direction of his son Harry J. Stoeckle. The latter has proven to be a good manager. In spite of keen opposition the busi- ness has held its own and now enjoys a larger trade than ever before.
In 1865 John Hartmann and John Fehrenbach, the pro- prietors of a large saloon at the northwest corner of Fourth and French streets, began the brewing of lager beer in a small way and from that start grew the large brewery of Hartmann & Fehrenbach at Lovering avenue and Scott street. In 1885 an incorporated company was organized and called The Hart- mann & Fehrenbach Brewing Company with John Hartmann as president and John Fehrenbach as vice-president and treas- urer. In 1888 the present immense structure occupied by the company was completed, with a capacity of two hundred barrels and unexcelled storage capacity. Each of the early proprietors left sons, and under their direction the business has been continued and greatly extended, the present officers of the company being John G. Hartmann, president and gen- eral manager ; Charles Fehrenbach, vice-president, and John G. Fehrenbach, secretary and treasurer.
Karl Specht and Peter Spahn started in 1880 a brewery at the northeast corner of Fifth and DuPont streets, which in 1890 came under the control of John A. Lengel, who gave to the business close personal attention and succeeded in bring- ing it to the front rank among breweries. The Bavarian Brewing Company was incorporated in 1898, with Mr. Lengel as president; the buildings were greatly enlarged and the capacity of the works more than doubled. After the firm establishment of the company Mr. Lengel retired from the active management and Karl Eisenmenger became president of the company, under whose stirring and efficient manage- ment the business has become one of the most substantial and profitable in the city.
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THE BRANDYWINE MILLS.
The great value of the water-power of the Brandywine was early recognized. The records disclose that two small mills existed as early as 1729, on land that for many years belonged to Dr. Tymen Stidham, and which came later, through one Samuel Kirk, to Oliver Canby. The latter was the first who erected a mill of any pretensions on the Brandywine, and he may be called the founder of the Brandywine Mills. The first mill erected by him stood near the present " Bishopstead," and was built in 1742. At the death of Oliver Canby, in 1755, the mill came into the possession of Thomas Shipley, who acquired other mill property, and in 1762 he built a larger mill near the terminus of French street, which was always known as "The Old Shipley Mill." Other mills soon followed on the south side of the stream.
Joseph Tatnall was the pioneer in the building of mills on the north side of the Brandywine. Much difficulty was en- countered in making a race-way on the north side because of the many rocks along the stream, but through the energy of Joseph Tatnall and Thomas Lea, his son-in-law, these obsta- cles were overcome, and as early as 1764 a group of eight mills were in successful operation, four on each side of the stream. Among the early owners were William Poole, Wil- liam Canby, George Evans, John Morton, John Welsh, John Buckley and Cheney Broom.
These mills were an important factor in furnishing to the American army, during the Revolution, the staff of life. No mills of such importance existed in the colonies at that time. When the British landed at the head of Elk in 1777, having in view the invasion of Philadelphia, Washington ordered the dismantling of the Brandywine Mills to prevent the possibility of them falling into the hands of the British. The mill-stones were thrown out of gear and some of them taken several miles away and secreted.
The original firm of Tatnall and Lea continued in business for many years. On the death of Joseph Tatuall, Thomas
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Lea became sole owner and continued the business during his lifetime ; building in 1811 an additional mill which was de- stroyed by fire in 1819, and rebuilt. At his death in 1824, his son William Lea succeeded to the business. The firm of William Lea & Sons, composed of the father and his two sons Preston and Henry, was formed in 1864, and continued until the death of the father in 1876. The sons continued the busi- ness under the old firm name until 1882, when the William Lea & Sons Company was incorporated, and organized with Preston Lea as president, William Lea Ferris, vice-president and John M. Taylor, treasurer. All of the mills and water- rights on the north side of the stream were controlled by this company and in addition the company operated a steam grist mill at New Castle, until 1901, when the Lea Milling Com- pany was incorporated and the Wilmington works were leased by the latter company and the business at Wilmington turned over to it. The business, under the control of the new com- pany, has suffered no diminution, and the products of the Lea mills are of the same high standard that has made them famous for three-quarters of a century. The present officers of the Lea Milling Company are James B. Canby, president, Preston Lea, vice-president, and George W. Sparks, secretary and treasurer.
The rights on the south side of the Brandywine have been gradually acquired by the City of Wilmington for the purpose of furnishing a water-supply to its citizens. The long line of ancient stone mills beginning at the bridge at Market street and extending eastward to Walnut street, have one by one disappeared, no vestige of them being left ; and in their stead a massive pumping station with ponderous machinery and accompanying buildings have arisen in their places, all owned and controlled by the city authorities.
JOSEPH BANCROFT & SONS COMPANY.
The Rockford Bleaching and Dye Works and Cotton Fac- tory at Rockford, on the Brandywine, were founded by Joseph
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Bancroft in 1831. These works occupy the site on the westerly side of the stream, immediately above what are familiarly known as the Riddle Mills. Job Harvey was one of the earliest owners of the site, operating a grist mill there. Later a company was formed called the Rockford Manufacturing Company, with Caleb Kirk, William W. Young, John Tor- bert and Eleuthere I. and Alfred du Pont as interested parties.
Joseph Bancroft became the owner in 1831 and at once re- modeled the buildings and began the manufacture of cotton goods. About the beginning of the Civil War he added facil- ities and began the processes of bleaching and dyeing which have made the plant famous, and which have proven highly remunerative to the owners of the business. The buildings and equipment have been largely added to and improved from time to time, and the present capacity of the works is many fold greater than during its earlier years of operation. Joseph Bancroft died in 1874. He admitted his two sons, Samuel Bancroft, Jr. and William P. Bancroft, as partners in the busi- ness prior to his death, when the firm name of Joseph Ban- · croft and Sons was adopted. This continued until 1889 when the Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company was incorpo- rated, and the business has been since continued by the com- pany.
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